How Eating and Sleeping Affects the Brain
We review the diet and sleep patterns of our clients and often recommend changes in food choices and sleep habits to obtain optimal results as rapidly as possible.
The average American diet is heavy on carbohydrates and salt and lower in protein and essential nutrients such as “good” fats needed for brain function. Eating habits that result in sufficient consumption of protein, and the right types of fat and carbohydrates are crucial for proper brain performance. It’s difficult to obtain the necessary vitamins, minerals, and essential amino and fatty acids without supplementation.
Nutrients affect the development of the brain and can improve or weaken cognitive functioning. For example, deficient levels of omega–3 fatty acids have been shown to produce symptoms such as poor attention, vision or digestion problems and ADHD type behavior. Healthy levels of zinc are necessary for proper communications between brain cells; iron is used to carry oxygen to the cells in the brain.
The average person requires seven to eight hours of sleep nightly, but this varies widely. Children and teens require more. Research in this field is evolving, yet has already indicated that the brain repairs itself during sleep, and growth hormones are released. Researchers are beginning to study whether learned patterns are reinforced during sleep. Sleep deprivation results in lack of focus and impaired judgment.