When we eat right and exercise we know we are improving our physique but does it really make that much of a difference in our brains? The answer is YES! Choosing the right fuel for our brains is as important as choosing the right foods for weight loss and a healthy heart. Our brain accounts for 2% of our body weight but uses roughly 20% of our daily calories to function. When the brain is given the right fats and nutrition it will perform optimally, stave off depression and effectivly calculate it’s daily tasks. B-vitamins and Omega3 fats are the key ingrediants to a healthy brain. B vitamins can be found in eggs, brown rice, leafy greens, mushrooms, beef, avocados, nuts, seeds etc. Omega3 fats can be found in cold water fish especially sardines and salmon (wild-caught, please), olive oil, avocado and alfalfa. Pregnant women, children and people recovering from TBI’s (traumatic brain injuries) should pay special attention to their intake of these nutrients especially because the reconnection of neurons is essential to brain development and recovery. This is also good advice for students and most people who want to walk around with a clear head instead of a cloudy one. Remember, your body is like a car. You drive it around all day long and if you put the right fuel in your tank you’ll be able to go for miles and miles!
Posts Tagged ‘TBI’
Feeding the Brain
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010Traumatic Brain Injury
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010At Angie’s World, we have achieved great success with clients with Traumatic Brain Injury, also known as TBI. Many facilities provide care and occupational therapy for such patients but families are often frustrated with the overall results. Studies have shown that exercise for someone with TBI provides many positive benefits such as increased blood flow and faster nerve impulses to the brain (which improves how quickly you process or think), and increases body awareness. Exercise also improves mood and memory, increases heart and lung efficiency, and positively affects balance.
Donny Winn, A TBI client, has had remarkable success with our program. Please check out www.donnywinn.com. Donny has been training with us for over 2 years and has developed stronger core stability, improved range of motion, and muscle strength that has made him more independent. Check out his before and after photos here. You can even see a video of his workouts here.
Another of our clients, is Brennen Haworth. When Brennen, A.k.a “Shoeey”, came to us, he couldn’t move his arms or legs. We began his program with a stretching routine to help relax the muscles. Now, less than a year, Shoeey can perform shoulder rows, ride a stationary bicycle, and can use various leg machines.
Our TBI clients have had various degrees of injury and we are able to work around almost all challenges, including wheelchairs, walkers, feeding tubes, etc.
As a certified nutritionist, I emphasis the importance of nutrition to help the individual in the recovery process. I will help design a program that is right for the individual to increase brain function and improve body composition which is a significant component to their progress. I can also provide information on supplementation, working directly with their doctor.
If you or a loved one is frustrated due to a TBI, we can help. Please contact us for a free consultation.