Brain Fact: Fat Matters
by Claire Grubb, Registered Dietitian and Health Education Lifestyle Coach
Food is medicine and fuel for the brain! Nutrition supports brain function, memory and learning. One important nutrient for brain health is a type of unsaturated fat known as omega-3 fatty acids, a powerful nutrient from food, and a crucial building block for brain cells.
Food & Brain Health
Nuts and seeds like walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are rich in omega-3s, along with fresh-water mussels, whale, and cold-water khülǘüm (fish) like xtáan (lamprey), phím (salmon), and yuùxkan (trout).
But careful loading up on all sources of fat – not all fats are created equal.
- Saturated fats (found in butter, cheese, red meat, coconut oil) are usually solid at room temperature. Diets high in saturated fat increase inflammation, risk for cardiovascular disease, and reduce brain health over time.
- Unsaturated fats (found in nuts, seeds, and cold-water fish) are typically liquid at room temperature and support brain cell structure and function.
Bottom line: Choosing unsaturated fats, especially from nuts, seeds, and cold-water fish, and limiting saturated fats supports long-term brain health.
Interested in learning more about food as medicine?
Join the Ts’ámx Yuwáx Tamiínsii (Healthy Living Team) at Roseburg Clinic on March 25th from 5-6:30pm for a cooking demonstration on fermented cheese!
This article comes to you from the Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center Dietetics and Healthy Living Team
Please reach out to one of our Lifestyle Coaches for lifestyle and nutrition support, or join one of the Diabetes Prevention Program groups! (541) 672-8533
