The Best Foods for Brain Health
Learning a new language, doing crossword puzzles, and taking on a new hobby are all beneficial for boosting brainpower. But something we do every day is even more powerful: eating. Considering the fact that we eat two to three times per day, not including snacking, what we choose to put in our bodies can have a big impact on brain health.
Dark berries, such as blackberries and blueberries, help protect the brain. The antioxidants, particularly the flavonoids, can boost brain cells, improve memory, and increase concentration and focus.
Green tea has been promoted as a healthy alternative to coffee. While it doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee, it has just enough to support brain health. Caffeine can improve brain function and memory. It also contains the brain-boosting amino acid L-theanine, which increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves. Together, this makes green tea an excellent beverage for brain health.
Go Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, blue fin tuna, and trout are a brain’s best friend. If you don't eat fish often, try omega-3 olive oil drizzled over a salad or cooked vegetables. It contains a day’s worth of omega-3s in a single tablespoon and comes in delicious basil, lemon, or garlic flavor.
Speaking of olive oil, one of its many benefits is promoting cognitive function. Olive oil contains powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals. Choose extra virgin olive oil for its complexity in taste. It's also the purest form, made from the first pressing of the olives.
Pumpkin seeds make an excellent snack while supplying many nutrients needed for brain health. Pumpkin seeds contain zinc and magnesium. Zinc and magnesium are both beneficial for our brains. Those who experience brain fog may have iron deficiency. The good news is, pumpkin seeds also contain iron. Pumpkin seeds can be added to salads, rice, quinoa, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
Choosing brain-boosting foods is easy. Have yogurt with blueberries and pumpkins seeds for breakfast with a cup of green tea. Try a salad with extra virgin olive oil for lunch, and for dinner, salmon with cooked spinach drizzled with olive oil and more pumpkin seeds.
Dark berries, such as blackberries and blueberries, help protect the brain. The antioxidants, particularly the flavonoids, can boost brain cells, improve memory, and increase concentration and focus.
Green tea has been promoted as a healthy alternative to coffee. While it doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee, it has just enough to support brain health. Caffeine can improve brain function and memory. It also contains the brain-boosting amino acid L-theanine, which increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves. Together, this makes green tea an excellent beverage for brain health.
Go Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, blue fin tuna, and trout are a brain’s best friend. If you don't eat fish often, try omega-3 olive oil drizzled over a salad or cooked vegetables. It contains a day’s worth of omega-3s in a single tablespoon and comes in delicious basil, lemon, or garlic flavor.
Speaking of olive oil, one of its many benefits is promoting cognitive function. Olive oil contains powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals. Choose extra virgin olive oil for its complexity in taste. It's also the purest form, made from the first pressing of the olives.
Pumpkin seeds make an excellent snack while supplying many nutrients needed for brain health. Pumpkin seeds contain zinc and magnesium. Zinc and magnesium are both beneficial for our brains. Those who experience brain fog may have iron deficiency. The good news is, pumpkin seeds also contain iron. Pumpkin seeds can be added to salads, rice, quinoa, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
Choosing brain-boosting foods is easy. Have yogurt with blueberries and pumpkins seeds for breakfast with a cup of green tea. Try a salad with extra virgin olive oil for lunch, and for dinner, salmon with cooked spinach drizzled with olive oil and more pumpkin seeds.