BrainFood – Your key for a powerful brain and sharp senses
Our brain is a highly complex structure: it contains about 86 billion nerve cells, or neurons, that are constantly communicating, adapting, learning, and regenerating. Several hundred trillion synapses are responsible for signal transmission. A true marvel of nature that no supercomputer can match! The brain and nervous system are capable of learning and adapting well into old age. If the conditions are right. Not only do they need to be trained regularly, they also need to be supplied with sufficient nutrients and energy. In this article, we present five important tools for keeping your brain alert and your senses sharp.
What’s Brainfood?
Brainfood is experiencing a real hype right now. But what exactly does it mean?
The term stands for foods and nutrients that have a particularly beneficial effect on our nervous system and our brain.
Brainfood not only boosts our concentration and brain power, it also sharpens our senses, improves our mood, and protects our cells from oxidative stress.
»The brain is the only part of the body
that does not age if you keep it fit.«
Jean Puetz (Science journalist and television presenter)
1. Nothing works without fluids: drink enough
Our brain is 80 percent water. It is therefore extremely important that the water balance in our brain is constantly regulated. If we take in too little fluid, the blood thickens, the transport of oxygen and nutrients stops, the cells are not properly nourished, and communication between neurons stops working properly. As a result, we have difficulty thinking and concentrating. Staying hydrated is also important for our sensory organs, especially our eyes, which can suffer from dry, red eyes and, in the worst cases, diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.
To avoid this, and to keep your brain and senses sharp and healthy, drink at least two liters a day – preferably good, pure spring water or unsweetened herbal teas.
2. The Building Blocks of Life: Amino Acids
A good protein intake is essential for our mental performance. This is because the amino acids it contains are essential building blocks for our cell metabolism and thus crucial for the development and formation of new nerve cells. But not only that. As precursors of the neurotransmitters adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, essential amino acids such as methionine, tryptophan, histidine and BCAA (leucine, isoleucine and valine) play an important role in the smooth flow of information in our brain.
Because our bodies do not store protein, our brain cells, as well as the cells in our sensory organs, depend on a regular supply of protein. But there is one thing to keep in mind: Protein is not just protein! For optimal performance, it is not only the quantity of protein that is important, but also its quality. In addition to a healthy diet, we recommend a regular supply of the eight essential amino acids. Learn more about amino acids.
With our MyAMINO® we offer you a worldwide unique protein product with which you can supply your body with a high percentage of high-purity amino acids and this with almost no nitrogen loss (< 1%).
3. The natural radical scavengers: antioxidants
Our thinking skills and mental agility begin to decline as early as our late twenties. How fast we or our cells age depends on several factors. One important factor is oxidative stress, which is partly responsible for cell aging in the brain and sensory organs and can lead to problems with concentration and memory, as well as other health problems. It has also been linked to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s dementia and eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Oxidative stress occurs when there are too many free radicals and too few antioxidants in the body. An unhealthy diet, stress, cigarette smoke and alcohol consumption, but also external influences such as UV radiation, pollutants and other negative environmental influences promote the formation of free radicals. Our brain and sensory organs are particularly vulnerable to free radicals. In order to protect our cells, it is important that we provide our body with sufficient antioxidants, which are also known as natural radical scavengers.
The following antioxidants are particularly important for the health and functioning of our brain and sensory organs: vitamins C and E, astaxanthin, coenzyme Q12, glutathione, carotenoids, beta-carotenoids, selenium, iron and zinc coupled with enzymes, and active hydrogen. Learn more about antioxidants.
Our specially developed antioxidant cell protection complex EyeCQ uniquely combines fat and water soluble vitamin C, astaxanthin, coenzyme Q10, zinc, glutathione, vitamins A and E with active hydrogen. It effectively protects cells, especially in our sensory organs and brain, from oxidative stress.
Why fat-soluble vitamin C?
Fatty tissue is found primarily in the brain, nerve tissue, and our eyes. Water-soluble compounds, such as water-soluble vitamins, are rejected by the lipid (fat)-containing cell walls. Therefore, we need fat-soluble substances to supply the lipid-containing cell layers in our brain and sensory organs.
4. Ketogenic Diet for Brain Health
Our brain is the organ with the highest energy requirements. Since it cannot store energy, it must be supplied regularly and, above all, in sufficient quantities. And that’s no small feat: Our brain needs about one-fifth of what we eat and breathe – even though it makes up only about two percent of our body weight!
And here we can immediately dispel one of the most important nutritional lies of recent years. Namely, the fairy tale about healthy carbohydrates, i.e. the supposedly scientifically based superstition that our brain can only utilize glucose and can only fall back on ketones in times of need. This is anything but true and correct! Ketones can also provide the energy our brain needs. The low-sugar, low-carbohydrate, or ketogenic, diet not only has positive effects on your overall body, metabolism, and senses, it also has a critical advantage for your brain health: Energy metabolism is more efficient than sugar metabolism and produces fewer free radicals!
You can learn more about the dr.reinwald metabolism program with many delicious recipes for your ketogenic diet in the book by Dr. Heinz Reinwald “Gesund, schlank und fit”, which you can buy in our shop for only 4.99 €!
Oder “Healthy, lean and fit” from Dr. Heinz Reinwald now
By the way: Even glucose, which is often touted as a concentration booster, is an absolute fallacy. Since sugar or glucose is used immediately by our bodies, it does provide a brief energy boost, but then performance and concentration quickly drop again!
5. Keep your nerve cells supple: omega-3 fatty acids
As important components of the nerve cells in our brain, omega-3 fatty acids not only promote the smooth transmission of stimuli, but also ensure proper energy metabolism and optimal blood circulation. The two most biologically active omega-3 fatty acids, docasahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are particularly important for brain health. DHA is also the most abundant fatty acid in our photoreceptors. It influences the structure of the retina and thus the maintenance of normal vision. When our bodies do not get enough DHA and EPA, it has a negative effect on our nerve cells, eye health, and brain performance. DHA and EPA are found only in cold water marine fish and algae.
We also find many sources of omega-3 fatty acids in foods that are more common in our region, such as flaxseed, walnuts, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, or canola oil. These contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), another omega-3 fatty acid, but only a very small percentage is bioavailable. Since our brain needs large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, it can hardly use these sources. This is why fish or algae oil is a better choice for our brains than flaxseed oil. Because: Again, it is not the quantity that matters, but the quality!
Enter AlgaeDHA. The high-dose omega-3 capsules made from sustainable algae oil offer a high content of DHA and EPA – ideal for daily supplementation. The advantage of AlgaeDHA is that it is not only ideal for vegetarians and vegans, but unlike fish oil, it is also extremely pure, as the algae is hardly affected by the accumulation of pollutants.
PerfectBRAIN by dr.reinwald vital – Your Booster for Brain and Sensory Organs
Our vitality package of EyeCQ and AlgaeDHA gives you everything you need for an optimal supply of your nerve cells, your brain and your sensory organs!
- Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA from a sustainable, plant-based source in optimal bioavailability to support brain function and maintain normal vision.
- Water- AND fat-soluble vitamin C for optimal delivery to the lipid layers of your cells in the brain and sensory organs (especially your eyes).
- Powerful antioxidants in the form of Bioflavonoids, Vitamins A and E, Astaxanthin, Coenzyme Q10, Reduced Glutathione, Active H® and Zinc for effective and lasting protection of your cells against oxidative stress.
- Vitamin A to help maintain normal vision day and night
