THE EFFECT OF THE DIET ON BRAIN NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND NURSING

IMPLICATION

Elaborated by: JABER HIHIDENBSN of Nursing Sciences FCHS Morocco CampusSupervised by: Mr. Nelson Lebogo Molatela

Content:

• Introduction

• Brain physiology: Review

• Nutrition and neurotransmitters

• Nursing implication

• Conclusion

Introduction

The Brain is the General!

•  Any illness will age the brain!

•  Disorders of the brain, affect the body, mind, and spirit.!

•  Why not treat the command centre as a priority?!

• Why not learn to feed your brain!!

Brain Physiology: Review

A highly complex organ

• 100 billion neurons.• More connections than stars in

the universe .• Uses 25 % of body’s energy.• 1.4 kg.• 60% fat.

The brain function

Neurotransmitters• NEUROTRANSMITTERS are the

brain chemicals that communicate information throughout our brain and body.

• The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest. They can also affect mood, sleep, concentration, weight, and can cause adverse symptoms when they are out of balance.

• Many are made from essential amino acids from nutrients (primarily proteins) in our diet.

The EDGE Effect

The brain body -Connection

GABACalm Level

Rythm

DopamineEnergyPowerVolage

AcetylcholineYouth

MemorySpeed

SerotoninSleepRest

Symmetry

Nutrition and Neurotransmitters

1. DOPAMINE

The low dopamine effect:• Decreased libido.• Weight gain.• Fatigue-age-accelerator.• Hypertension• Carbohydrate, sugar and cafeine cravings.

1. DOPAMINE (cont) :

• Building block is phenylalanine (or tyrosine).

• Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that occurs as a constituent of many proteins and is normally converted to tyrosine in the human body.

1. DOPAMINE (cont) •Natural sources of phenylalanine:

Vegetable nutriments:Soybeans: 100mg = 236% RDI.Almonds: 100mg = 36%RDI.Rice: 100mg = 30% RDI.

Animal nutriments:Beef: 167%.Fish: Tuna 128%; Salmon 101%.Chicken breast: 148%.Eggs: 57%.Dairy: Milk 48%; Natural yogurt 45%; cheese (edam cheese 46%).

2. SEROTONIN

The low serotonin effects:

• Depression.• Anxiety in typically low stress situations.• Impatience without explanation.• Fatigue when you should feel rested and energized.• Cognitive impairment (inability to focus, poor memory, lack of

mental clarity).• Negative thoughts with no apparent cause.• Agitation.• Strong sugar cravings.

2. SEROTONIN (cont)

•Building block is tryptophan.

• Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning it must be found in the diet. Tryptophan is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

2. SEROTONIN (cont)

• Naturel sources of tryptophan: Vegetable nutriments:

Pumpkin seeds: 100mg = 206% RDI.Soybeans: 100mg = 205% RDI.White beans: 41%.Oat Bran: 120%.

Animal nutriments:Dairy: Reduced fat mozzarella: 204%.Chicken: Chicken breast: 148%.Beef: 121%.Fish: Tuna: 120%; Salmon: 98%; Shrimp: 79%.Eggs: 60%.

3. GABA :

Low GABA effects:

• Carbohydrate craving.• Muscle tension (especially in neck and back).• Night sweats and tachycardia.• Emotional immaturity, phobias, anxiety (panic too), and

obsessive thinking.• Poor verbal memory.• Attention Issues - Impulsivity, and disorganization.

3.GABA (cont)

• Building block is glutamine.• Glutamine in an amino acid that is a major

precursor for the neurotransmitter, GABA, and is especially important when the body is subjected to stressful situations. Glutamine is an amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. However, it is important to introduce glutamine in the daily diet in order to increase the synthesis of protein and the well functioning of immune and nervous system.

3. GABA (cont)

• There is no current recommended daily intake (RDI) for glutamine.• The best (but not the only) food sources of glutamine are the

following: Vegetable nutriments:

Cabbage.Beans and legumes.Beet, Spinach and parsley.

Animal nutriments:Meat and poultry.Sea food.Organ meat (in particular liver).Eggs.Dairy.

Nursing implication• Nutrition work hand on hand with conventional

treatment of mental illness to improve neurotransmitter function.

• In nursing care nutritional interventions may decrease the incidence or severity of the different mental illness. When used as treatment methods, nutritional interventions may reduce the utilization of the dose of psychotropic drugs.

• For new mothers who are nursing and do not want to take medication for depression, nutrition and dietary changes may represent viable alternatives. In addition to therapy and other alternative therapies, nursing nutritional intervention can be helpful in relieving depressive symptoms and improving overall well-being.

Conclusion• Overall maintaining a healthy brain is essential to ensure

a good quality of life.• Research has proved that adding the right food to the

daily eating regimen will improve the functioning of neurotransmitters, which increases the chances of maintaining a healthy brain.

• Nursing nutritional interventions play an important role In the treatment of some mental disorders, as they will enhance the efficiency of the conventional treatment.

References

• Leyse-Wallace, R. (2013). Nutrition and mental health. CRC Press.

• Bodnar, L. M., & Wisner, K. L. (2005). Nutrition and depression: implications for improving mental health among childbearing-aged women. Biological psychiatry, 58(9), 679-685.

• Davis, J. M. (2008). Nutrition, neurotransmitters and central nervous system fatigue. Nutrition in sport, 171.