Dietician advises on healthy foods for mental health

A Dietician at the Garki Hospital, Abuja, Yemisi Olowookere, on Monday advised the public on foods that play positive role in the overall mind health and mental agility.
Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that a healthy diet low in cholesterol could encourage good blood flow to the brain.
She said that a healthy diet would reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Olowookere said that food such as grilled salmon, spinach, virgin olive oil and blackberries, provide potent anti oxidants known as polyphenols that zap inflammation and encourages communication between neurons.
She said that such food also improved ability to soak up information.
She said that apples could help to improve blood pressure and it prevents the deposit of cholesterol within the arteries.
Olowookere noted that apple was a leading source of quercetine, an anti oxidant plant chemical “that keeps one’s mental juices flowing by protecting the brain cells.”
She, therefore, recommended eating of apples with their skin on since that was where one would find most of their quercetine.
She said that grape fruit contains polyphenols that improves communication between brain cells.
She said that since the brain could not work without energy, choosing whole grains would release glucose slowly into the blood stream, keeping one mentally alert throughout the day.
She, however, recommended brown cereals, whole wheat and brown pasta.
Olowookere also recommended eating of oily fish, which contains Omega 3 fats that occur naturally in only fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines.
She said that Lin seed oil, soya bean oil, pumpkin seed, walnut oil and soya beans were all good for healthy brain function and extra virgin olive oil was heart friendly.
She also recommended eating more blueberries, oranges, more tomatoes as the Vitamin C present would ensure increased mental agility.
The dietician also said that using broccoli was a great source of Vitamin K known to enhance cognitive function and improve brain power.
She said: “Eating three serving of leafy, green, yellow and cruciferous vegetable a day can delay cognitive decline by 40 per cent.
“They are packed with nutrients such as folate, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.”
Olowookere also recommended eating of nuts as great source of Vitamin E, along with leafy green vegetable, asparagus, olive oil seed, eggs, brown rice and whole grains, healthy food for the brain.
“Having a nourishing, adequate diet gives the brain the best chance of avoiding disease.”