It’s a no-brainer that what we put into our body affects our health. Calcium for our bones, protein for our muscles, and vitamin B7 for our nails and hair. However, we often forget to feed our brains. We’ve researched and come up with the top ten foods to help with mental focus, memory, and clarity.
Just like the rest of our body, our brain needs all the nutrients it can get. The brain works constantly by sending signals to other parts of our body to make sure everything is working well.
During the day, the brain is used for thinking (and overthinking.) At night, the brain recharges and the glymphatic system removes toxic byproducts that build up during the day.
Eating foods high in healthy fats is one of the best things we can do for our brain because it’s the fattiest organ in the body, consisting of about 60% fat.
10 foods that can enhance brain function:
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1. Leafy greens. Spinach, kale, collard, and lettuce are among the leafy greens that can help with brain health. Phylloquinone, lutein, nitrate, folate, α-tocopherol, and kaempferol are nutrients found in leafy greens that may help maintain optimal cognitive functions.
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2. Broccoli. Broccoli is high in antioxidants and vitamin K, and it’s anti-inflammatory, which can help with memory and cell signaling.
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3. Blueberries. The antioxidants in blueberries are known for fighting against oxidative stress and inflammation, which could lead to neurodegenerative diseases.
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4. Turmeric. The curcumin in turmeric can help with memory, mood, and brain cell growth. It’s also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food.
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5. Pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds have zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and tryptophan that help with nerve signaling, memory, mental clarity, and overall wellbeing.
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6. Green tea. The caffeine in green tea promotes alertness and cognitive vigor. The polyphenols and antioxidants may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Green tea also has L-theanine, which helps with reducing stress and anxiety.
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7. Fatty fish. The omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, cod) are used to build brain and nerve cells. Eating fatty fish can build gray matter in the brain and improve memory.
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8. Walnuts. Walnuts are great sources of healthy fats and protein.
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9. Dark chocolate. Flavonols in dark chocolate can help open up blood vessels, and get more blood and oxygen to the brain.
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10. Eggs. Egg yolks have a high concentration of choline that helps with improving mood and memory. Eggs are also a great source of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to slowing the progression of mental decline in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.
We hope we’ve inspired you to add more brain foods to your diet. Feel free to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share how you’ve incorporated these foods into your diets.
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