Compiled by the School of Health & Wellness volunteer faculty and staff
Food that helps fuel a healthy mind/body connection:
For Choline (acetylcholine/alpha/parietal) Eggs, blueberries, wheat germ, peanut butter, cheese, fish, chicken, cabbage, Iceberg lettuce, Fava beans, caviar, cauliflower, almonds and grapes or their juice.
For Tyrosine (dopamine/beta/frontal) Meat, dairy, eggs, almonds, avocados and bananas, wheat germ, tofu, fish, pinto beans, black-eyed peas and pumpkin seeds.
For Glutamine (GABA/theta/temporal) Complex carbohydrates are an important source of glutamine such as whole grains and their products. Other sources are beans, citrus fruits, Brewer’s yeast, brown rice, broccoli, molasses, liver, organ meats, halibut, lentils, potatoes, spinach and nuts.
For tryptophan (serotonin/delta/occipital) Banana, salmon, turkey, blue fish, mackerel, beets, brown rice, baked or mashed potatoes and sunflower seeds
Neural Frequencies
Gamma: highest brain wave, associated with problem solving. More correlated to high intelligence. Believed to be mediated by Astrocyte calcium signaling.
Beta: second highest brain wave, associated with frontal lobe activity and alert conscious processing. Possibly driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Alpha: associated with parietal and relaxed consciousness. Regulated by neurotransmitter acetylcholine the temporal lobe
Theta: associated with occipital lobe and meditative rest. The neurotransmitter GABA propagates lower frequencies that induce relaxation and sleep
Delta: The lowest frequency propagated by serotonin and promotes deep sleep
Additional resources for your study (Note: links take you out of the NEU site):
http://www.doctoryourself.com/nerves.html
http://www.sciencebrainwaves.com/food-for-the-brain-how-diet-affects-mental-health/
