Selenium..

 

 A new study demonstrated that mimicking the effect of exercise through dietary selenium supplementation in mice effectively restored neurogenesis and reversed the cognitive decline associated with aging and hippocampal injury. These results provide, for the first time, a molecular mechanism linking exercise-induced changes in plasma selenium levels and the activation of hippocampal stem cells.

So, on those days when you can’t make it to the gym, you might now consider adding these selenium-rich foods to your diet: Brazil nuts, salmon, tuna, halibut, eggs, turkey, cottage cheese, mushrooms, and Navy beans.

Selenium is considered a micromineral, thus very low concentrations of selenium are required in the diet. If you are considering taking supplements, be aware that high doses (> 900 mcg/day) of selenium are toxic and can cause hair loss, abnormal nails, dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy, nausea, diarrhea, tremor blood clotting problems, fatigue, irritability, and a garlic odor of the breath.

This discovery could lead to the use of dietary selenium supplementation to mimic the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain.  Just a thought.