Feed your brain

Despite it's relatively small size, the brain consumes more energy than any other organ in the body. Ten million nerve cells, or neurons continually fire chemical messages to each other via chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters control many vital functions including memory, sleep, appetite and our moods. Nutrition can greatly affect the type and amount of neurotransmitters our brain produces.

A well balanced raw food diet is a great way to enhance brain function. Try to include a reasonable amount of proteins, some complex carbohydrates (wholegrains), no refined sugars and take small frequent snacks rather than large meals.

Mood Swings

Mood swings and lack of concentration can be caused by rapidly fluctuating blood sugar (glucose) levels. Some foods will cause our glucose levels to surge. Highly processed "junk sugars" found in candy, icings, syrups, packaged baked goods, and table sugar enter our blood stream rapidly, producing a 'sugar high'.

These sugars are quickly used up, producing a sugar low - or hypoglycemia. This in turn triggers hormones that release stored sugar from the liver, creating another 'high' - etc etc etc.

As you can see, this rollercoaster effect causes instability and inconsistency in our mental and emotional states. Lack of concentration, irritability, one minute happy, the next sad - these symptoms can often be relieved by modifying your diet with appropriate raw foods and cutting out processed foods that are full of empty calories.

Complex carbohydrates (starch) are simple sugars binded together in a long chain. These take much longer to digest but provide us with a more steady supply of energy - reducing the rollercoaster effect.
 

Depression

 One of the body's natural antidepressants is phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is most common in high-protein foods. We can metabolise and utilise it's by products quite easily, being 10 times less toxic than Vitamin C.
Raw foods containing the natural antidepressant phenylalanine

• Almonds
• Apple
• Banana
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Spinach

The importance of good sleep

A lack of good sleep can affect us in many detrimental ways. We all know that a restless night or an interruption to our normal sleeping patterns can leave us feeling grumpy, confused and generally in a bad mood. Other short terms effects of sleep deprivation include:

• irritability
• memory impairment
• reduced cognitive ability
• increased risk of accidents due to clumsiness

The long term effects of sleep deprivation are more serious and include psychiatric disorders, relationships problems and mental impairment as well as a range of physical disorders including heart disease, obesity and strokes.
Changing your diet can help with sleep related problems. Many raw foods help to promote sleep. These include

• leafy green vegetables, rich in chlorophyll,
• whole grains
• fruits, especially berries
• some spices including dill sage, and basil.

Seretonin

Seretonin is an important neurotransmitter associated with numerous behavioural and physiological functions. Low levels of seretonin have been linked to sleep problems and depression. Pharmaceuticals such as Prozac act to artificially increase seretonin levels in the brain.
Seretonin is triggered by it's precursor - tryptophan, which is found in many common raw foods. Tryptophan is most effective when taken with a carbohydrate source. Here are some raw foods containing trytophan.

• alfalfa
• beetroot
• carrot
• celery
• spinach
• watercress
• raw chocolate

Stress

In our modern society, one of the most overworked organs in the body is the liver. It has to detoxify practically every foreign chemical we eat (pharmaceuticals, colourings, preservatives) as well as excess fats, carbohydrates, proteins and all alcohol.

By eating over-refined, processed foods, we place our bodies under relentless biochemical stress. Combined with the daily pressures of modern life, this can sometimes lead to illness. A diet of natural raw produce can alleviate some of these symptoms. Listen to your body - find out which foods disagree with you - a nutritionist can give you tests if necessary to detect any allergies or intolerances and if possible avoid all refined or processed foods.

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