Both physical fitness and mind power are dependent on your diet. It is a known fact that overeating or eating the wrong foods can result in obesity and obesity related diseases or even deficiency diseases. But the quality of foods also affects the brain in many ways, including alertness, memory, cognition and focus.
There are some foods that actually help in boosting mind power, so if you want your brain to function optimally you should definitely have these superfoods for the brain.
7 foods that help improve brain function
- Fish – oily fish like salmon, herring, trout, mackerel and tuna are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids that help improve mind power. If you don’t get enough of the essential fatty acids, you may well suffer from depression, memory problems and fatigue. A diet rich in oily fish improves concentration, mental alertness and focus. You should eat oily fish 3-4 times a week in the very least.
- Blueberries – while all deeply colored fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, blueberries have a cocktail of various antioxidants that combat free radicals and help protect the brain. Blueberries improve cognitive function and memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and age related dementia, various studies have documented.
- Dark chocolate – this favorite sweet is rich in caffeine and magnesium, flavonoids and antioxidants. These improve blood flow the brain, promoting mental acuity, alertness and concentration. Remember, the darker the chocolate the better. Again studies have shown that even drinking a glass of cocoa improves mental faculties.
- Nuts – these are easy to add to your diet as you can eat them with cereal, add them to smoothies or food or just munch them. Most nuts are high in Vitamin E, essential oils and amino acids that reduce cognitive decline. Among the nuts, walnuts and almonds are known to boost mind power. You simply need to have an ounce (25 grams) a day.
- Avocados – this bland fruit is rich in natural fats that improve brain function. The monounsaturated fats in avocados reduce plaque build-up in the arteries, encouraged smoother blood flow to the heart and brain. The fats also have a high satiety value and help keep hunger pangs away. Avocados can be added to smoothies and salads or made into dips like guacamole.
- Bananas – this humble fruit is easy to eat and is high in potassium, magnesium, manganese and Vitamin B 6. All these nutrients help the brain generate more neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinepherine and dopamine, all of which have different functions in the brain and have a calming effect, at the same time improving focus and mental alertness.
- Leafy vegetables – if you enjoy your salads then you probably get enough of your leafy greens. Apart from being low in calories and high in water content, these green vegetables like spinach, arugula, kale, chard and lettuce have many micronutrients including carotenoids and flavonoids that improve brain function. Green leafy vegetables and even cruciferous vegetables improve brain function. You can easily process these vegetables through your food processor.
If you start incorporating these foods in your diet at a young age, you not only improve your mind power, but also reduce the risk of developing decline in mental function at a later age. When you eat healthy foods, you are also physically and mentally healthier, ward off disease and liver longer.
