Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Good morning and welcome to Episode 061 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!
Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 61! There is so much diet and nutrition information out there these days! As you are sorting through all the claims, there is one safe and effective diet goal that you can keep in mind. It is truly healthy for you to limit carb intake. This isn’t radical and it isn’t new, but don’t get caught up in all the hype. Watch the carbohydrates and give your brain and body as much natural fuel as possible!
Carbohydrates are all over people’s radar these days. Some people are eating way too much and some people are eating way too little. There is no one size fits all. Not everyone is a perfect fit for the Atkins, Paleo or Mediterranean diet or whichever nutrition plan the case might be.
In my mind it’s not about eating on any one diet plan as it is eating smarter rather than following any strict script. Just look at the first three letters of the word diet.
What we want to look at in this tip is basically just setting up some common sense approach to how your diet can help you build a better brain. One of the things to address is to limit your carbohydrates.
By far more people fall into the camp where they are eating too many carbohydrates.
In the 1980’s there was a diet crazy where people tried to stay away from fats and instead focused on eating more carbohydrates.
What we really want to do is focus on eating quality carbohydrate foods that are high in soluble and dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates.
The way I describe it, if it is a food with a jacket that you can eat, then that is good. If you can’t eat the jacket on that food, like a banana, it means that the fruit inside usually has a lot of simple carbohydrates.
If you think about things like an apple where you can eat the jacket. It’s a sign of a fruit that has more fiber and complex carbohydrates. So when you eat a banana or a pineapple, your blood sugar spikes quite quickly.
In general our plates are overloaded with simple, empty calorie carbohydrates. Pretzels, ice cream and other simple snacks are loaded with simple carbs.
It’s not about completely eliminating a type of food, but limiting it and being smart about what you’re eating and when.
If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading