CTW Magazine AUGUST 2014

Page 16

HEALTH VIEW 1

BRAIN HEALTH

OPTIMUM NUTRITION FOR

BRAIN HEALTH by Sabira Saifuddin, MD

OPTIMAL NUTRITION IS CRUCIAL TO OPTIMAL BRAIN HEALTH WHICH IS CRUCIAL TO OPTIMAL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. YOUR BRAIN CONTROLS THE PRODUCTION OF HORMONES IN YOUR BODY WHICH, IN TURN CONTROLS YOUR METABOLISM, SLEEP/WAKE CYCLE, HUNGER, BODY TEMPERATURE, ENERGY LEVELS AND LIBIDO. YOUR BRAIN PERFORMS A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY. This is why you need to increase your awareness of the importance of nutrients and micronutrients. Your brain needs adequate amounts of nutrition and supplements to function optimally. It is extremely important to ensure your stores of various nutrients are not depleted.

MACRONUTRIENTS AND MICRONUTRIENTS Supplements have been used in medicine since ancient times. The supplements come from the plant, mineral and animal worlds. They can be classified into various categories such as macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates and fats which come mainly from the food we consume. Micronutrients—for example, vitamins, minerals and free fatty acids—are essential nutrients. They are generally only present in small quantities in our food and they may need to be consumed in the form of supplements.

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CTW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2014


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