This free consumer guide was put together to bring attention to and provide information on incorporating brain-healthy foods into the diet. The main message of the guide comes down to “it’s never too early to start taking care of your brain.”

Brain-Healthy Nutrition

Researchers from all of the institutes involved in the cookbook came together to share data, information, and recipes. 

“Eating a brain-healthy diet means including an array of foods–that’s why we’re so excited to partner with these food groups to create this easy-to-use guide,” says Kitty Broihier, MS, RD and Nutrition Advisor for the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. “The Cognition Kitchen guide is a free consumer resource that provides science-based, but simple, information about these brain-healthy foods. Inside the guide, consumers will find a selection of recipes and details on how these four foods help nourish a healthy brain.”

The research decided to be included in the final cookbook and was condensed into 27 pages of healthy, easy-to-make recipes targeted toward anyone who is interested.

The cookbook is not intended to be a final draft. Instead, the researchers note that data and studies reveal new things every day. This means that the cookbook will have to be updated to keep up with new information in order to stay relevant.

Wild Blueberries aka Brain Berries

Research has linked blueberries and cognition since the 1990s and has shown that these tiny blue wonders can improve various measures of cognitive ability for all ages—children, teens, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Much of the focus on cognitive benefits is due to the flavonoid content of the wild berries—particularly the anthocyanins (and by the way, research shows wild blueberries contain more anthocyanins than any other commonly consumed berry in the US diet, including ordinary blueberries).

Brain Healthy Fish

Fish and shellfish are among the only foods naturally rich in a healthy type of omega-3 fat called DHA, which literally builds the brain and helps support brain health throughout the entire lifespan. DHA makes up 97% of the omega-3s in a newborn’s brain and the DHA content of an infant’s brain triples during the first three months of life. Research shows that children of moms who eat seafood 2-3 times each week during pregnancy reach milestones–like climbing stairs, copying sounds, and drinking from a cup–more quickly. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages all children and adults, especially moms-to-be, to eat a variety of seafood—including popular options like salmon, canned tuna, shrimp, tilapia, and crab—at least 2-3 times each week.

Brain-Healthy Tree Nuts

Tree nuts, such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts, have been shown to help reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and may play a positive role in satiety and maintaining healthy body weight. Emerging research is suggesting that long-term nut consumption may also improve cognitive function and help reduce cognitive dysfunction, such as dementia. Oxidative stress is believed to play a major role in brain health. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods, such as nuts, may help protect the brain against the effects of oxidative stress, and ultimately help decrease cognitive decline.

Eggs and Brain Health

Eggs are a naturally nutrient-rich choice providing a good or excellent source of eight essential nutrients, including choline — a nutrient that helps reduce the risk of birth defects and supports brain health throughout the lifespan; however, more than 90% of Americans (including approximately 90% of pregnant women) don’t get enough of this essential nutrient and it’s not found in high quantities in many foods. Fortunately, eggs are one of the most concentrated sources of choline in the American diet. In fact, two large eggs supply more than half the recommended intake for pregnant women and can help them meet their needs.

The new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically recommend nutrient-dense eggs as an important first food for infants and toddlers, as well as for pregnant women and lactating moms. The new Guidelines affirm that eggs — long known to be a vital source of nutrients for people of all ages — provide several key nutrients important for babies during a time in which their brains are most rapidly developing and can contribute to health and well-being during every life stage.

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This article is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to gut health terminology or the many details of research fields. Think of this as a beginner’s guide or laymen’s term definitions to get you on the track to understanding gut health.

Nutraceutical

Nutraceuticals are any supplement that can be taken along with a daily diet to promote good health or boost vitamin & mineral levels. Nutraceuticals typically come in the form of a supplement (capsule, powder, etc) but can also be added to foods,  and may also be provided in products like cosmetics- which are called cosmeceuticals.

Gut Microbiota

Gut microbiota is a comprehensive term that refers to microorganisms in the large intestine. In fact, gut microbiota makes up the body’s single largest population of microorganisms.

Gut microbiota affects overall health and is a major part of the body’s ecosystem. How exactly specific microbiota affects the body is still being researched.

The term ‘gut microbiome’ is often used interchangeably with gut microbiota, although they are technically different.  Scientists refer to the gut microbiome as representing the entire system of gut bacteria, while the microbiota is used to describe the actual organisms (bacteria) within the gut microbiome.  Therefore, the gut microbiota makes up the gut microbiome.  A subtle difference, but it’s like talking about the forest (microbiome) or the individual types of trees within the forest (microbiota).

Probiotics, Prebiotics, & Postbiotics

The terms probiotics, prebiotics, & postbiotics can be hard to differentiate. Thankfully, the three ‘biotic’ words have very different meanings when it comes to gut health.

Probiotics

Probiotics are actual bacteria (healthy bacteria) that, when consumed, can become part of the gut microbiota. Most probiotics are actually derived from healthy gut microbiota.  Probiotic bacteria feed on byproducts and waste from other organisms and on fibers from food or drink.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are basically healthy food for healthy gut bacteria. Prebiotics are mainly types of fibers or other non-/low-digestible carbohydrates that have been shown to preferentially feed healthy gut microbes.  Prebiotics are also food for probiotics, so some products have prebiotics with probiotics.  Although mainly fibers, prebiotics may also be other types of food components. 

Postbiotics

A definition for postbiotics was provided by the ISAPP in 2021: “a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host.” What this boils down to is that postbiotics are similar to probiotics, only that probiotics are the live healthy bacteria, and postbiotics are not live bacteria and/or fragments of probiotics. Although they are not live bacteria, postbiotics can be beneficial as the cell wall fragments can bind to sites on the gut wall that be inhabited by unhealthy bacteria, sort of like kicking off the bad guy and then warming the seat for the healthy bacteria to take up when they grow enough.  

For more information regarding these topics, check out our articles on Probiotics & Prebiotics, and Scientists Provide a Definition of Postbiotics.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and some are used for other functions as well.  They are organic compounds and there are over 20 different amino acids, with 9 being called essential.   In nutraceuticals, 9 essential amino acids are focused on, as these amino acids are called “essential” because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Amino acids are required for the growth, development, and maintenance of the body and its various systems.

Proteins

Proteins are large molecules composed of long chains of amino acids. Because proteins require amino acids, humans and other animals must find 9 ‘essential’ amino acids they are unable to produce from different sources (food). Proteins are required for tissue building, and healthy metabolic function (e.g., enzymes) like energy production, and when no other sources are available are broken down to produce energy directly.  

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

The post Gut Health Terminology appeared first on Biofortis Research.

Why Potato Protein Could be Beneficial

Potatoes have a low risk of affecting individuals with allergies. While potato allergies do exist, research looking to isolate and enhance potato proteins could eliminate allergy-causing glycoproteins like the patatins.

The nutritional value of potatoes comes primarily in the form of vitamins C and B6. A single potato covers just about 10-25% of the daily value of vitamins C and B6, with the amount depending on the type of potato and whether it is cooked and contains the skin or not. Potatoes are also low in fat, which can help with some diets.

The overall properties of potatoes can be thought of in 3 ways; nutritional, nutraceutical, and functional.

Nutritional

Positive nutritional information concerning the contents of a potato (cooked).

• 19 amino acids
• Highly digestible (cooked)
• Good source of nutrition (carbs, protein, vitamins)

Nutraceutical

Potential of potatoes for future use as a component of nutraceutical products and fortification of other products/foods.

• Positive anti-microbial properties
• High potential for allergy-free refining

Functional

The features of potatoes make them a great candidate for product formulation and nutraceutical research.

• High solubility
• High foaming potential
• Great emulsion stability

The main downside of potato-heavy diets comes from the high-starch content. While potatoes are just 17% carbohydrates, about 90% of those carbohydrates are starch. This leads potatoes to be listed as foods to be avoided for individuals on diets that require a low glycemic index.

Enhancing Potato Protein

Recent research has been looking at isolating potato protein, followed by attempts to enhance the protein for a potential allergy-free nutraceutical. Three methods have been researched with some positive results in recent studies:

• Using heat to increase the foaming ability of potato protein
• Using pressure to increase the emulsion stability of the foam
• Increasing the water holding capacity of enzymatic properties

The potential applications of successful potato protein isolation that are being explored include:

• Fortified vitamin supplementation
• Allergy-free infant formulas
• Cheese flavoring
• Future nanoparticle research

The elimination of potential allergens from potato protein will play an important role in the future of potato-based nutraceuticals. Being able to produce cheese flavoring for non-dairy based cheeses and allergy-free infant formulas would alleviate many allergy-related fears among parents of young children.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

The post High Quality Protein from Potatoes appeared first on Biofortis Research.