LIVING HEALTHY Published October21, 2014 By Staff Reporter

Vitamins and Nutrients Needed by the Brain

(Photo : Pixabay)

Our brain needs as much nourishment as it could get. After all, it governs practically every aspect of our body. Even the slightest wrong health move or practice that can affect the brain can be very detrimental not only to our health and wellbeing, but to our life. Impaired cognitive function can highly disrupt a good quality of life.

With these in mind, decades of research have provided us a list of the nutrients our brain needs to thrive and function optimally.

B Vitamins

Also known as the vitamins of the nervous system, B vitamins are essential for a variety of functions that are needed by every cell in the body. These vitamins are crucial in hormone production, stress management, nd the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrtes. People who have B vitamin deficiensies are more susceptible to a number of of mental and physical illnesses, such as deprssion or insomnia.

Fats

Studies have found that a balanced diet containing healthy fats are needed for all brain functions. Excluding water, the brain itself is made up of alomost 60 percent fat. DHA, a fatty acid chain that is amon ght ebrain's building blocks, greatly benefits the brain and provides noticeable cognitive improvements.

Iodine

Iodine is required by the thyroid in producing hormones and is very important in the brain's development. Deficiencies of iodine during pregnancy might lead to neurodevelopmental deficits.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps in maintaining the cell membranes' integrity. A vitamin E deficiency shows through neurological symptoms such as injury to sensory nerves and impair4ed balance and coordination.

Zinc

Zinc is important in neurotransmission as well as in structural, regulatory, and catalytic roles. Being deificent in zinc can unfortunately lead to congenital malformations, deficits in learning, keeping attention, and learning.

Not all are mentioned in this list, but this gives a clear picture of how the brain works and depends on the nutrients, so we could fully thrive and stay healthy.  

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