Eating habits affect our soul

Our diet and lifestyle have a greater influence on our health than we think. Eating and eating right often can not meet at the same stage. The stomach is full, but what about our brain?

It is possible to benefit from the healing of healthy foods in the treatment of diseases as well as in the prevention of diseases. Scientific Coordinator of the Institute of Food and Better Health Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan said that a healthy life should be evaluated in a holistic way and warned that our brain health should not be neglected. Considering the increase in neurological problems after COVID-19, Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan gave important information about healthy foods that will feed our brain well.

Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Physiology and Professional Food Metabolism, Department of Clinical Nutrition Lecturer Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan is also the Scientific Coordinator of the working Institute of Food and Health established by the Karma Group. With the increase in healthy eating style, information pollution in this area is also increasing. The working Institute of Food and Healthy Living, which includes experts in the field, aims to guide the problems faced by modern people by focusing on scientific data and increasing the quality of life.

Explaining that eating habits and stress bring diseases, Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan said, “For a healthy life, physical, mental and spiritual health should be assessed and supported as a whole.

Societies where a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, is widely practiced tend to live longer. We see that they have followed a lifestyle that emphasizes the importance of having a good time with family and friends, as well as exercising and active life, where human relationships are closer and warmer.

Enemies of brain health: Malnutrition, chronic stress and COVID-19

Considering the increase in neurological diseases and saying that this increase has become more evident especially after COVID-19, Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan said: “Our nutritional habits are insufficient and unbalanced; We can say that lack of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, insufficient food digestion, absorption problems or intolerance are important factors in the increase of neurological diseases. In addition, being under a lot of or constant stress negatively affects our brain health by disrupting our hormonal and metabolic balance. There is an increase in neurological problems, especially after COVID-19.

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease affect the aging population. According to 2019 TUIK data, eight out of 100 people over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in Turkey, and this rate is increasing rapidly, moreover, at an earlier age. Our eating habits and lifestyle are very good factors in the emergence of diseases.

It is a fact that the incidence of chronic diseases, especially cancer, autoimmune and neurological diseases, is increasing rapidly in our country and around the world. A large study from 2023 reported an approximately 40 percent increase in diagnoses of autoimmune diseases and neurological diseases affecting the immune system in people with COVID-19.

These are the foods our brain loves…

Eat antioxidant-rich foods and healthy fats! The type of western food, eating fast food, acidic drinks and eating a lot of food are harmful to our health. Studies show that people who follow long-term brain-preserving nutritional models have less cognitive impairment and less damage to neurons.

Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan listed the following recommendations about brain-friendly foods: “In recent studies, it is important to use ingredients such as red purple berries, sumac and cloves, which have a strong antioxidant effect. In particular, foods containing polyphenols, carotenoids, resveratrol, glutathione, carnosine, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, group B vitamins, sphingolipids, serine and choline should be used as supplements.

It has been shown that the consumption of healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, fish oil, krill oil to support neuron structure protects against many diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Oil seeds; Raw nuts such as walnuts and almonds are also rich in fats and minerals such as magnesium and zinc that support brain development. Along with these elements, they are included in all foods that support brain health.

Scientific Coordinator of the Institute of Food and Healthy Life of Karma Group Prof. Dr. Nuray Yazıhan also gave important information about what should be considered especially in terms of brain development and physical health of children. Yazhan recommends eating antioxidant fruits instead of fruit juices; He warned that refined sugar, processed meat, carbonated sodas and fast food should be avoided. Prof. Dr. Finally, Nuray Yazıhan emphasized that dietary models that reduce inflammation, acidity and oxidation in the body have a positive effect in terms of physical and mental health.

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