We know certain foods increase our waistlines, but do they also decrease our mental abilities? Food science has turned to the brain as researchers study the effects of food on human brain function and vitality. Many of the surprising findings are covered in the insightful documentary “Better Brain Health: We Are What We Eat.”
Even before we are born, the nutrition we receive determines the development of our brains. A study of 23,000 pregnant women found that high consumption of sweet, sugary foods before birth can lead to higher odds of stress, antisocial behavior and other cognitive problems in children later in life. Nutrient deficiencies had similar consequences in laboratory mice.
Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of edible seeds, nuts, oily fish, and vegetable oils have been shown to improve the electrical properties of nerve cells in the brain. But few consumers actually get the nutritional value of these foods in their daily diet.
The industrialized world relies heavily on processed foods, including those made with astronomical amounts of high fructose corn syrup. Studies have shown that these foods can create disturbing imbalances in the brain, often manifested in aggression, lethargy and arousal. In one study, hamsters that ate only corn even killed each other.
Can diet play a role in curbing the criminal scourge of society? In one of the film’s most fascinating sequences, we visit a researcher in the Netherlands who embarks on an ambitious study to find out.
The film features an international panel of nutrition experts discussing the role of proper nutrition in regulating mood, impulse control, and decision-making. Their conclusions are supported by a series of creative laboratory experiments.
Better Brain Health: We Are What We Eat provides insight into an ever-evolving field of research where new possibilities and conclusions are constantly being discovered. Along the way, we’ll learn about the importance of nutrition and learn how to retrain our brains to find healthier alternatives.
Directed by: Raphaël Hitier
