Dietary principles that reduce brain inflammation include controlling blood sugar levels, identifying food allergies and prioritising omega-3 fats.
Inflammation can affect the brain, just like any other part of the body. The brain does have its own distinct immune system and protective mechanisms. However, when it comes to brain inflammation, it is your body’s way of protecting your brain from harmful toxins, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. It’s important, however, to recognise the seriousness of chronic ongoing brain inflammation as it can affect brain health, inhibit brain function and increase the risk of neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of brain inflammation
Chronic inflammation of the brain can lead to symptoms including brain fog, mood swings, inability to focus, poor memory, chronic pain or headaches, irritability, confusion, poor motor control, clumsiness, balance issues and mental fatigue.
If left unaddressed, this unchecked inflammation may advance to conditions like dementia during later stages of life. Regrettably, many of us have been conditioned to accept these occurrences, such as forgetting where we placed our keys, as a normal part of getting older.
Dietary Support
Dietary principles that reduce brain inflammation include controlling blood sugar levels, identifying food allergies and intolerances, prioritising omega-3 fats that support brain function, eating a plant-based anti-inflammatory diet, choosing antioxidant-rich whole foods over sugary processed foods, promoting gut health with pre-and probiotics, and eating lower carbohydrates, higher protein and healthy fats.
Specific types of healthy fats, including omega-3 essential fatty acids, serve as antioxidants and precursors to essential brain-supporting compounds and neurotransmitters responsible for controlling functions such as learning, memory, mood and energy regulation. The brain is predominantly comprised of fatty acids and relies on a consistent supply of these beneficial fats from the diet to maintain proper brain function, along with regulating mood and hormones.
Diet plays a significant role in managing inflammation and consuming foods that promote inflammation can
