FROM DILIP MUKERJEA

"Genius is in-born, may it never be still-born."

"Oysters, irritated by grains of sand, give birth to pearls. Brains, irritated by curiosity, give birth to ideas."

"Brainpower is the bridge to the future; it is what transports you from wishful thinking to willful doing."

"Unless you keep learning & growing, the status quo has no status."

Thursday, July 1, 2010

NEURO-NUTRITION: Discover How to Keep Your Mind & Body Sharp & Nimble

Nutritional needs vary from person to person, depending on age, sex, health status, and total diet. Diet is intimately related to health. Yet, what is clear is that nutritional deficiencies can cause brain imbalances that trigger shock waves throughout the body, resulting in fatigue and forgetfulness, depression and anxiety.

In other words, it can transform one from a winner to a washout!

"It’s not the years in your life but the life in your years."
~ Anonymous

We now live in an environment that is completely different to the one in which we evolved. It is a fast-food world, swiftly becoming a fasterfood world!

Industrialisation has caused us to breathe in small amounts of ‘heavy metals’ such as lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminium, and copper on a regular basis. Heavy metals are also antinutrients, which means that they block the positive use of nutrients from our food.

In its natural state, our food delivers seven principal elements: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibre, water, vitamins, and minerals.

There are numerous possible variations amongst these elements. The types of components and the balance between them determine whether what you eat is useful, useless, or damaging. A baby is the sum of all the food that the mother ate during pregnancy, and what he or she has subsequently eaten and digested.

Today, there are numerous high-quality health supplements available as ‘insurance’ against the effects of pollution, agro-chemicals, nutrient-poor exhausted soil, depleted nutrient content of foods due to longdistance shipping, possible poor absorption of nutrients, and so on.

Compared to 50 years ago, there has been an enormous decline in mineral content. It is advisable to take supplements (e.g. multi-formula supplements) with meals as they are better absorbed that way.

Every cell and every molecule in the human body renews itself in six to twelve months ~ and at a much faster rate in small children.

The right raw materials will ensure that we can replace and repair poor diet behaviour, and create good health. Good digestive habits ensure a healthy supply of nutrients to your brain.

It is recommended that children have slightly more fat in their diet than adults as they need the extra calories in the early years.

With calories, remember that it is not just the quantity but also the quality that counts.

The trick is to use the right fats and not to carry this high dietary fat content over into adulthood.

If you need to be on a special diet, please consult a doctor or naturopath.

Meanwhile, here are some tips on what to eat and drink, and what to watch out for, in order to stay brain-fit!

WATER

Water is the most critical nutrient in your diet. About 50 to 65 percent of the human body is water: the more body fat, the less body water you have. Since 75 percent of the brain is water, it’s no wonder that dehydration quickly leads to headaches and dizziness, and interferes with its efficiency.

Start your day with 8 to 16 ounces of water; it will help you remain alert.

Take time for a quick drink of water at least every 30 to 45 minutes. Because water is an efficient conductor of electrical and chemical energy, it facilitates communication within the brain and central nervous system.

A regular intake of water (best at room temperature, and in small doses throughout the day) will also help boost your memory!

When exercising, note that drinking plain water may replace the volume of lost fluids, but it doesn’t replace the energy or electrolytes you need for the long haul. In such instances, go for a reputable sports drink containing a blend of water, carbohydrate, and electrolytes; they can replace what exercise drains from you ~ fluid, fuel, and salt.

[To be continued in the Next Post. Excerpted from 'Unleashing Genius, with the World's Most Powerful Learning Systems', by Dilip Mukerjea.]

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