Improving my diet for better brain functioning…wondering about caffeine and sugar?
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I've been feeling very foggy-headed (almost retarded) for some time now and I decided to try a bunch of things I've heard of to help me think more clearly: getting enough sleep but not oversleeping, exercising regularly, taking supplements and trying to incorporate some fruits, vegetables and whole grains into my diet
Another thing I did in the past few days, based on a tip, was cut out caffeine which I used to live on (mostly from soda but I'm also addicted to lattes). I've also been told to cut out sugar and trans fats, but I don't really understand why caffeine and sugar is bad for brain function, because I've always taken those things while I study to improve my energy and concentration. Is it only bad long term? Is Equal okay in place of sugar?
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Caffeine is reported to improve memory and mental function while decreasing fatigue. It's true, caffeine can do that, but it comes at a cost. Caffeine exaggerates the stress response at a cellular level. It does so by blocking the receptor sites on cells that are normally available to adenosine…the brain modulator that provides feedback to avoid overstimulation of the nervous system. With these receptor sites blocked, nothing prevents the nervous system from becoming overly stimulated, and ultimately exhausted. That leads to a multitude of problems such as insomnia, tremors, nausea, vomiting, chest pains, palpitations and more. In addition, caffeine is acidifying as well as dehydrating…and highly addictive.
Some people are more sensitive to the [negative] effects of caffeine than others. Regardless, excess caffeine consumption can cause serious long term problems with your nervous system….your brain is part of your nervous system.
Sugar is a whole different deal. Sugar is totally void of any nutritional value, but worse, it depletes the body of many critical nutrients like B vitamins and a number of minerals necessary for a healthy nervous system (again, the brain is part of your nervous system). Many people can recognize sugar's impact pretty quickly by simply paying attention to how they feel after eating/drinking high sugar products. As for using Equal in place of sugar…NO, don't. As bad as sugar is for your long term health, Equal is far worse. It is aspartame, and is currently regarded as one of the most harmful food additives in use today. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report (on the dangers of aspartame) as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain. Pretty scary stuff, that Equal.
So, if you are looking to take the best care you possibly can of your body and your brain, educate yourself on what a healthy diet is. Problem here is that there are boatloads of books on nutrition that contradict each other as to what is or is not healthy. The easiest way to approach this confusing information is to keep in mind the fact that the food our bodies require is REAL FOOD…not junk food, fast food, processed foods or foods/drinks high in sugar.
The closer a food item is to how it comes from the earth, the better (healthier) it is (real food). An apple right off the tree as opposed to an apple turnover. A bunch of grapes right off the vine, as opposed to grape jelly on white bread. A baked potato as opposed to potato chips.
Some of the best books on diet are the raw food diet books, books on balancing the body's pH, and books on liver friendly diets. A really good book on nutrition and the brain is "Optimum Nutrition for the Mind" by Patrick Holford.