Food your child should eat to help their concentration

Food your child should eat to help their concentration

Here is some food for thought.

Standardized testing is starting at school and your child needs to  concentrate , so that means having good food so that they can do their best.  Hopefully everyday they eat well and get plenty of sleep so they can be star performers.  Here are some great foods to eat  that  can improve your whole families  brain power.

Almonds and other nuts

Great snack and it also boosts your memory and increases the blood flow to the brain.

Beans

Beans provide additional energy from protein and complex carbohydrates in addition to fiber and loads of vitamins and minerals.Beans are an excellent brain food as they keep the energy levels up perking up their thinking as well if they had them as part of lunch. Pita and hummus makes a great snack or lunch.

Berries

Berries; all of them especially blueberries, contain powerful antioxidants. Improved memory is noticed in those kids that consume berries regularly.  So the Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat is a great choice for lunch.

 EggsEggs are a great protein source.The yolks also contain choline which is absolutely necessary for brain development it boosts the memory center in your brain. They  can be eaten as a scrambled egg for  breakfast or egg salad for lunch but also make a great dinner time meal. Eating the whole egg is good for you, the yolk has the most nutrients in it.

Lean Beef

Lean beef is one of the best absorbed sources of iron. Iron is a mineral which is especialy important for the growth of children and helps in beter concentration at school.Beef also contains zinc which aids memory. Grass fed beef has the most nutrients.

Milk and Yogurt

Protein and B vitamins present in dairy foods are essential for the growth of brain tissue,enzymes and neurotransmitters.Milk and yogurt are packed with protein and carbohydrate which is a source of energy for the brain. It improves alertness and memory

Oats/Oatmeal

Oats is “grain for the brain”,say nutritionists. As a breakfast cereal,kids get the first energy for their brain from oats.Fiber rich oats also keep the children energized throughout the morning at school.Oats are also rich in vitamins B,E potassium and zinc which helps the brain and body to function to optimum levels.

Peanut Butter

Peanuts and peanut butter are an excellent source of Vitamin E,a potent antioxidant that protects nervous membranes.Thiamine is also present which helps the brain and nervous system convert glucose to energy. Peanut butter can be used in sandwiches or along with vegetables or fruit ( apples or bananas)

Salmon

Salmon is an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA which are essential for brain growth and function. Eat salmon at least twice a week  to have sharper mind.Tuna is also very beneficial.

 Vegetables

Brightly colored and fresh vegetables are tremendously beneficial due to the antioxidants develop the immunity and also keep the brain cells strong.

 Whole Grains

The brain needs an optimal level of glucose for energy throughout the day which is provided by consuming whole grains.It also increases the blood flow to the brain. The vitamin B that it contains makes sure your kids develop a healthy nervous system.

I saved the best for last, Dark chocolate! 

Dark chocolate enhances focus and concentration. It is a great midway reward for hard work

Go Nuts!

A great snack for on the go.

Nuts,  Almonds, Walnuts, Macadamia. We all have grown up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ants on a log, and peanut butter cookies. They are a great source of many great vitamins but should be eaten sparingly.  Nuts are a fatty food, but this fatty food actually helps you burn body fat!  80 percent of a nut is fat. Even though most of this fat is healthy fat, it’s still a lot of calories. That’s why you should eat nuts in moderation.  If you want to get rid of fat and lose inches on your stomach then you’ll want to incorporate nuts to your diet. Nuts are perfect as a light snack. Instead of reaching for the chips or other quick junk foods, eat dry roasted nuts.

Although nuts are loaded with fat, this fat is healthy fat ( omega-3 and unsaturated fats) . Nuts are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein which are all vital for controlling blood sugar level and encouraging fat loss. Nuts also maintain fat burning hormones, and they suppress your appetite fill you up quickly and keep you feeling full longer.

Type of nut	Calories
Almonds, dry roasted	169	High in bone building minerals
Brazil nuts, raw	186	exceptionally high levels of selenium
Cashews, dry roasted	163	help prevent gallbladder disease
Chestnuts, roasted	69	rich in vitamin-C and folate
Macadamia nuts, dry roasted	204	slows digestion and reduces hunger
Pecans, dry roasted	201	protecting body from cancers
Pistachios, dry roasted	161	protect skin from dryness
Walnuts, halved	185	may help relieve hyper tension

Advantages of Grass Fed Beef

Beef raised on grass (a cow’s natural diet) is much higher in healthy omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E and healthy fat than that brought up on a diet of grains. Not to mention that grass fed beef is some of the highest quality protein available, vital for building muscle and burning fat.

advantages of grass fed beef 

• More antioxidant Vitamin E
• More antioxidant Beta Carotene
• More CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid – cancer prevention)
• Less Fat/Saturated Fat (this is more natural levels for wild meats)
• Less Omega 6s, More Omega 3s
• Higher in the B-vitamins thiamin and riboflavin
• Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium

It has been estimated that only 40 percent of Americans consume an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids. Twenty percent have blood levels so low that they cannot be detected. Switching to the meat, milk, and dairy products of grass-fed animals is one way to restore this vital nutrient to your diet.

Celiac disease

Celiac Disease

Celiac (SEE-lee-ak) disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye.

The decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment.

No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease by changing your diet. A gluten free diet will improve your health .

