What  is  'Food  for  the  Brain' ?

It's an independent charity that has announced the first foods, drinks, supplements and ingredients to receive its Food for the Brain accreditation following a nutritional audit by its Accreditation Board of experts.

Consumers are increasingly aware that food has an effect on how you feel and think. But how do you know if a food, supplement or ingredient is genuinely delivering food for the brain?

What  have  they  done ?

Now there's an independent audit to help companies find out if their products meet key criteria to be approved as a 'brain food' and to also inform consumers about which products are good for them.

Its aim is to promote the link between learning, behaviour, mental health and nutrition.

What  are  the  first  products  to  pass ?

. Food
Nairns - range of oatcakes, oat bakes and oat biscuits

. Drink
CherryActive - Montmorency Cherry Juice Concentrate

. Supplement
Equazen - eye q range of omega 3 and omega 6 supplements

. Ingredient
Croda - Croda's range of high strength Incromega omega 3 concentrates produced using the patented PureMaxä process

The Food for the Brain audit and approval process assesses how smart and consumer-friendly a food, drink, food supplement or ingredient is.

How  are  products  assessed ?

The products included should be:

· Low GL (glycemic load) and low in sugar

· High in essential fats (omega 3, 6 and phospholipids)

· High in vitamins and minerals

· Free from harmful or unnecessary chemical additives or colourings

Patrick Holford, director of Food for the Brain, says: "Optimum nutrition plays a key role in brain function, including behaviour, academic performance and promoting mental health.

"We are proud to have awarded Nairns, CherryActive, Equazen and Croda with Food for the Brain approval and hope that highlighting products that benefit the brain will help raise awareness of the strong link that exists between nutrition and the mind.

"Our vision is to create a future where optimum nutrition as a way to promote mental health is understood by all and implemented by many."

Food for the Brain has also been working with the Russell Partnership to implement an accredited audit and training programme for organisations providing catering to schools, universities, conference centres, companies and most other institutions.

The training programme brings menus and food provision up to scratch so that it can carry the Food for the Brain accreditation mark.

What  has  research  shown ?

Recent research from Food for the Brain has revealed that:

· Children with learning and behaviour problems improve focus, concentration and school grades when given essential fat supplements; and IQ scores when given multivitamins

· Eating breakfast and a low GL diet, low in sugar, improves behaviour and concentration

· Supplementing essential fats improves depression

For more information visit Food for the Brain online.