Feeding Your Brain Essay - 1716 Words

Feeding Your Brain As a typical college student, I suffer from daily stresses, lack of sleep and lack of a proper diet. I have pulled countless all nighters; my body and brain fueled only by coffee, chocolate and pizza, in order finish a paper or study for an exam. As a result, I may have done better on the paper or test, but I was being very unkind to my body and brain. In terms of nutrition, it is important to think of the brain as just another organ in the body. The food and other substances we put into our bodies affect our behavior, mood, thoughts and emotions. The brain responds very quickly to proper nutrition. However, as a college student who dines daily in the dining hall, I most likely do not get the nutrients needed to†¦show more content†¦The proteins raise the level of the amino acid tyrosine in the blood and brain. If more tyrosine is present, the bodys neurons will produce more norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that makes you feel mot ivated, alert and able to concentrate. It is also necessary for the brain to form new memories and to transfer memories from short term to long-term storage. Dopamine is also a neurotransmitter associated with activity and fine muscle coordination and aids in healthy assertiveness, autonomic nervous system and immune system functions. Dopamine levels can be depleted by lack of sleep and high stress. So, it is important replenish dopamine levels with a protein packed breakfast after a hard night of studying (4). Eggs yolks contain a high amount of lecithin, which contains the fat like substance choline. Choline belongs to the Vitamin B family and is needed to metabolize fats. It is also the primary building block of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter essential for concentration, focus, muscle coordination and storage and recall of memory (4). Orange Juice: Vitamin C and E help fight off free radicals that destroy dopamine and norepinephrine. During times of stress and illness your body uses up a lot of Vitamin C. Most animals produce their own Vitamin C, but humans doShow MoreRelated Breast Feeding vs Formula Essay1357 Words   |  6 Pages Breast-feeding is nutritionally, emotionally and physically superior for a mother and her child. â€Å"Human breast milk is not standard nor is it interchangeable with cow’s milk. It is a dynamic fluid that changes in composition to meet the needs of the baby as it grows† (â€Å"Giving your Baby... Diet.† par. #10). Breast milk contains growth factors and antibodies which stimulate the growing baby and protect it from illness such as diarrhea, ear infections, rashes, allergies, asthma, skin problems, pneumoniaRead MoreEating Disorders And The Binge Eating Disorder1578 Words   |  7 Pagescomes from a part of the brain that is older in terms of evolutionary history. 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