Pure Indian Foods offers a lab-tested ghee, certified free of trace remnants of lactose and casein here it is. Culturing — a fermentation process — eats up any traces of these components. Quick high school biology review: in fatty acid molecules, the more double bonds between the carbon chain, the more unstable the molecule.
This means that the bonds are more likely to break when exposed to heat or pressure, and the fatty acid oxidizes and becomes toxic to our cells. Polyunsaturated oils think plant oils, like sunflower oil and safflower oil contain many double bonds and are least stable for cooking.
Note that the smoking point of oils does not indicate the stability of the oil. Vegetable oils may have a high smoke point, but they are so delicate they actually rancidify with the heat and processing used during the oil extraction. That low fat fad is so And the saturated fat phobia is so We now have research showing that saturated fat consumption does not cause heart disease.
For example, there are two monstrous meta-analysis from and showing consumption of saturated fat does not correlate with heart disease. The dairy products of ruminants cows, sheep, goats grazing on grass provides an excellent source of fat-soluble vitamins including vitamin A. These vitamins are stored primarily in the fat portion, so the concentration of vitamins in ghee is higher than in milk. Vitamin A plays an essential role in hormone balance, liver health, fertility, and stamina.
Contrary to popular belief, vitamin A cannot be obtained from plant sources such as carrots. The conversion of carotenes in vegetables to the useable form of vitamin A is insignificant, and made further negligible by health conditions such as thyroid imbalances.
The vitamin A in ghee is both immediately useable by the body, and also contains the fatty acid cofactors required for absorption. Ghee and butter are the best dietary sources of this fatty acid.
As with all nutrients in ghee, concentrations of CLA are drastically higher in ghee from grassfed cows. Numerous studies show that CLA inhibits the growth of breast cancer. Supplementation with CLA has also been shown to cause fat loss and improved body composition in humans source. I believe a nutrient from a whole-food source — in this case, CLA in ghee — is more effective than a supplement due to being paired with naturally-occurring cofactors.
Further, the fat content of ghee plays an essential role in weight loss due to satiation quality. One study done with rats shows why ghee offers health-protective benefits for children. Further, the cholesterol in ghee is something to revere, not fear. Science tells us that cholesterol does not cause athersclerosis. As a healing agent in the body, levels of cholesterol rise during periods of stress or when inflammation is present.
Providing cholesterol through good quality fats, such as grassfed ghee, allows the body to help address the inflammation. Grassfed ghee contains the highly elusive nutrient vitamin K2.
Vitamin K2 is the shuttle than transports calcium into your bones. Source: Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox. As a fat-soluble vitamin, it requires the fatty acids in ghee for absorption. Ghee contains a significant level of butyric acid, an anti-carcinogenic short-chain fatty acid. Butyric acid has been shown to inhibit the growth of mammary tumors. Studies show that it boasts numerous healing and soothing properties on the intestinal tract source, source.
Some strains of beneficial gut flora produce butyric acid, and research shows the butyric acid produced may be a potential treatment for Irritable Bowel Disease. Like Costco, Thrive offers wholesale prices to their members, and this gift is available to both new and returning members.
Membership starts with a month-long free trial. The membership fee is worth every penny — I saved so much on my first Thrive order that it canceled out the cost of my yearly membership. Click here to get your free ghee at Thrive. It has the caramel and hazelnut flavors of browned butter, and is absolutely glorious for both sweet and savory dishes. You can also make ghee by simmering butter and removing the milk solids. I love goat ghee. I have a teaspoon of ghee a day.
I mix it worm cooked brown rice, oatmeal, baked potatoes and mostly anything. I AM now using goat milk butter to make my ghee.
A cinnamon stick is added to the water for making my coffee. This is the total percentage of everything derived from the cocoa bean — chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder — in the chocolate bar. Eating dark chocolate has been shown to reduce cravings in general, whereas typical mass-produced milk chocolate fuels cravings for junk food of all kinds.
And cacao nibs, the raw material of chocolate and cocoa powder, taste naturally nutty and are not at all bitter. Compared to other nuts, walnuts have the highest omega-3 to omega-6 ratio. Walnuts are one of the best sources of ALA alpha- linolenic acid , the plant form of omega-3 fats. They are the best among the few foods that contain mood-elevating serotonin. Walnuts contain a unique polyphenol, pedunculagin , which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce brain inflammation.
Walnuts have the potential to reverse several parameters of brain aging. One study on adults of all ages found that eating walnuts improved reaction time, learning, and memory recall.
According to Walnuts. If you plan on storing walnuts for longer than a month, they advise keeping them in your freezer. Most spices, like black pepper, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, saffron, and vanilla, are powerful antioxidants and provide some brain benefits. Cooking residue found on pottery shards reveals that turmeric has been used in cooking for over 4, years. Turmeric contains over known compounds, some of which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.
Turmeric has been found to work even better than Prozac for depression. But unlike antidepressants, turmeric is safe, has no side effects, can be used indefinitely, and can be safely combined with other natural remedies for depression such as SAM-e or St. Of all the active compounds found in this well-studied spice, the most important is curcumin. Turmerone, another substance found in turmeric, stimulates the production of new neurons and encourages the brain to repair itself.
Curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric, is very poorly absorbed unless you take one of these simple steps. Cooking turmeric in oil, as is traditionally done in Indian cooking, greatly enhances the bioavailability of fat-soluble curcumin. Boiling turmeric in water for 10 minutes increases curcumin bioavailability by twelve-fold. There has been an ongoing problem with lead contamination, resulting in the recall of numerous brands of ground turmeric powder by the Food and Drug Administration.
