Is it possible to enjoy food for a sharper mind? Yes, because when you feed your brain the right food, it will be able to function more effectively. However, a diet of fast foods and foods laden with sugar and fat means that your brain is not going to get what it needs to be able to function well.
If it is true that we need to feed our brain the right foods, what makes for the best choices to have a sharp brain long into our senior years? Here are some tips to ponder.
All Kinds of Berries
One of the best choices is berries. They are good for the body since they are high in fiber are lower on the glycemic index.
This makes them really good brain food!
Some studies have shown that eating berries can reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer’s.
This is because berries are high in antioxidants and can reduce oxidative stress in the body.
What is oxidative stress?
Oxidation is something that takes place in our bodies and is normal. However, oxidative stress is an imbalance between antioxidants and free radical activities.
Free radicals are necessary for fighting off pathogens. This happens when they are working properly. Pathogens are one of the causes of infections.
When there are more free radicals present in the body that antioxidants can’t keep up with, the free radicals starting damaging areas of the body.
These areas include DNA, proteins, and fatty tissue. A large part of our body is made up of DNA, lipids, and proteins. Any damage to these areas can result in a number of different diseases.
Those diseases include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels), cancer as well as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Aging is another result of oxidative stress.
In a study, it was found that rats were able to improve their motor skills when they had a diet that was high in berries.
You may not be a rat, but the benefits to your brain health are similar. When oxidative stress is reduced and nutrients are increased, your brain gets a boost.
So the next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a selection of berries and enjoy them every day.
All Kinds of Nuts
Nuts make a great snack. No preparation is required. Some come shelled and some come with their shells. Either way, they are a great choice.
With nuts, you can get a healthy snack without all the high salt, sugar, or fat found in other snacks.
It is a good idea to swap the usual snack items for nutritionally filled nuts. They have omega-3 fatty acids and can fill you up better than all those empty calories found in chips or other snack foods.
A study published in Neurology showed that omega-3 fatty acids can improve cognitive function.
Next time you want a healthy snack, reach for some nuts!
Love Me Some Dark Chocolate
I’m betting that you never thought that eating dark chocolate could make you smarter! In fact, dark chocolate is better for you than those chocolates that have a lot of sugar or even milk.
In order for it to be considered high-quality, dark chocolate needs to be sixty percent cacao in order to help improve brain function.
One study from Northumbria University found that people who drank dark chocolate flavonoids were able to perform better on a math test compared to those participants who were given drinks without chocolate flavonoids.
You may not be able to find beverages with chocolate flavonoids, but you will be able to find dark chocolate at any grocery store.
Make Mine a Bulletproof Coffee
Have you ever heard of bulletproof coffee! This is not your regular coffee. Made with coconut oil, this has become a popular drink.
Coconut oil is another brain food. Coffee can actually improve your focus and concentration.
When these two ingredients are put together you get an amazing drink the feeds your brain.
A lot of people think this is a really amazing beverage and a great way to start the day.
The recipe is pretty simple for bulletproof coffee. Add some Arabica coffee to a blender and add one or two tablespoons of coconut oil. Blend it until you create a frothy latte-like beverage.
You can add a little sugar, agave nectar, or Stevia if you like it to be a bit on the sweet side.
However, coconut oil is also sweet so you might have to experiment to get it the way you like it.
Now enjoy this frothy goodness.
So why is bulletproof coffee good for your brain health? For one coffee can improve long-term memory.
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglyceride which is great for boosting memory. This is especially true for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
As well medium-chain triglycerides help to fuel the brain. In fact, they can go straight to the brain as food and don’t need to be broken down or even processed.
Another cool thing about coconut oil and definitely one to consider when it comes to great food for a sharper mind.
How The Food You Eat Affects Your Brain Video:
So now that you have this list of foods that are great for brain health, you can enjoy them knowing that not only do they taste good, but they help your brain.
If you want to live your best life, why not give this list of food for a sharper mind a try for several weeks or so and see if you end up with clearer thoughts.
