Proper Nutrition and Brain Function

Fatty Acids are the key Building blocks to a healthy brain, your brain needs Fatty acids from healthy fats to produce

brain cells.

Fatty Acids form the membrane's surrounding brain cells allows oxygen, glucose and antioxidants to pass in and metallic waste to pass out as to not

harm the cell by its own pollution.

We need a diet rich in essential fatty acids for proper nutrition and a healthy brain. The chart above gives examples of foods rich in these nutrients.

Omega Fatty acids and other Omega acids also known as Essential Fatty Acids , or EFA’s are found in foods we eat . They are called Essential Fatty acids

because our bodies can not make their own.

Our body uses EFA’s to make DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). DHA’s are essential in brain function in adults .

The human brain starts developing three weeks in to pregnancy.

DHA’s are thought to be essential in the development of the brain and eyes of the fetus.

Fatty Acids in breast milk help myelination in nursing infants. Healthy myelination is essential for proper function of the nervous system. Deficiencies of these fatty acids can result in low birth weight

and reduced head size. Although studies show myelination can be made up later in the child's life .

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We also need the proper amount of vitamins and minerals in our diet for proper brain development and brain

function.

Certain nutrients have a greater affect on brain development than others( protein, iron, zinc, vitamin A, Selenium , iodine choline, folate). Are the most common . One of the most common of all deficiency's are

Iron deficiency's. You can see images above, Although sometimes iron deficiencies do not entail visual symptoms of yellowing, bur usually paleness is apparent in all cases of anemia.

Iron deficiencies can hit at any time in ones life, but are most crucial to the fetus through first two years of life.

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Low Iron studies showed reduced hippocampal size in the brain also altered neurochemistry which resulted in test later taken as adult’s , despite being

given iron supplements to correct deficiency’s.

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As adults we can optimize our brains function by making sure we keep our body/Brain properly hydrated . Dehydration can impair short term memory and

it slows brain function.

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We can actually improve are performance at work or on tests by eating certain foods to improve brain function. Foods high in protein stabilize blood sugars levels and maintain mental alertness. Oatmeal,

almonds and whole grains are also examples of optimal choices of food for improved brain function.

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Avoid caffeinated drinks , they can cause decrease in energy levels , can leave you feeling jittery anxious and unable to concentrate. Avoid energy drinks that may send

you in to crash mode and unable to maintain energy levels optimal for concentration.

END OF POWERPOINTS

REFERANCES AND WORK SITED

Deanna Spencer

Mid term Presentation , august 6th

I found this source to be valid and peer approved. I found it through the library web site EBSCO, I found it informational on my topic of study.

APA(American Psychological Assoc.).

References.

Rao, R., Tkac, I., Schmidt, A. T., & Georgieff, M. K. (2011). Fetal and neonatal iron deficiency causes volume loss and alters the neurochemical profile of the adult rat hippocampus. Nutritional Neuroscience, 14(2), 59-65. doi:10.1179/1476830511Y.0000000001.

In this research a study was done on children with malnutrition to see the affects on the developing brain. It is a peer approved article.

APA(American Psychological Assoc.). References.

Hazin, A., Alves, J., & Falbo, A. (2007). THE MYELINATION PROCESS IN SEVERELY MALNOURISHED CHILDREN: MRI FINDINGS. International Journal Of Neuroscience, 117(8), 1209-1214. doi:10.1080/00207450600934945.

Book (Teaching with the Brain in Mind)

2nd Edition

Eric Jensen. Memory and recall, Preparing the Brain for school ,Meet your Amazing Brain

Ed. Association for Supervision and Curriculum development. Copy right 2005.

Web site

http://ww.fi.edu/learn/brain/facts.html (I used this site in the research of brain

development this sight linked with the Franklin Institution/ on-line of learning)

Web site

MedlinePlus.gov (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) 2007,Michael K

Georgieff , Authors afflictions From department of Pediatrics and childhood

Development .(This article focused on iron deficiencies and pertained to my

PowerPoint's)I found it to be informative of early iron deficiencies and adult

anemia.

Web Site

Livestrong .com, Article September 1, 2011, Byb Sage Kalmus, “What does the

brain need to functionNutricionally. I used this research and its content that

broke down the foods that contained the fatty 3 omega acids and the omega 6

fatty acids and there source from how the body uses these nutrients and does

make its own.