Great foods to eat

alfalfa, asparagus, brocoli, brussel sprouts, celerry, green beans, grapefruit,  leafy greens, tomatoes, yogurt

corn and brown rice  quinoa

legumes- beans, lentils. peas

nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, figs, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, black berries

onions, garlic and leeks

apples

Papaya provide protection against colon cancer. In addition, papaya contains the digestive enzyme, papain

Eat omega -3 – tuna, salmon, flaxseed

turmeric, ginger, and soy products

Increase iron and B vitamins,

Fiber to cleanse the system- almonds, apricots, bananas, barley beans, beets, brazil nuts, brown rice, carrots, dates, fish, garlic, grapes hazelnuts, lemons, lentils, onions, spinach, yogurt

Many people that have celiacs also are lactose intolerant

Avoid gluten products, alcohol, red meat, sugar and saturated fats

Over the last few years more gluten free products have come out and more resturants have added gluten free choices, it makes it easier to find delicious tasting foods that are not high in calories. Doctors are only now starting to realize that some people who don’t have celiac disease may benefit from diets free  or low gluten. In fact, experts now believe that celiac only represents just one extreme of a broad spectrum of gluten intolerance that includes millions of people. While celiac disease affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population, experts estimate that as many as 10 percent have a related  condition known as non-celiac gluten intolerance (NCGI), or gluten sensitivity. A gluten-free diet, can be an extremely difficult diet to follow, but thanks to so many suffers that have come out with cookbooks and products  it has made eating enjoyable again.  Sales of gluten-free products increased 16 percent in 2010.   Half of the approximately 60 million people in the U.S. who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are probably sensitive to gluten. (Gluten allergies, which are similar to other food allergies, also fall on the spectrum but affect only about 0.1 percent of the population.) Celiac disease can be definitively diagnosed using a two-step process: Doctors test the patient’s blood for the presence of intestine-attacking antibodies activated by gluten, and, if those tests come back positive, they order a biopsy (or series of biopsies) to look for intestinal damage, any evidence of which confirms the diagnosis.

Gluten sensitivity, on the other hand, is a gray area that does not have any defining medical tests. People who fall into this group exhibit the classic symptoms of celiac disease yet have no detectable intestinal damage, and test negative for certain key antibodies (though in some cases they may have elevated levels of others).

Gluten sensitivity is a kind of “non-diagnosis,” in other words — a diagnosis by default for those who don’t have celiac disease but feel better on a gluten-free diet.

People with celiac disease must commit to an absolutely gluten-free diet, as eating the protein can, over time, increase a person’s risk of osteoporosis, infertility, and certain cancers, in addition to worsening short-term symptoms.

For more information go to

http://www.celiac.org/

http://www.medicinenet.com/celiac_disease/article.htm

Take Care of Your Pearly Whites

Gingivitis Gum Disease

As Soupy Sales once said  ”Be true to your teeth and they won’t be false to you.”

Great foods to eat to prevent gum disease or to help heal it.

• Eat foods high in Zinc such as spinach, asparagus, and grass fed beef
• Vitamin C such as  green vegetables, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, strawberry, red pepper, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe.
• Flavonoids such as berries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries
• Eat a raw vegetable every day. Hard and fibrous foods clean and stimulate teeth and gums.
• Cranberry may help gum disease by preventing bacteria from sticking to your teeth.
• vitamin D can be gotten from the sun, shrimp, milk, eggs and cod
• eat lots of fiber. This will strengthen your immune system, which will in turn protect you from all kinds of infection whether it is bacterial or otherwise. Some examples of fiber rich foods such as  beans and vegetables.

Avoid eating sugar and  gluten ( wheat products)

Try finding natural toothpaste that contains natural ingredients like charcoal, baking soda, anise, myrrh, and golden seal. Try using a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide, mixing it half-and-half with water, and swishing it around your mouth for thirty seconds then spitting out. This will help to limit bacteria build up. Listerine does not promote the development of plaque and reduced gingivitis.

A baking soda and water solution is also beneficial. Mix plain baking soda with a little water, and apply it along the gum line with your finger. Then brush. Doing this polishes, neutralizes acidic bacterial wastes and freshens your breath.

Using an aloe gel to brush your teeth will reduce some plaque. Aloe is also a  healing agent. Brush with tea tree oil, it  has proven antibiotic properties.  Make sure to go to the dentist for regular cleanings

Kiwifruit

Kiwi actually has more vitamin C than oranges do!
Kiwi helps respiratory health, it reduces wheezing, shortness of breath, and night coughing. It helps prevent asthma. It is also great for your heart. It reduces the LDL cholesterol.Good source of Magnesium and potassium, both regulate blood pressure and lower triglycerides. It has as much potassium as a banana.The high content in dietary fiber helps improving diseases such as diabetes, by regulating sugar levels. Since fiber binds to toxic compounds in the colon and helps us pass it easier and helping prevent colon cancer.Fiber has also been proven to reduce cholesterol levels, improving the conditions of patients with cardiovascular diseases and lowering the probability of heart attacks. It helps protect eyes against age-related macular degeneration.

  Kiwifruit can also be used as a natural meat tenderizer! It contains an enzyme called Actinidin. Just cut in half and rub kiwi over the meat, and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes or longer. The enzyme Actinidin also breaks down protein in dairy products also but must be eaten right away.  Add it to your yogurt.

Great eaten in a fruit salad, or in a tossed salad, and just whole. Since they are only 45 – 60 calories it makes kiwi a great food to eat on a diet.

People with latex allergies are also most commonly allergic to kiwi.

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah to all my friends and family. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday.