Brain Health | ThinkBeef

Eat with your brain in mind

Research confirms nutrition is a key pillar for supporting optimal brain and mental health.

That’s true across the entire lifespan and includes reducing the risk for brain diseases such as dementia and mood disorders.

And it’s no surprise the nutrition needs of the brain are significant. It’s a small but mighty organ that works around the clock, processing and retrieving information, regulating mood, transmitting information to the rest of the body and more through a network of 85 billion neurons.

Power your brain with delicious, whole foods. Opt for minimally processed options from both plant and animal sources to help ensure your brain gets all the nutrients needed.

Concerning statistics

Dietitian Carol Harrison on nutrition and mental health

FACT: The brain needs over 40 NUTRIENTS^5,6to run smoothly and uses up about 20%-25% of the body’s total food energy.⁷

Where will you find these 40+ NUTRIENTS?

Eating a combination of nutrient-dense, minimally processed plant- and animal-sourced foods is the best way to get the nutrients your brain requires to function properly. Here are some examples of foods that are particularly rich in nutrients known to be required for brain health.

Protein-brain health connection

If you thought protein was just for your muscles, think again.

Protein from our diet:

- Is a major structural component of the brain and nerves
- Is used for repair and maintenance of the brain’s vast circuitry
- Provides amino acids, used to make our body’s chemical messengers (neurotransmitters)

Protein is vital for brain health too. That’s why it’s important to eat enough good-quality protein each day.

Find out more: Protein the way nature intended.

Another good reason to eat nutrient-rich food: poor diets are linked to poor mental health

Healthy dietary patterns are linked with less cognitive decline

Healthy dietary patterns, like the three below, feature minimally-processed, nutrient-dense foods such as beef, seafood, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. It comes down to consistently choosing a tasty diet of nourishing food most of the time.

- Mediterranean
- DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
- MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay)

Find out more: New Research on Meat and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Iron-brain health connection

Iron is vital for brain and mental health yet many Canadians suffer from iron deficiency.

Find out more: Iron matters.

Brain Health | ThinkBeef

Slider with alias brain-book-feature-slider-1 not found.

There is nothing to show here!

Research spotlight

References:

Eat with your brain in mind

Research confirms nutrition is a key pillar for supporting optimal brain and mental health.

That’s true across the entire lifespan and includes reducing the risk for brain diseases such as dementia and mood disorders.

And it’s no surprise the nutrition needs of the brain are significant. It’s a small but mighty organ that works around the clock, processing and retrieving information, regulating mood, transmitting information to the rest of the body and more through a network of 85 billion neurons.

Power your brain with delicious, whole foods. Opt for minimally processed options from both plant and animal sources to help ensure your brain gets all the nutrients needed.

Concerning statistics

Dietitian Carol Harrison on nutrition and mental health

FACT: The brain needs over 40 NUTRIENTS5,6 to run smoothly and uses up about 20%-25% of the body’s total food energy.7

Where will you find these 40+ NUTRIENTS?

Eating a combination of nutrient-dense, minimally processed plant- and animal-sourced foods is the best way to get the nutrients your brain requires to function properly. Here are some examples of foods that are particularly rich in nutrients known to be required for brain health.

Protein-brain health connection

If you thought protein was just for your muscles, think again.

Protein from our diet:

Is a major structural component of the brain and nerves

Is used for repair and maintenance of the brain’s vast circuitry

Provides amino acids, used to make our body’s chemical messengers (neurotransmitters)

Protein is vital for brain health too. That’s why it’s important to eat enough good-quality protein each day.

Find out more: Protein the way nature intended.

Another good reason to eat nutrient-rich food: poor diets are linked to poor mental health

Healthy dietary patterns are linked with less cognitive decline

Healthy dietary patterns, like the three below, feature minimally-processed, nutrient-dense foods such as beef, seafood, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. It comes down to consistently choosing a tasty diet of nourishing food most of the time.

Mediterranean

DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay)

Find out more: New Research on Meat and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Iron-brain health connection

Iron is vital for brain and mental health yet many Canadians suffer from iron deficiency.

Find out more: Iron matters.

ThinkBeef

Research spotlight

FACT: The brain needs over 40 NUTRIENTS^5,6to run smoothly and uses up about 20%-25% of the body’s total food energy.⁷