NYC Nutritionist: Boost Your Brain Health With Fat

The right fats are an important part of a healthy diet. In today's world, we eat too many fats without understanding how they play a role in our good health. Monounsaturated and omega 3 fats are important when it comes to a healthy diet, but they are often the most publicized. An NYC Nutritionist will also advise you that healthy saturated fats are also a good source of immediate energy for the brain, although this type of fat is unjustly demonized and avoided by most. Most people understand how to cut out trans fats, like hydrogenated fats, but they aren't familiar with all of the possible ways to incorporate more healthy fats into the diet.

Saturated Fats

Unfortunately this type of fat is not recommended by mainstream nutritionists, but, it is a vital and nourishing substance. Mary Enig, a renowned lipid biochemist (a literal “fat” scientist) who has spent years studying the different types of fats and their effects. Fat development is crucial to brain health in adults and crucial for brain development in infants and young children. According to Enig, Mother’s Milk has a higher percentage of cholesterol, more than any other food. Cholesterol and saturated fats are needed in order to nourish a baby’s brain growth, a fact that your NYC nutritionist will tell you. If a lactating mother is not consuming enough healthy saturated fats, she will not be able to pass along these building blocks to her child. Even commercial formulas are low in saturated fats and soy formulas have no cholesterol.

Did you know that more than half of the human brain consists of fat and cholesterol? Between a third to more than half of the fat in the brain is saturated. An NYC Nutritionist will also inform you that in addition to brain health, this kind of fat also helps to nourish a healthy nervous system. Both saturated fat and cholesterol account for a large portion of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers and preserves proper function of the brain and nervous system. If this protective layer is compromised in any way, it can increase the chance of developing neurological disorders.
Great sources of these fats are:

• Grass fed meats and dairy (whole)
• Organic virgin coconut oil
• Pastured (grass fed) eggs

Polyunsaturated Fats

These fats provide us with essential fats that are required for our brain function and overall health which is important because our body does not produce it on its own. An NYC Nutritionist will provide you with some good sources of polyunsaturated fats which include:

• Macadamia Nuts

• Hazelnuts

• Pecans

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (although mostly monounsaturated, EVOO also contains small amounts of this fat).

Monounsaturated Fats

These are similar to polyunsaturated fats as they provide the backbone to any healthy lifestyle. However instead of staying liquid when chilled, it starts to harden. On top of being good for brain function, an NYC Nutritionist will tell you these fats can help to reduce cholesterol levels as well as lower blood pressure. You can get plenty of what you need by consuming the following foods:

• Macadamia Nuts

• Almonds

• Olive Oil

• Avocados

• Olives

Omega 3 Fats

These fatty acids provide you with the all important fats that you can't get through olive oils. Abundant in seafood and some plant based foods, an NYC Nutritionist will inform you that Omega 3 fats help to make sure the nervous system works properly which plays a big role in brain and overall health. Fish oil is a popular way to get your recommended daily intake, but here are some other options:

Tuna
Salmon
Mackerel
Sardines
Flaxseeds
Walnuts
Hemp Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Brazil Nuts

An NYC Nutritionist will show you how you can easily incorporate some of these foods into your regular meal plans in order to benefit from the awesome brain power these fats provide. In fact, sometimes it's only a matter of adding a few nuts to a cup of yogurt, grinding up some flaxseeds to add to your oatmeal in the morning, or including fish in your whole wheat pasta. You don't have to worry about gaining weight when these fats are used in moderation either.

The easiest way to make sure you are getting all of your nutrients, including these healthy fats, is to work with an NYC Nutritionist. They can help to work out a meal plan for you that will revitalize you, fill you with energy, and keep you healthy for a life time.