The effect of Nutrition on
Mental Alertness By Charlotte Meschede - Nutritionist
Most of us are aware of the effects of lack of sleep, too much alcohol or simply stress, on mental alertness but not many doctors pay much attention to the impact that diet has on how ‘switched on’ your brain is at any one time. If you think about it, your brain is always ‘on’ even when you are asleep. It controls everything your body does 24/7. This means that your brain needs a constant supply of fuel, which we assume is provided by food. It is what is in the fuel that can make all the difference. In simple terms, what you eat, directly affects the functioning of the brain. Like a car that will respond better to premium fuel rather than a sub-standard one, your brain can be up-regulated or down-regulated to perform better or worse, depending on what nutrients your diet does or does not provide. Eating a diet that is rich in micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements as well as adequate amounts of good quality proteins, fats and carbohydrates will protect the brain tissue from oxidative stress which then damages cells and consequently, cellular functioning. Diets that are high in refined sugars will be harmful to the brain because sugar will aggravate any inflammation, cause a spike in insulin levels and ultimately damage cognitive function. High refined sugar diets are known to worsen symptoms of any prevailing 4
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mental illness such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder and bi-polar disorder. The impact of nutrition on mental acuity is well documented. Even so, few psychiatrists actually exploit this adjunctive therapy and the patient loses out on what could make a huge difference in the quality of his/her life. In addition to the micronutrients that can be provided by eating good quality whole and unprocessed foods and supplements, there are some herbal compounds that have been used for centuries to improve mental acuity and cognitive function. Ginkgo Biloba, commonly known as maidenhair, a tree native to China is well known as a medicinal herb, particularly for its beneficial effects on circulation and cognitive (brain) function. Ginkgo biloba herbal extracts are made from the leaves. Most of the health benefits associated with taking these extracts is from the high levels of terpenoids and flavonoids, compounds which have very powerful antioxidant
