Nuts & Seeds: Preserve Your Memory
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible disease common in middle and old age. The disorder causes brain cells to gradually waste away and die.
Threatening as it is, there’s something that can help boost our fight against mental deterioration and prevention from premature dementia. Nature has its own package of supplemental foods that play vital roles in the whole function of the human body and brain. Sometimes sweet, sometimes milky, creamy, or mild, nuts and seeds come in different shapes and forms, and researchers and doctors have proven the essential worth of their existence.
Nuts and seeds are not only a fun snack, but they also bring a package of health benefits necessary to your whole being.
These nuts and seeds are packed with neuroprotective compounds, which help you build and preserve your memory and fight off stress. The neuroprotective compounds found in these wholesome nuts are melatonin, vitamin E, antioxidants, folate, zinc, amino acids, and omega-3 fats. They are high in proteins that helps neurons communicate better within the brain.They stimulate more synapses, or connections within the brain, which creates more space and storage for new memories.
Protein and Omega Fatty Acids
For a healthy and flavorful snack, try munching these nuts and seeds:
Walnuts
Walnuts are highly packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are known for eliminating or decreasing the vulnerability to ‘oxidative stress’ which is often experienced during aging. These antioxidants are also great at improving mental cognition and motor function. Walnuts are also packed with melatonin, folate, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential in brain function.
Almonds
Almonds are highly protein-rich nuts. Protein is known for boosting specific brain and cognitive functions through repairing brain cells. Almonds also contain zinc, which fights off free radicals that attack and damage brain cells. This nut also contains L-carnitine and riboflavin which generally reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Sunflower Seeds
Aside from the beauty it gives, sunflowers have a bunch of goodness right in the center – the seeds. Sunflower seeds do wonders on your brain by giving it a calming effect and are highly rich in tryptophan, which helps in the creation of proteins.
They are also known to effectively increase serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin balances a person’s mood, and reduces tension in the body which results in a relaxed effect.
Pumpkin Seeds
It’s not everyday you see people munching on pumpkin seeds, but it would be great if you did! Pumpkin seeds contain healthy acids that do wonders for brain damage prevention. The seeds coming from this big orange fruit are packed with glutamate that is vital for brain function. The human brain has an anti-stress chemicals which require glutamate to help reduce nervous irritability, anxiety, and other neurotic conditions.
Hazelnut
Hazelnut is incredibly healthy, and no chocolate is needed. These nuts are packed with goodness that is advantageous for the brain and its functions. They are enriched with phytochemicals that belong to flavonoids, which are known to support brain health and fight off diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke. In addition, they are good for reducing symptoms that are associated with allergies and improving circulation in the brain.
Having a handful of these wonder nuts can also help reduce the risk of asthma. Including hazelnuts in your daily snacks and pastime treat provides the body with healthy benefits, according to the Hazelnut Council.
Healthy Omega Fatty Acids
Healthy Omega acids like omega-3 and omega-6 fats are found in almost all of these nuts and seeds.
Omega fatty acids are known to do wonders to the aging process of a person, in addition to improving memory and cognitive abilities.
Researches have proved that certain fatty acids, mostly found in fish, but also in nuts and seeds, improve the brain volume, reduce memory loss, and delay cognitive decline.
Omega fatty acids work to sharpen brain function but also contain antidepressant properties.
Fighting Off Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s may seem inevitable if you have bad memory, or if the disease runs in your family, but it can also be prevented!
Researches and studies have shown that including these wholesome nuts and seeds in your dietary regimen will benefit a lot in brain function and preserving memory.
They are one of the few recommendations of health experts and specialists, especially for seniors.
