Eating for your brain!
The North American diet has taking a dangerous shift in the modern age. We’ve traded in
our brain-saving omega-3 fatty acids for saturated or trans fatty acids. As a busy nurse-tobe you need to keep your brain in tiptop shape; omega-3 and a number of other nutrients
play an important role in this goal. They also help keep your brain sharp when you’re
studying for the CRNE!
Omega-3 helps to prevent decline in mental function, and you can find it in salmon, chia,
kiwi and walnuts
Flavonoids have been found to boost brainpower when combined with exercise; you can
find them in green tea, citrus, red wine, and dark chocolate.
B vitamins are great for enhancing memory for women and the most effective ones are
B6, B12 and folate. Many women take B vitamin supplements and if you don’t you can
find them in leafy green veggies, shellfish, grains and fruit to name a few sources.
Iron can help women stabilize cognitive function and it’s found in most meat (red meat,
poultry, fish) along with beans and lentils.
So stock up on these power foods while you are cramming your brain full of nursing
knowledge and they could help keep it there! Good luck on the CRNE!
Reference:
Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 9(7): 568–578. doi:10.1038/nrn2421.
