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The brain does not sleep. It functions 24/7; therefore, it is in constant need of
nourishment. And whatever you eat directly affects the structure of your brain and
consequently, your mood as well.
Have you heard of serotonin? This is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and
appetite, arbitrate mood and restrain pain. According to Eva Selhub, MD, a contributing editor
of Harvard Health Blog (Harvard Health Publishing), if 95% of serotonin is produced in the
gastrointestinal tract, and the gastrointestinal tract is lined with hundred million nerve cells,
called neurons, it conforms that the inner workings of the digestive system do not only digest
food, but also affect your emotions.
Studies have also shown that nutritional status can directly affect mental capacity
among children. To cite some examples: deficiency in iron can decrease dopamine impacting
mental cognition; as well as, deficiencies in thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin B, iodine and zinc
hamper cognitive abilities and mental concentration; on the other hand, amino acids and
carbohydrates can help improve perception, intuition and reasoning.
The month of July celebrates proper nutrition. For school-age children, it is important
that the brain is properly nourished as early as conception time. It is the brain that primarily
functions in their academic activities. Below is a list of some foods that are good for the brain:
FIDELA L. MASLANG