Boost Your Brain Power With These 7 Foods
We share the top seven brain-boosting foods you need to eat. These superfoods increase intelligence, ramp up your brainpower, and make you feel great.
Brain power is absolutely critical for people who want to be creative and successful.
For some people, this creative energy is more potent in the morning, right after getting a full night’s rest.
For others, it may show up in the afternoon.
And for night owls, it may not really hit until after the sun has gone down.
It is incumbent on you to crack down on your diet and eat more foods associated with better cognitive function. Once you do, you’ll notice a strong correlation between the quality of the foods you eat and the duration and intensity of your daily brain power.
So in this post, you’re going to learn about seven foods that provide a helpful, measurable boost to daily brain power levels.
If you want an edge in maximizing your creative output, these foods should give you the oomph you need to boost your performance.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Fish (Salmon, Trout, and Sardines)
Yes, fish may be delicious.
But it’s also a verified brain food.
According to studies, eating fish regularly isn’t just good for the brain in general. It’s associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Some people take fish oil to gain the same brain-power benefits. But according to studies, fish oil isn’t nearly as effective as eating the fish itself.
Salmon, trout, and sardines are among the healthiest options if you want the nutrients to fuel your brain to the max.
2. Whole Grains
Nutritionists consider whole grains a pillar of brain health.
Munch on oats, quinoa, and barley (the hardest-hitting whole grains for brain health) to enjoy various nutrients.
These include:
- B vitamins
- Antioxidants
- Protein
- Iron
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Copper
And studies have also shown that a low whole-grain intake may lead to more advanced cognitive decline.
According to research, people who follow Mediterranean diet guidelines have higher levels of long-term cognitive functioning. And whole grains are a staple of the Mediterranean diet.
3. Green, Leafy Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and kale are great for making salads.
But there’s also plenty of evidence to show that they’re great for brain health.
These vegetables contain a specific cluster of nutrients that pack serious anti-aging and brain-power benefits.
Some of these nutrients include vitamins E and K1, folic acid, beta-carotene, and lutein.
Other greens that deserve a top spot mention for brain power include collards and broccoli.
For best results, eat them raw or steamed. The less you cook them, the more nutritional value they’ll have to offer.
4. Coffee
Coffee is probably most well known as a zero-calorie (if you drink it black) caffeinated drink enjoyed with breakfast.
But many people don’t realize that it also offers quite a few cognitive benefits hidden beneath the surface.
First off, some studies have shown that the caffeine found in coffee may help enhance short-term memory.
Some evidence suggests that caffeine enhances long-term memory when consumed after you’ve learned information.
No matter how you cut it, coffee is a surprisingly healthy drink that boasts a ton of health benefits.
How?
Namely:
- It’s filled with antioxidants
- It contains hundreds of healthy bioactive compounds
- Helps the liver
- Has anti-cancer properties
5. Blueberries
Blueberries are tasty, low in calories, and high in nutrients.
In fact, they’re considered the most nutrient-dense berries, and nutritionists hail them as a superfood.
They contain massive amounts of fiber, vitamins C and K, and manganese.
Blueberries are also:
- Filled with antioxidants
- Protect you from free radicals
- Help to keep your cells from aging
- Boast some anti-cancer properties
But what about brain health?
Well, according to studies, blueberries have a positive impact on the parts of the brain that are responsible for intelligence.
Other studies also link blueberry consumption to delays in mental aging.
They do this by supplying vital antioxidants that help neurons, improving cell signaling.
6. Walnuts
Walnuts are sensational in trail mix, cookies, bread — and even on their own as a snack.
But you may not know that they contain powerful brain-power benefits.
Here’s the thing.
Oxidative stress is what you don’t want to see in your brain matter. It’s an indicator of age-related cognitive decline and can also serve as an early warning sign of dementia.
But walnuts pack in some profound benefits that help to fight against oxidative stress.
First off, they contain healthy levels of alpha-linolenic acid. They also contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acid compounds called polyphenols.
Polyphenolic compounds and alpha-linolenic acid are critical for brain health and help counter oxidative stress’s destructive effects.
They also help to fight against inflammation, which is another indicator of cognitive decline.
7. Turmeric
Turmeric is a delicious orange spice that comes from the rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant.
It’s part of the ginger family and is native to the tropical regions of South Asia.
But it also boasts fantastic health benefits — and some of them may directly impact cognitive function.
Here’s the short of it:
Turmeric boasts an active compound called curcumin, which possesses a ton of health benefits. Research also shows that curcumin crosses the blood-brain barrier to deliver several brain-power benefits.
Curcumin has many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s useful for preventing Alzheimer’s, improves depression symptoms, and helps to protect the body from free radicals.
There isn’t a ton of curcumin in turmeric, and it’s challenging to get enough of it in your diet by only eating the spice.
Therefore, you can opt to take a curcumin supplement if you want to make use of it.
It’s also challenging for the body to absorb. But piperine (black pepper) can help with absorption. Therefore, it’s best to choose a curcumin supplement that contains piperine as well.
Conclusion
These seven foods boost brain power, cognitive function, and long-term brain health. And, some of them even taste great!
Sprinkle some of these foods into your diet frequently, and you just may experience that natural brain boost you’ve been searching for.
Now that your brain is thoroughly boosted, get out there and get creative!
Author bio:
Caitlin Sinclair is the Business Manager at The Rylan. With over five years of property management experience, she begins and ends each day loving what she does. She finds joy in helping current and future residents and makes The Rylan a place everyone loves to call home.
