Food on Mood and Cognitive Performance

What do we know about food?

  • Food is essential to life-but are we eating the right thing?

  • Over the course of time, food has been severely modified from its original form

  • The Standard American Diet (SAD) has significantly impacted both physical and mental well-being

  • We are seeing significant increases in mood-related disorders and stress levels-is our dietary intake and lifestyle have some fault?

  • Food can either be POISON or MEDICINE

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What about food on the brain?

  • Food impacts numerous neurotransmitters-either for good or detriment. The primary neurotransmitters:

  1. Serotonin

  2. Norepinephrine

  3. Dopamine

  4. Acetylcholine

 

  • Food impacts mitochondria

    • biogenesis (creation)

    • ​cellular respiration

      • energy creation​

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Ketogenic Diet on

Brain Functioning

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

  • Low carbohydrate (5-10%), moderate protein (20-25%), high fat (75-80% or higher)

  • Significant reduction/elimination of processed sugars and carbohydrates

  • Having the body run on ketone bodies instead of glucose.

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What are Ketones?

  • Source of fuel produced by the liver from fat

  • Another source of fuel for the brain!

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Ketones and the Brain

  1. Okay....it's true...the brain does need glucose...HOWEVER
    • We create glucose via a process called gluconeogenesis​
    • This process does not require us to eat carbohydrates!
  2. Ketones are responsible for increased efficiency in ATP production within mitochondria​
    • Ketones can result in increased energy​ for brain functioning
  3. Because there is a lot more fat than glucose available in our body, we can tap into these reserves and have increased and sustained cognitive effects​
  4. You can enter into ketosis via fasting or eating a low-carb, moderate protein, high fat diet.
  5. Your brain neurons are protected by myelin (which is composed of fat)
    • This is responsible for faster neuronal processing​
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Light

Does light exposure have an impact on mental and physical well-being?

Exercise

What effects does exercise have on overall physical and mental performance?

Water

Does the type of water I drink matter? What does water have to do with mental and physical well-being?

Sleep

Sleep better for better physical and mental well-being

© 2020 by Dr. Jay T. Wiles

Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information presented is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website is not substitute for individual medical advice from your personal healthcare provider.