Meat, eggs and fruit – eat these to keep your brain sharp!

According to a new study, asparagine an amino acid found in foods like meat, eggs and dairy products is essential for normal brain development.

The study was conducted at University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital.

It was known that asparagine was naturally produced by the body, and people did not take it seriously as a nutrient. However, in April 2009 when an infant lost his life to a rare genetic disease, it led Dr Jacques Michaud to find out the cause. After all, it was the third death in the family from the same disease.

Dr Jacques Michaud, who is also the co-author of the study, along with his team conducted several studies and found that the lack of the amino acid asparagine was responsible for the disease.

'In healthy subjects, it seems that the level of asparagine synthetase in the brain is sufficient to supply neurons. In individuals with the disability, the enzyme is not produced in sufficient quantity, and the resulting asparagine depletion affects the proliferation and survival of cells during brain development.', said Dr Michaud.

Health benefits of eggs

• Eggs are the cheapest sources of high quality protein and are also low in calories.
• The egg yolk is loaded with nutrients like zinc, iron, vitamins A, B and D, lutein (a phytochemical that researchers say is good for the eyes), choline (needed for brain development) and cholesterol.
• They are the best possible source of protein on earth which is important to build muscles, bone cartilage, hormones, skin, hair, etc.
• The amino acid composition of egg is exactly like the human muscle amino acid structure which makes it one of the favourites among gym goers because it helps in quick recovery and muscle building. (Also read:Rice - good or bad?)

Health benefits of fruits

Fruits are edible parts of a plant and are highly nutritious. They are high in fibre, vitamins, provide natural sugars and many phytochemicals. Many dieticians and studies suggest that fruits should be consumed on a daily basis due to their high nutrition values. While different ones will have varying nutritional properties, they are still considered good for our system and should be a part of a healthy diet. (Read more..)

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