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Good Nutrition
May Lessen Risk of
Dementia
Healthy eating boosts the brain
and other body systems
By Dr. Tom Miller, Staff Writer
Good nutrition is one key to health
and wellness. Nutrition is often
defined as the supply of food required
by the body and its cells to stay alive.
It is also the science and practice of
consuming and utilizing food to meet
that need. Nutritional science is the
study of how the body breaks down
the food it takes in, repairs existing
cells and creates new cells and tissue.
This process is referred to as metabolism.
The importance of good nutrition
is tied to the body’s ability to function effectively. Food is the fuel that
helps deliver maximum power and
performance to all body systems.
Without healthy nutrition, the body’s
engine will cough, splutter and even-
tually stall. Healthy eating is essential
for optimum brain functioning as
well. The brain needs many different
nutrients to develop and function
properly. Nutrients such as choline
(found in egg yolks, liver and wheat
germ) and DHA (an omega-3 fatty
acid found in fish and breast milk)
are particularly important for proper
brain development.
The brain also needs tyrosine,
which is found in protein and vitamin
C. It produces neurotransmitters that
carry signals between brain cells.
Antioxidants in foods and essential
fatty acids help protect brain cells
from everyday damage and age-related decline.
The brain needs a mixture of
vitamins and iron for cellular energy
metabolism that promotes dynamic
cell life and neurotransmission. The
healthy brain requires an overall balanced nutritional intake. When