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Fats, carbohydrates and proteins are foods that effect how the brain functions. Fats have the most effect on the brain during a childs first 2 years of growth and in our senior years. It is best to provide your brain fats from vegetable sources rather than from an animal source like cow�s milk. Cows milk is designed to grow a cows body large with growth hormone and is lacking DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is needed for brain growth and function. Cows have a small brain compared to their body size because a cow does not need the brain power a human does. Brain building fats which contain DHA and omega 3 fatty acids are found in avocados, bananas, peanuts, soy beans, wheat germ and vegetable oils such as flaxseed oil, soy oil and canola oil. Bad fats such as "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils are not only bad because of their artery clogging properties they are bad because they compete with the action of the healthy fats and do not provide the DHA and omega 3 fatty acids the brain needs. DHA is the main component of brain tissue.

Brain foods that control your brain alertness are foods that contain proteins rich in the amino acid tyrosine. Another important amino acid is tryptophan which provides a calming effect. A meal with proteins containing both tyrosine and tryptophan will be optimal for alert thinking with out excess nervousness. You need to obtain tryptophan from foods you eat because it is an essential amino acid, meaning the body does not make it. Where as tyrosin, is not an essential amino acid because the body can make it if there is not enough in your diet. Foods that will activate thinking are foods that are high in protein and tyrosine and low in carbohydrates and tryptophan such as soybeans and soy products.

There are good and bad sugars (carbohydrates) for your brain. Avoid bad sugars such as glucose, dextrose, sucrose and highly refined sugars like high fructose corn syrup. These sugars give you a sugar high and a quick crash to tiredness by entering the bloodstream quickly releasing a large amount of insulin. They are quickly used up and then your sugar level drops low now releasing adrenal hormones causing you to feel like you need more sugar for another burst of energy. These are foods which are high on the glycemic index.

Good sugars are complex carbohydrates also known as starches and fruit sugars (fructose). These sugars are slow to be broken down in the digestive system for the body to use. This gives you a slower and longer source of energy. Since your brain and body needs more carbohydrates than proteins there are more fruits, vegetables and grains containing complex carbohydrates than there containing proteins. Whole fruits and vegetables are better brain foods then processed foods, because of the action fiber has in slowing the absorption of sugars.

The best sugar brain foods come in several categories, fruits, cereals & grains and vegetables & legumes. The following foods not only help the thought process they provide the slow energy needed to sustain the brains function. The best brain foods, in the fruits category, are grapefruit, apples, cherries, oranges and grapes. Cereals and grains best for the brain are oatmeal and bran then corn flakes. Whole grain pastas and brown rice are good grains. Vegetables include Potatoes and carrots, and Legumes include soybeans, kidney beans and chick peas.

Calming foods that are high in carbohydrates and tryptophan and low in tyrosine are chocolate, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Eating complex carbohydrates along with proteins helps to transfer the amino acids from these proteins into the brain. The combination of proteins and carbohydrates enhances brain function as apposed to eating carbohydrates and proteins separately. Synergy takes place when carbohydrates and proteins are consumed together enhancing their individual properties. If you want to wake up the brain, eat a high vegetable protein meal and eat the protein before the carbohydrates; if you want the brain to relax, eat a high carbohydrate meal and eat the carbohydrates before the protein. Also eating desserts full of refined sugars or drinking sodas during or after a meal will slow the brain function.

Your best choice for brain foods are:

11/20/07 Reference: Ask Dr. Sears.com