IS CHEESECAKE BRAIN FOOD?

NEW YORK–Is it possible cheesecake may actually help you think because it is high fat?

According to the Franklin Institute, about two-thirds of our brains are composed of fats, but not just any kind. Good food sources for the fat that helps protect communicating neurons in our brains include olive oil, almonds, pecans, macadamias, peanuts, avocados and human milk.

But what about cow milk?

The Franklin Institute also mentions that to build brain cells, we need “omega-3″ fatty acids that are found in foods such as flax seeds, walnuts, green leafy vegetables, sea vegetables, and cold water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel.

That sounds good to me, but I want to be careful where they come from! Nuclear power plant explosions leading to radiation leaks and oil spills could certainly complicate health benefits from contaminated foods!

We also need ”omega-6″ family of fatty acids. Food sources of omega-6 LA include expeller cold-pressed sunflower, safflower, corn, and sesame oils.

But what about cheesecake? Franklin Institute mentions that to boost your supply of Omega-6 fatty acids..meat, eggs, and dairy are also good in moderation. But they warn that, ‘Western diets, however, tend to have at least twenty times more omega-6 fats (from meat and dairy) than omega-3 fats–an unhealthy ratio of 20:1. This imbalance can be corrected by eating more omega-3-rich fish and flax seed oil, by eating less sugar, and by completely avoiding trans fatty acids found in partially-hydrogenated oils, margarine, and shortening. In fact, to err on the side of safety, avoid ‘supermarket’ oils and salad dressings unless they are clearly labeled ‘cold-pressed’ – or in the case of olive oil, ‘extra virgin.’ “

So, this explains why I don’t eat cheesecake for breakfast every day! I’ll go buy some flax seeds. They taste good, much better than the oil! (Just remember to keep them in the refridgerator.) And flaxseeds are really good for your skin!

With a better balance of oils for my brain, I will keep enjoying cheesecake, with fewer worries!  :)