Magic food to improve chess skills?

When an athlete does an extraordinary feat, we usually ask "What does he eat?"

An avid boxing fan would ask, "What does Manny Pacquiao eat in the morning?"

A golf fanatic would ask, "What does Tiger Woods eat for lunch?"

A basketball diehard would ask, "What meal is served for Michael Jordan for the dinner?"

A chess addict would ask, "What did Bobby Fischer eat when he single-handedly conquered the Russian Empire?"

Is there really a food suited to improve mental abilities?

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The foods you eat directly affects the performance of your brain. It has been proven that by eating the right food, you can boost your IQ, improve your mood, be more emotionally stable, sharpen your memory and keep your mind young.

If you give your brain the right nutrients, you will be able to think quicker, have a better memory, be better coordinated and balanced and have improved concentration.

The three key brain foods to boost your brainpower and keep your brain healthy and your mental processes operating effectively are nutritious food, water and oxygen:

Brain Foods

Thinking is a biochemical process. For brain cells to communicate effectively with each other to create neural pathways, they require chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the 'messengers' carrying messages from neuron to neuron.

Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids found in protein foods e.g., meat, fish and cheese.

Vitamins and minerals are needed to convert ordinary amino acids into these powerful neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are found in the food we eat, hence why some foods are called 'brain foods'.

The three key neurotransmitters are:

1. Acetylcholine (ACh). This neurotransmitter excites other neurons and may be responsible for memory.

It is involved with voluntary movement of muscles, behavioural inhibition, drinking and memory.

People with Alzheimer's memory loss may have less ACh or ACh that is blocked.

Acetylcholine rich foods include: egg yolks, peanuts, wheat germ, liver, meat, fish, milk, cheese and vegetables (especially broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower)

2. Dopamine generally excites and is involved in movement, attention and learning but is also inhibitory.

It is involved with voluntary movement, emotional arousal.

Schizophrenia is associated with excess dopamine.

People with Parkinson's disease may have less or damaged dopamine causing tremors, loss of balance etc. The drug "L-Dopa" may be given to increase the level of dopamine.

Dopamine rich foods include all proteins (meat, milk products, fish, beans, nuts, soy products). 3-4ounces of protein will help you to feel energized, more alert and more assertive.

3. Serotonin (or 5-HT) usually inhibits and is involved in arousal and sleep, mood, appetite and sensitivity. However, it is also excitatory and is part of the brain's reward system producing feelings of pleasure.

People who suffer from clinical depression may have too little serotonin active in synapses so they may benefit from taking a Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitor(SSRI) e.g., Prozac to extend the serotonin activity.

Serotonin rich foods are carbohydrate based e.g., pasta, starchy vegetables, potatoes, cereals, breads.

Source: The Thinking Business