Especially problematic is turmeric grown in India and Bangladesh. Olive oil is an integral part of the Mediterranean diet, widely believed to be the healthiest way to eat. Increased intake of monounsaturated fats as discussed in our Avocado section improves memory and other cognitive functions. Olive oil contains over 30 phenolic compounds that are potent antioxidants and free radical scavengers. There are also significant amounts of vitamins E and K in olive oil: both vitamins are important for memory and for preventing mental decline.
Olive oil raises levels of BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor, see the Turmeric section to offset depression and the effects of stress on the brain. Vegetable oils like canola and soy are extracted with heat and chemical solvents which creates these dangerous compounds. Here in the US, class action suits have been filed against olive oil major distributors Filippo Berio and Bertolli for olive oil fraud. Coconut oil is another excellent brain food. In reality, people who consume coconut oil as part of their traditional diet are extremely healthy.
The main reason coconut oil is considered a brain food is its high concentration of medium-chain triglycerides MCTs. Coconut oil has also been found to reduce the beta-amyloid plaques associated with this disease. In one promising study, adults with mild cognitive impairment showed significant improvement in memory recall within 90 minutes of taking a single dose of MCT oil.
Coconut oil exhibits anti-stress and antidepressant properties, and can delay brain aging. If you are using coconut oil therapeutically for any neurological disorder, you can download a free copy of her Coconut Oil Dietary Guidelines.
The only caution is not to make salad dressing with it since it solidifies when the dressing is poured on cool vegetables. Look for a taste-neutral coconut oil like this one. Buying organic is optional since coconut oil generally is pesticide-free. One of the most fascinating neuroscience discoveries of recent times surrounds the microbiome , the bacteria that reside in our intestinal tract.
Gut bacteria make over 30 neurotransmitters including serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine, and GABA. Some neuroscientists are calling this discovery a paradigm shift in our understanding of the brain.
But this balance can quickly get out of whack from antibiotics, stress, and even the food you eat. Dysbiosis creates toxic byproducts called lipopolysaccharides which have numerous negative effects on your overall health and on your brain. Dysbiosis can also reduce the levels of BDNF, a key factor in the creation of new brain cells. A dysfunctional microbiome can be the root cause of a multitude of brain-related conditions, including anxiety, autism, depression, carbohydrate cravings, and chronic brain inflammation.
But you can encourage a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria by adding fermented foods and prebiotic foods to your diet. Virtually all healthy traditional diets wisely incorporated some fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, tamari, and miso. These foods provide the good bacteria, while prebiotic foods provide the proper substrate i.
Foods high in these prebiotic fibers include apples, asparagus, artichokes, bamboo shoots, bananas, barley, beets, cocoa, chicory, flax seed, leeks, garlic, honey, jicama, lentils, mustard greens, oats, onions, rye, soybean, tomatoes, and wheat.
Consuming prebiotic foods has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Then eat one or more servings per day. Unfortunately, few fermented foods at the grocery store contain the live bacterial cultures that are beneficial.
Avoid artificial sweeteners like Splenda. A few kinds of cheese, including mozzarella and cheddar, can contain live bacteria. It contains a greater variety of cultures than yogurt and is well tolerated even by those who are lactose intolerant.
Look for sauerkraut specifically labeled raw, naturally fermented, probiotic, or lacto-fermented. Skip supermarket soy sauce that contains sugar, artificial preservatives, and colorings, but no beneficial bacteria. Every bite of food you eat is a choice that either helps or harms your brain. We call these brain foods. A quality brain supplement can make a big difference. Pat Be Brain Fit. Professional counseling can help you cope better with life The fish that meet these criteria are on a rather short list.
Send me the guide! Here's my answer: 1 Live a brain-healthy lifestyle first Be Brain Fit tells you how. This brain supplement meets all my requirements for effectiveness, safety, purity, and value.
So it's easier for you to be mentally sharper, happier, and more productive. Look for eggs from free-range hens. The yolk contains most of the nutrients your brain needs. Scientifically personalized music can boost your focus 4X. Buying Berries Fresh berries are not always available and can be expensive.
But you can buy frozen berries anytime. They are convenient and economical. Related — Essential Nutrients for a Healthy Brain. Buying and Storing Avocados Buying and using avocados at their peak can be tricky. How can you tell when an avocado is underripe, too ripe, or just right? Start by looking at the color. Once you get an avocado home, you can tell more about its state by removing the stem.
There are creative ways to include it in any meal and even add it to desserts! Here are some ways to make sure your first impression of edible seaweed is a good one. Powdered dulse or kelp can be mixed with food or sprinkled as a condiment instead of salt. Agar-agar is a clear, tasteless thickener that can be used like gelatin to make desserts.
You can buy ready-to-eat toasted nori sheets, both plain and flavored. You can eat it right out of the package as a snack or add it to salads or soups. Related — Mental Health Benefits of Taurine.
The higher this number, the more health and brain benefits your chocolate will provide. Give cocoa powder or cacao nibs a try instead. Both are significantly less processed than chocolate and contain no added sugar. While every kind of nut offers brain benefits, walnuts are the undisputed champion. To get the freshest walnuts, buy them in the shell. Chop them just before use to maintain maximum nutrition and taste, and to prevent oxidation. Enhancing Turmeric Absorption Curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric, is very poorly absorbed unless you take one of these simple steps.
Use turmeric with black pepper when cooking. Both are ingredients in curry powder — surely not a coincidence. Olive oil is a big business and, unfortunately, olive oil fraud is rampant. Here are a few ways to make sure that your olive oil is of the highest quality: Buy extra virgin olive oil and do your homework to find a reputable brand. If possible, buy directly from a local olive oil farm or olive oil specialty store.
Look for olive oil labeled Ultra Premium UP.
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