Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way to a Better Life

Good Sources of Vitamin E 
•
Almonds
•
Walnuts
•
Sweet potatoes
•
Sunfl ower seeds
•
Whole wheat
•
Wheat germ
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104 Rew i r e
Yo u r
B r a i n
When you take omega - 3 supplements or consume a lot of fi sh, 
vitamin E reverses a process in which fatty acids become rancid. 
This rancidity can be very damaging to cell membranes (Laganiere 
and Fernandez, 1987).
Minerals and Phytonutrients 
Minerals, too, are important for the healthy functioning of the brain. 
There are two classes of minerals that are relevant to the brain: macro-
nutrients and micronutrients. The brain contains more macronutrients 
than micronutrients. The macronutrients include calcium, magne-
sium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. The micronutrients are also 
called
trace elements
because they are found in tiny amounts in the 
brain and the body. They include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, 
zinc, fl uoride, selenium, chromium, aluminum, boron, and nickel. 
These micronutrients can cause problems when they are found in 
large amounts in the brain. Aluminum, for instance, has been found 
in excessive amounts in the brains of people with Alzheimer ’ s disease. 
Although the question of how aluminum gets into the brain is debat-
able, it is undebatable that the excessive presence of aluminum is 
destructive. 
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your brain and serves 
many functions, including the development of nerve tissue, the 
maintenance of a regular heartbeat, the formation of blood clots, 
the strength of bones and teeth, the production of iron, the mainte-
nance of a steady metabolic rate, and the transmission of messages 
between your neurons. Calcium triggers the release of neurotrans-
mitters and controls synaptic strength. After the neurotransmitters 
are released, the calcium enhances the strength of subsequent 
synaptic connections.