Fed up with dieting?
Thinking of trying pills instead?
Read this first !
This is Your Brain on (Diet) Drugs
The diet drug combination "fen-phen" was withdrawn by its manufacturers in September 1997 after reports of damage to some users' heart valves. The success many dieters had with fen-phen, however, followed from its effects not on the heart, but on the head, as Michael Fumento explains in his book The Fat of the Land (Viking). He notes that one of the drugs, fenfluramine, appears to work by making more serotonin available in the brain, inducing dieters to feel full. The second drug, phentermine, is a mild stimulant that boosts the brain chemical norepinephrine, suppressing appetite. But Fumento, a medical journalist, won't miss fen-phen now that it's gone. Although he admits that he once lost weight on fen-phen himself, the rest of his book is devoted to the proposition that "there will be no quick fixes" for the "obesity epidemic." His prescription for weight loss? Sensible eating and regular exercise.
The Brain Power Nutrient Guide
Provides a nutrient guide to brain food. Vitamin A or as beta-carotene; B vitamins; Choline; Thiamin or B1; Folic acid; Vitamin C; Vitamin E; Essential fatty acids; Iron; Calcium; Magnesium; Zinc; Manganese; Selenium; Copper; Boron; Co-enzyme Q10; Glutathione; Lipoic acid; Polyphenols.
| Nutrient | Function | Amount | Food Sources |
| Vitamin A or as Beta-Carotine | Antioxidant; regulates cell growth, reproduction | RDA: M 3,333 IU F 2,666 IU |
Liver, eggs, cheese, butter, margarine, milk |
| B Vitamins | Essential for normal CNS development, transmission of nerve impulses, energy release |
M 6mg/10,000 IU F 4 Smg/8,000 IU |
Yellow, orange, dark green vegetables; fruits |
| CHOLINE | Part of key memory neurotransmitter | Up to 5 grams | Egg yolks, organ meats, legumes, lecithin supplements |
| THIAMIN (B1) | Regulates energy production, release | RDA: M 1.5 mg F 1.1 mg |
Pork, liver, oysters, whole grains, wheat germ, oatmeal, peas, lima beans |
| FOLIC ACID (FOLATE/FOLACIN) | Aids CNS development, helps maintain normal levels of serotonin | RDA: M 200 mcg F 180 mcg |
Liver, kidneys, dark green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, dried peas and beans |
| Vitamin C | Antioxidant; helps prevent breakdown of vitamin E | RDA: 60 mg RD: 240-300 mg |
Citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, melon, green pepper, potatoes, dark green vegetables |
| Vitamin E | Antioxidant | RDA: M 15 IU F 12 IU RD: 200-400 IU |
Vegetable oils, margarine, wheat germ, whole grains, liver, dried beans, leafy green vegetables. Supplement recommended since RD cannot be acquired from food. |
| Essential Fatty Acids | Form nerve cell membranes | RD: 3-6 oz. fatty fish; 2-3 tsp. veg. oil; or 1-2 fish oil capsules | Salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, all seafood, Flaxseed, canola, soy, and walnut oils |
| Iron | Transports oxygen to cells, facilitates neurotransmitter dopamine | RDA: M 10 mg F 15 mg |
Liver, Kidneys, red meats, egg yolk, dark green leafy vegetables, raisins, dried apricots, prunes, dried beans and peas, potatoes, blackstrap molasses, enriched and whole-grain cereals |
| Calcium | Regulates nerve impulse transmission | RDA: M 800 mg F 800 mg RD: F 1-1.5 g |
Dairy products, canned salmon/sardines eaten with bones, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, dried beans and peas |
| Magnesium | Aids transmission of nerve impulses | RDA: M 350 mg F 280 mg |
Raw leafy green vegetables, almonds, cashews, soybeans, seeds, whole grains |
| ZINC | Aids production of over 300 enzymes, many in brain | RDA: M 15 mg F 12 mg |
Meat, liver, eggs, poultry, seafood, milk, whole grains |
| MANGANESE | Aids regulation of nerve impulses | ESADDI: 2-5 mg | Nuts, whole grains, vegetables and fruits, tea, instant coffee |
| SELENIUM | Antioxidant; prevents breakdown of fats, vitamin E | RDS: M 70 mcg F 55 mcg |
Brazil nuts, whole grains, meat, egg yolks, chicken, milk, garlic |
| COPPER | Aids formation of red blood cells; part of respiratory enzymes | ESADDI: 1.5-3 mg | Oysters, nuts, cocoa powder, beef and pork liver, kidneys, dried beans |
| BORON | Aids enzyme production; influences movement of calcium into cells | RD: 3 mg | Apples (1 mg each) peaches, pears, grapes, nuts, peanuts, legumes, broccoli, leafy green vegetables |
| CO-ENZYME Q10 | Antioxidant | -- | Manufactured in body in minute amounts; supplements |
| GLUTATHIONE | Antioxidant | -- | Avocados, asparagus, watermelon, grapefruit, oranges, strawberries, fresh peaches, okra, white potatoes; supplements |
| LIPOIC ACID | Antioxidant | RD: 50 mg | Manufactured in body in minute amounts; supplements |
| POLYPHENOLS | Antioxidants | -- | Black and green tea, red wine |
*RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance
*ESADDI: Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily
Dietary Intake
*RD: Recommended Dose if different from RDA or ESADDI