Brain, memory and food

[enjambement22]

Hello,

I didn't really know where to post this question, so I hope you don't mind me posting it here.

Sometimes I feel like my brain's gone to pudding. That is, it feels so tired, it is "looping" around the same thoughts and I'm unable to focus on anything else. It usually happens when I study a lot or spend too much time around the computer and don't sleep enough.

I also have problems remembering things, apparently everything seems unimportant to my brain ...

I would like my thoughts to be faster, sharper, focused and I want a precise memory. Any ideas, techniques, recipes, suggestions?

I was wondering in what way could that be connected to the food I eat.

I'm Mb for 5 months now, not very strict (but I don't eat any sugar, meat, fish, dairy products or eggs), and I really like it. I suppose I sometimes 'yinnizize' my meals too much. But I'm trying not to. I had those problems before I became Mb, too. Otherwise I'm pretty healthy, content 22-year old and (still) have good marks at school ;-)

Thank you for your time,

zulejka

[soysycophant]

Protein, protein and more protein! 'Tis food for your mind.

[Klara]

sorry, soysycophant, but with your advice she may swing too far the other way and just be wildly out of control.

enjambement22,

Following as well as you can a good quality centered mb diet is the slow and steady way - no real short cuts - there are some remedies that experienced mb counselors recommend AFTER they've fully diagnosed and talked with their clients re their individual situations.

We don't know everything about you - so it really is hard to say - I for one would highly recommend you get more sleep - get to bed earlier (remember Ben Franklin's wise words (he had so many), early to bed, early to rise), breath fresh air out in nature, while walking would be lovely.

As for the brain, there's a great little book called Keep Your Brain Alive, by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D. & Manning Rubin - their basic idea is that if you do the usual things in your life in an unusual way, you'll be creating "new and different patterns of neuron activity...which is how Neurobics (what this method is called) works."

Use all your senses in new ways, do things with your eyes closed, walk backwards, write with your non-dominant hand (or do other activities with non-dominant hand), look at pictures (or anything familiar) upside down, go to new places, try new foods - rely more on sense of touch, smell, hearing. It's a little book but has loads of great ideas.

Actually thanks, I do need to reread and do more of these exercises myself :>) I was so worried I was getting older, but what I wasn't doing was using my brain in more creative ways!!!!

Klara

[soysycophant]

I wasn't suggesting she go on Atkins or anything, just sounds like she needs to incorporate a good deal more iron and protein into her diet. As a fellow young female, I too often have difficulty eating the amount of protein i need and am relatively susceptible to getting anaemia. I find that if I'm not very consciencious about how much protein i'm getting, my mind doesn't work as well either.
Balance and sleep is very important, and ultimately dietary balance as well as other forms of balance in your life is what will keep you fresh and ready. However, as we all grow to understand as Macrobiotics, balance is a complicated journey and an ongoing, long-term achievement. If you feel a specific imbalance is causing you problems, like a not-so-sharp mind, it's good to look at a more immediate solution, like lack of protein. If you're a bit Yin, incorporate some more Yang gradually, start with the baby steps before jumping into the big shark pool and trying to re-arrange your whole life.
Hope that helps.