Feed Your Brain

We now know that your brain continues to develop throughout your lifetime, and many studies link how well your brain ages with the foods you eat. So here are some of the foods that will not only be delicious, but will also nourish your neurons.

- Terry Robson

One of the great medical misconceptions of the 20th century was that you do not grow new brain cells. The last few decades have shown that in the olfactory bulb (smell) and the hippocampus (memory and cognitive processes), new neurons can grow throughout life. We also know that health-promoting foods can stimulate neuron growth. For instance, polyphenol compounds (from foods like tea, grapes, wine, olive oil, cocoa, nuts, fruits and vegetables) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (from fish, corn, soybeans and sunflower seeds) lead to significantly higher rates of neuron growth in both the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus.

To keep your brain healthy as you age, choosing the right foods is an important, and essential, first step.

The Mediterranean diet

There is plenty of evidence suggesting that the Mediterranean style of eating keeps your brain sharper as you age. The basis of the Mediterranean diet is a lot of fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans, peas, lentils), olive oil, and fish, along with a little wine. Typically, red meat does not play a major part in the Mediterranean way of eating, although it is eaten perhaps once a week and is almost always lean. From the fruit and vegetables, you get nutrients including antioxidants and fiber. Legumes are a protein source and also provide a range of nutrients. Olive oil yields healthy monounsaturated fats as well as antioxidants. Fish provides protein and healthy omega-3 fats while wine offers antioxidants.