Title : The nourished mind: Evidence-based nutrition for cognitive health and longevity
Abstract:
This seminar presents the nutritional aspects of brain health to practitioners, beginning with the connection between diet, the gut-brain axis and cognitive function. The impact of inflammation on the brain is discussed, alongside gut dysbiosis and mental clarity. Among the dietary influences that harm brain function, processed foods are examined in relation to cognitive decline, and sugar and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) for their effects on brain health. Nutritional support for brain function is then considered: the key cognitive nutrients and the foods that enhance cognitive performance, with omega-3 fatty acids and their relation to cognitive function given a section of their own. The Mediterranean and MIND diets come under review as evidence-based dietary patterns for brain longevity. The practical sections turn to implementing brain health protocols with their clients. They cover meal planning and the recipes that go with it, cognitive supplements and strategies for their use, and the lifestyle habits of sleep, exercise and mindfulness, each with its indications, contraindications and possible red-flags. A nutritional protocol is introduced, which involves a qualitative diet diary, symptomatic experience, and of how the protocol can be adapted to differing personal circumstances.
