How Nutrition Affects Brain Health by Functional Nutritionist Nikki Burnett
Nikki Burnett, MS CNTP MNT is a Functional Nutritionist and founder of Taste Life Nutrition. Nikki works with ambitious professionals to help them overcome hidden barriers to health and success. Challenges such as pain, brain fog, low energy, anxiety, and stubborn chronic conditions frequently have their roots in unhealthy foods, lifestyle factors, and unknown inflammatory conditions.
Functional Nutrition is based on the science of functional medicine - find the root cause through functional lab testing, history, and lifestyle then create and individualized program that brings balance to the body, so it can repair. Nikki is trained, in part, by The Institute for Functional Medicine. Throughout her career, she has been in the veterinary, nutrition, and medical fields in various capacities.
Nikki is a speaker, writer, and educator. She is the host of Taste Life Nutrition Radio, streaming live on KUHSDenver.com and host of Taste Life Nutrition Podcast. Nikki also co-hosts Real, Raw Health with Matt Rowe of Parsley Pet, a weekly Facebook Live about canine health and nutrition, as well as Functional Friday, a monthly Facebook Live with her Functional Health Coach, Gabrielle Grandell.
Editor’s Note: This article is for information purposes only. Please check with your medical provider before beginning any treatment.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
Nikki Burnett
When I work with clients suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder, I often think about what could have been done earlier in life to help prevent these scary conditions. Although there are times when there is a genetic component, there are also multiple factors that can contribute to the presentation of disease.
Our bodies are constantly subject to sources of stress, often leading to chronic inflammation. When recurring conditions cause stress that is both intense and sustained over a long period of time, it can be referred to as “chronic” or “toxic” stress. While all stress triggers physiological reactions, chronic stress is specifically problematic because of the significant harm it can do to the functioning of the body and the brain. We risk a reduced ability to focus, poor or declining cognitive functioning, uneven moods, and a potentially rapidly failing memory.
Finding natural ways to reduce inflammation is critical to overall health. If you want to support your brain health, stabilize your mood, improve your executive function, enhance your clarity and focus, and help prevent degenerative brain disorders, biohacking your brain is the perfect place to start. Start by making sure you get the right nutrition, stay hydrated, limit any unhealthy habits you may have picked up like smoking or consuming too much alcohol. Regular exercise is imperative to good brain health and, when necessary, taking the right vitamins and supplements to ensure you’re giving your brain exactly the nutrients it needs.
Scientific research tells us that nutrition is the secret to brain health. Studies tell us that more than 90 percent of Americans don’t get the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals they need from their daily diet. Specifically, the typical American diet does not include enough of the specific nutrients the brain needs like carotenoids, omega-3s, and vitamin E. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, across almost every age range, Americans eat too few vegetables, fruits, seafood, and healthy fat—while eating too much damaging food like refined grains, sugars, inflammatory oil, and sodium. (Note: Sodium is different from salt.)
Eat a balanced diet that includes three or more portions of fruits and veggies every day. Specifically, look for evidence of high antioxidants in the rich colors of the veggies you choose. Include proteins like wild caught fish (avoid farm raised as it is much more toxic), chicken, pork, and beef (100% grass-fed/pasture raised as conventionally raised meat is inflamed and toxic).
Omega-3s are an important brain food. They’re essential fats, meaning our bodies can't produce them, so we must get them through our diet. They’re vital nutrients for healthy brain function and fighting inflammation. Be sure to consume foods high in omega-3s like cold water sourced fish like salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring. Walnuts, flaxseed, and chia seeds are also high in brain healthy fats.
Carotenoids are yellow, orange, and red pigments synthesized by plants. The most common carotenoids are carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene. Research has shown that these nutrients can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers, enhance cognitive function, and support eye health.
Natural Vitamin E, also known as D-Alpha Tocopherol, is a vital nutrient for brain health, because of its powerful antioxidant properties. Don’t be fooled! Many cheap supplements use the form Dl-Alpha Tocopherol, which is synthetic and damaging to the body.
It’s important to note that getting optimal amounts in food is difficult, especially if you’re already dealing with symptoms. Supplementation may be best if you’re needing therapeutic dosing.
It’s tough when one is diagnosed with a chronic condition such as a neurodegenerative disorder, but there are many factors that play a role in the development of such conditions. When I run labs on clients, results often come back high in problematic toxicants such as mold, heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium, and environmental toxicants such as glyphosate (Round up). It’s important to note that although glyphosate is at the forefront of the controversy when it comes to the toxic pesticides that are being sprayed on our food, there are other pesticides and herbicides consistently being used that are just as toxic, but not being called out.
These toxicants—at best—can mimic the neurological symptoms of many of these conditions. At worst, they can cause irreversible damage leading to these conditions. They hang around in the body, damaging mitochondria, tissues and organ systems, inhibiting nutrient absorption, and blocking important metabolic pathways, which can potentially lead to the development of disease over time. That time could be days or it could be years, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause of disease.
Remember, most of the conditions we suffer from are due to lifestyle decisions. The earlier you start to address symptoms and make changes, the better your health can be. You may even be able to reverse the disease process – I see it all the time. It just takes a little detective work, patience, and the will to live your best life possible. Food is life – Taste Life!
Nikki Burnett: @tastelifenutrition // info@tastelifenutrition