What is "fermented food"?

Fermentation is when a food is exposed to bacteria and yeasts either naturally or through the air. It is the bacterial conversion of starches and sugars into lactic acid and acetic acid.

Fermentation was discovered thousands of years ago, before refrigeration, as a form of food preservation.

Common fermented foods are:

Vegetables: sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles.

Soyfoods: miso, tempeh, natto, say sauce.

Dairy: kefir, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, cottage cheese.

Beverages: kombucha, rejuvelac.

Fermented food are now seen as super foods  for their amazing health benefits. 

What are some foods which are good for my brain?

As we age the brain starts to atrophy or waste away; this starts around age 30, and then increases rapidly after age 50.  Brain deterioration can look like memory loss, difficulty learning new skills, sleep disruption, scattered concentration, and so on. Certain lifestyles such as high stress, substance misuse, and dehydration can also led to the same signs of an aging brain.

The brain is the most delcate organ of the body and can use up to 30% of the energy we derive from food.

Allergies can affect the central nervous system (brain and spine) and can show as fatigue, slowed thinking, irritability, agitation, aggression, nervousness, depression, schizophrenia, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, all issues we associate with brain function.

There are certain foods which can help with maintaining optimal brain function:

1) Blueberries: this fruit has compounds which boost neuron signals, to help neurons "talk to each other", helping with balance, coordination, and motor function.

2) Salmon: this fish helps the brain have more grey matter in the hippocampus, the posterior cingulate, and the orbital frontal cortex.  Studies are showing people who eat salmon have more omega-3 fatty acid in thier brain which helps protect against Alzheimers. Other studies show that omega-3 helps with mood, bipolar, and alcoholism.

3) Coffee: Studies show that limited caffeine from coffe can protect against Parkinsons, Dementia, and Alzheimer.

4) Nuts: Nuts contain fatty acids which can help with insomnia, poor memory, and mental clarity.

5) Avocados: This fruit contains a healthy fat which promotes blood flow to the brain.

6) Eggs: Egg yolks contain choline, one of the B vitamins. THis essential nutrient helps with memory function.

7) Chocolate: Dark chocolate contains magnesium and many antioxidants which are good for focus and concentration.

8) Broccoli: This vegetable activates cell recptor sites ad therefore is seen as a protective food as well as slows down the aging process.

9) Vitamin C & E: These vitamins enhance memory under stressful conditions. 

What is an Enzyme?

Enzymes speed up the thousands of chemical reactions our bodies need to function. They are like our vital force and are needed for cellular energy, repairing tissues, stimulating the brain, and digesting food. Without them, we'd soon die.

Enzymes were discovered by Dr. Edward Howell in 1920 who thought that humans are born with a certain amount of enzymes at birth and that we can only replenish them with certain healthy foods such as raw fruits and vegetables. Research now shows that as age, we produce fewer enzymes than in youth. Some people see that aging and enzyme production are closely linked.

There are 3 classes of enzymes:

1) Metabolic enzymes: help manage reaction between cells such as turning phosphorus into bone, attching iron to our red blood cells, healing wounds, and making sure our hearts beat.

2) Digestive enzymes: are formed in the pancreas and help break down foods so that we can assimmilate nutrients into the blood stream. There are different types of digestive enzymes which break down different type of nutrients and this is described in another post (see:  What are digestive enzymes?)

3) Food enzymes: come from raw food and is what helps uneaten food decompose. Food enzymes help us "predigest" our food, before the other enzymes kick in.  One theory says that if you eat lot's of uncooked food, you are helping prolong the number of other enzymes in your system, as they do not have to work as hard. Saving enzymes slows down the aging process.