Power your brain with Nuts & Seeds
Headstrong - Fri, 20 Apr 2007
Research suggests that nuts and seeds may boost cognitive performance and stabilize moods.
While healthy foods cannot replace the advice of a doctor or a prescribed treatment, some nuts and seeds possess beneficial properties can help stabilize moods, improve memory, relieve insomnia and slow the aging process.
These include hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews, flax seeds and other nuts and seeds. Walnuts are about 15-20% protein,and also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins E and B6. There is some correlation between omega-3 deficiency and depression. Walnuts may have an anti depressant effect, similar to the drug Prozac but without addiction or harmful side-effects. This effect is a result of omega-3, which stabilizes levels of the brain hormone seroton in that controls mood and appetite, thus assisting in the prevention of depression, overeating, insomnia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Flax seeds are praised by many nutritionists as an excellent source of omega-3 (and are a good alternative for people who don’t like fish),and is consumed as flaxseed bread or whole flax seeds used as a garnish. Both walnuts and flax seeds may assist with depression, but a doctor should be consulted when considering treatment. Many varieties of nuts and seeds contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that the brain converts to serotonin. Both roasted pumpkin and dried sunflower seeds provide a large source of the amino acid, and are a healthy and safe way to relieve insomnia and mild depression.Sunflower seeds are also high in the B vitamin thiamine that is essential for a good memory and healthy cognitive function.
| “Walnuts may have an antidepressant effect, similar to the drug Prozac but without addiction or harmful side-effects” |
Cashews are an excellent source of magnesium, which can increase the diameter of blood vessels, reducing hypertension and providing a healthy blood flow. Almonds are rich in phenylalanine, which is associated with cognitive and neurological health. This chemical easily passes the blood-brain barrier and stimulates the brain to produce the natural pain-killing and mood-stabilizing hormones: adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. There is some evidence to suggest that phenylalanine can assist in treating the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.