Nutrition

Tip written by Sodexo, collaborating company with the BBHI. There is a group of vitamins that plays a decisive role in correct nervous and brain functions: the group B vitamins. From among all of them, vitamin B₁₂ is crucial during elderly years, to maintain cognitive ability and to help in the prevention of possible neurodegenerative processes or symptoms of depression. We can find vitamin B₁₂ in foods of animal origin, mainly in viscera, fish, meat, eggs and dairy products. Hence, it is important for people who do not include these alternatives in their normal diet, such as vegans, to supplement their intake. Folic acid, alike Omega-3 (W-3), is attributed a relevant role in nervous system development, especially early on in life. It is widely known that its intake, before and during pregnancy, can prevent possible neurological alterations that can accompany a patient for the rest of their life. It also plays an essential role, along with vitamin B₁₂, in the production of red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting iron and oxygen within the body and, therefore, directly involved in brain health. So, it goes without saying that a diet rich in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, pulses and nuts, along with an appropriate amount of animal origin foods, can make all the difference for the future of our neurological health.