Mind Grub

Well, yes and no. Experts say there are no miracle foods that ensure better scores in math tests. But there are some foods that help you keep fit. 8216;8216;Good food has the same effect on the brain that it does on the body. In both cases, it prevents degeneration,8217;8217; says Rekha Sharma, head of the nutrition department at AIIMS, New Delhi. Scientists at the US Department of Energy recently discovered that the mere display of favourite foods8212;just seeing and smelling them8212;increases brain metabolism.

What8217;s good for the brain?

According to Sharma, the brain thrives on foods heavy in antioxidants8212;including beta-carotenes and vitamins C and E8212;flavonoids and selenium-rich food.

What sort of foods have these essentials?

Fresh fruits and vegetables and a sprinkling of meats. 8216;8216;The more colourful your plate, the better it is for the brain,8217;8217; says Sharma. 8216;8216;The best option is to choose your food from the dark green to red spectrum.8217;8217;
Antioxidants are naturally occuring chemicals that prevent the oxidation of other chemicals in the body. Sources: All fresh fruits and vegetables.
Beta-carotenes are the molecules that give, for instance, carrots their orange colour. Find them in all dark green and orange to red foods: broccoli, spinach, pumpkin, papaya, tomatoes, melons, peaches, apricots, mangoes.
Vitamin C can8217;t be stored in the body too long, so it needs to be replenished with doses of citrus fruits, capsicum, strawberries, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, dried pulses and cereals.
Vitamin E has a range of benefits, from delaying ageing to warding off sunburn. Find it in nuts, whole grains, vegetable oil and fish liver oil.
Flavonoids are naturally occurring plant compounds, best tapped from green tea and red wine.
Selenium-rich food include fish, shellfish, red meats, chicken, eggs, garlic and grains.
Also stock up on B vitamins B6 in chicken, pork, liver, kidney, nuts and legumes; B1 in bread, rice, pasta, pork, zinc sunflower seeds, peanuts, red meat, oysters and Omega-3 fatty acids salmon.

What other foods can help?

Herbs. They8217;ve been used for centuries in India, not only to enhance food flavours, but also as natural remedies. While Ashwagandha and Brahmi are supposed to be memory-boosters, ginger lifts the spirits, cinnamon counters exhaustion, camomile tackles nervous tension and peppermint calms nerves and relieves anger.

Does food really influence moods?

Certain foods containing tryptophan produce a brain-affecting chemical called serotonin, which impacts mood and behaviour. Popularly referred to as feel-good foods8212;and no, we8217;re not talking just chocolate8212;they include chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, bananas, pineapples, plums, nuts, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, beans, peas and soya.