you are what you eat essays

you are what you eat essays People are, as the expression goes, what they eat. After all, the muscles in a persons body, and the blood flowing through their veins, are all supplied by the food that he or she consumes. Understandably, these foods would also have an effect on the way the brain functions. The foods we eat have measurable effects on the bodys performance, they may prove to have an even more critical influence on how the brain handles its tasks. The idea that the right foods, or the natural neurochemicals they contain, can enhance mental capabilities such as by defusing stress. (Blun 2) In the 1970s, Dr. Richard Wurtman of MIT and his graduate student, John Ferstrom, discovered that the nutrient composition of a meal affects the brains neurotransmitters, substances that control nerve impulses. They also found in rats, that the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin had great involvement with food intake. Dr. Wurtmans wife, Judith, later found that the carbohydrate content of a meal might influence dopamine and serotonin synthesis. Dopamine is related with alertness; it is used for fast reflexes, mental energy, and to assist in problem solving. Serotonin helps a person deal with stress. When the brain uses serotonin, feelings of stress and anxiety are replaced by a sense of tranquillity, often to the extent of somnolence.(Trankina 2) Serotonin is a composite of tryptophan, an amino acid that is found in food. The most simplistic way to obtain tryptophan is by consuming a high-carbohydrate meal, and avoiding foods containing protein and fat. (1-3) People in general are better able to cope with stress when their diets are high in complex carbohydrates. Many people misconstrue helpful, complex carbohydrates with sugary, refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are contained in foods such as white breads, sugar coated cereals, white rice, and other flour-based carbo...