By now, we know there are certain foods that can help our bodies function, and there are certain foods that can stop our bodies from working the way we expect.
Healthy vs unhealthy
Over time, we've come to know these as "healthy" and "unhealthy" foods, but sometimes we forget what makes a food healthy or unhealthy.
Healthy foods help our brains and bodies to function the right way. In much the same way as you give your car fuel to function, our bodies need fuel in the form of food.
Turns out our brains hog a lot of the energy we get from food, but it's no wonder - it controls every single thing we do, think, or feel. So to make sure it gets what it needs, we need to make sure we get certain vitamins and nutrients through what we eat to keep it going.
Unhealthy foods don't help our bodies function the right way. They may taste delicious and make us happy for a few minutes while we eat them, but sugary, high-fat, and processed foods can all work against our bodies in the long run.
And if you think they're cheaper, think again: by eating these types of foods, you increase your risk of many chronic conditions that can lead to higher medical bills down the road. In fact, these types of foods can lead to:
- Inflammation
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Acid reflux
And can increase the risk of developing:
- Diabetes
- Dementia
- Depression, anxiety, & mood disorders
What can we do?
There’s no one miracle food to having a better brain, but making sure we eat a variety of foods will help to make sure we get those vitamins and nutrients in the foods we need.
It's not an all-or-nothing endeavor, either. Incorporating even just one of the following foods can help get you on the right path.
- Dark, leafy greens
- Whole grains
- Fatty fish
- Poultry
- Beans
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Berries
- Olive oil
References: WebMD, MedicalNewsToday
