How to Keep Your Myelin Healthy
By Lisa Atkinson
How to Keep Your Myelin Healthythumbnail Myelin helps your nerves transmit signals to your body.
Myelin is an insulating layer of fat and protein that surrounds the nerves in your body. Myelin sheaths are composed of 80% fats and 20% proteins, and help increase the speed of signal transmissions through the nerves. Chronic inflammation of the myelin can lead to degeneration of the central nervous system. Damaged myelin can cause loss of coordination, muscle trembles and stiffness, lack of concentration and memory problems, fatigue, dizziness, slurred speech, numbness in the extremities or even paralysis. To reduce the risk of illness associated with myelin degeneration, you can keep your myelin healthy through specific dietary guidelines.
To Keep Your Myelin Healthy Instructions:
- Incorporate essential fatty acids into your diet. Myelin sheath is mostly fat, so eating essential fatty acids will help myelin retain that fat. Eat avocados, olive oil, walnuts, salmon and kidney beans. These foods are high omega-3 fatty acids that are necessary to myelin health.
- Eat foods high in choline and inositol. Choline is found in eggs, beef, nuts and beans. It will help prevent your body from storing bad fats. Inositol is an amino acid found in nuts, vegetables and bananas that help support the body’s nervous system.
- Eat foods that contain copper. Copper is found in foods such as almonds, sesame seeds, lentils and semisweet chocolate. Myelin needs copper to repair itself, so foods high in copper are essential for myelin sheath health.
- Eat foods high in B vitamins. Foods such as yogurt, tuna and whole grains are high in B vitamins and help myelin sheath repair by carrying more oxygen into the body. B vitamins are also important for burning excess, unwanted fat.
- Manage your stress. Excess stress can lead to a variety of health problems, sleep disorders and poor diet. Find ways to relax and reduce unnecessary stress to prevent overeating, and allow your body sufficient sleep every night.