It turns out that eating a diet rich in polyphenols and polyunsaturated fats actually encourages your brain to grow new cells!
POLYPHENOL SOURCES
most legumes
apples, grapes, pears, plums, cantaloupe
blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
cherries, cranberries
broccoli, cabbage, celery, onion and parsley
also found in:
red wine, chocolate, green tea, coffee, olive oil, bee pollen (honey) and many grains
POLYUNSATURATED FATS
means omega 3 and 6
grain products, soybeans
herring, salmon, mackerel, halibut, fish oil (omega 3)
mayo, margarine, depending (read the label)
sunflower, safflower, etc oils (omega 6)
Ooooh, another interesting study: oxidative stress causes an upregulation of NMDA receptors on the cerebrovascular endothelium, and "heightens susceptibility to glutamate induced BBB disruption."