Food for thought is also a pill for ills

Hyderabad: That the brain too requires nutrition is just being recognised in India. It is important to understand neuro-nutrition as it impacts pregnant mothers, infants, adolescents, adults and the aging population.

Neuro-nutrition can deal with degenerative diseases like Alzheimers, Parkinsons and other neuro diseases. Preventing the damage is the best way to deal with it, according to the Indian Association for Parenteral and Entreal Nutrition. 

The team from IAPEN has found that the public health system in India must push for right eating habits and appropriate nutrition programmes for children and adolescents to maintain optimal health. Globally, brain nutrition is being discussed and also optimal nutritional therapy is being provided which is seeing improvement in neuro trauma, neurosurgeries and critical care of patients.

Dr Deepika Sirineni, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, says, “The brain, like any other organ, is exposed to toxic substances and undergoes damage. There is also degeneration due to the aging process. Neuro-nutrition is being talked about as there are mood disorders, mood swings or disturbances, depression, memory disturbances, decreased understanding and sleep disorders. This is being seen in children, adolescents and adults due to lack of proper nutrition for the brain. For this reason, neuro-nutrition is being stressed in pregnant women, children and aging population.”

Eating the right food is important for the optimum performance of the brain. The optimum functioning of the brain is when there is efficient memory, understanding, cognitive abilities to remember the daily routines and also proper performance. These are the yardsticks that determine the functioning of the brain.

Says Dr Muralidhar Reddy, consultant neurologist, “Life-time nutrients are important for the proper functioning of the brain. These are slow-acting foods which must be a part of our diet to provide the energy for the brain. These foods are rich in anti-oxidants like colourful fruits and vegetables, fish and olive oils, fruit juices and anti-inflammatory plants and drugs like aspirin, cinnamon and fat-soluble vitamins like nuts and legumes. People who are found to eat these foods throughout their lifetime do not report changes in their thoughts or moods. Regular consumption is important in limited quantities according to their body weight.”

Interestingly, these foods are a protection against the most deadly thing we expose ourselves to every day, which is oxygen. 

“As we consume food, we must consume oxygen and when we do that we age,” says Dr Reddy. “Those who have lived the longest tend to eat foods rich in anti-oxidants and also do not eat too much of food.”

To create awareness in the public health system, first target doctors and dieticians who must counsel the people to eat the right foods so that neuro-nutrition is optimum. 

In case of trauma and critical care too, there is a need for providing proper foods so that the recovery of the patient is faster. The need for nutritional therapy is being felt in hospital care so that there is proper wound healing, preventing infection, pressure sores and also maintaining proper recovery of the neuro-system via the right foods.