The brain is one of the most important parts of our organism. It controls the function of all the other organs and is essential for our survival.
The brain requires nutrients like all the other organs in our body. We all know that eating well is healthy for our physical and mental health.
To improve our mental capabilities, we have to eat well and exercise. The question is, which particular type of food will increase our brain function?
We have gathered some of the best food ideas for boosting brain function and slowing down mental aging. These nutrients are highly recommended for everyone and will make your memory sharper than ever.
#1. Blueberries
Steven Pratt, author of the “Fourteen Foods to Change Your Life” has named blueberries as “brainberries” for a reason. Blueberries taste great, and they bring many health benefits.
They contain vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber which make them one of the best antioxidant food around. Blueberries protect our brain from stress and degeneration, thanks to the high level of gallic acid in them. It has been proved that blueberries actually improve short-term memory.
It is also said that blueberries are effective in reducing the effects of Alsheimer’s disease. Blueberries are essential for your diet and are incredibly healthy for your body, especially for your brain
#2. Avocado
Avocados, like blueberries, are also an excellent nutrient for your brain health. It is a fat fruit and includes plenty of calories, but it is very healthy and should be essential in your diet.
That fat is actually monosaturated and is great for your blood flow. Having healthy blood will also make your brain healthy. Thanks to the vitamin K and folate inside this fruit, avocados protect against strokes and improve our concentration and memory.
This fruit is also packed with vitamin B and C which comes as a bonus as these vitamins have to be replenished on a daily basis. Avocado also lowers blood pressure and further improves the health of your brain.
It also has the highest concentration of proteins, as well as the lowest level of sugar in one fruit. Avocado should be essential in your diet if you value your mental health.
#3. Broccoli
We all remember the days as kids when we hated broccoli and most other green vegetables. All that talk about „broccoli is great for you“ is true. Broccoli has a high amount of vitamin K and choline.
Vitamin K and choline are pretty important because they improve the cognitive functions of our brain and keep your memory sharper than ever.
There is a high concentration of glucosinolates in broccoli. This compound slows the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is essential for the function of our central nervous system. It also keeps our memory sharper and helps prevent Alsheimer’s.
This green vegetable should be essential in your diet, as it is very healthy for your brain and body.
#4. Oily fish
Our body cannot make essential fatty acids, so we can only get it from the diet. The best way for getting the fair amount of EFA is eating oily fish.
Oily fish are rich in omega-3 acid, which is essential for our brain function as well as the function of al vital organs. They contain the active form of omega-3, EPA, and DHA. An active form of omega-3 means that our body will ingest these fats much easier.
Wild salmon is the most recommended of the oily fish, thanks to the plentiful supply of it and to the fact that it is a clean fish. Other oily fish include sardines, herring, and trout, which also hold plenty of omega-3.
Lower DHA-level holds an increased risk of getting the Alsheimer’s disease and also contributes to memory loss. Eating oily fish will increase our DHA and EPA levels which will come with benefits such as improved stress management and serotonin supply.
High supply of serotonin will boost your mood and increase your brain function. Oily fish is an essential diet addition, and it will bring benefits to your mind and body.
#5. Whole grains
Whole grains, such as dark rice, wholegrain cereals, and wholegrain bread are very important for your general health. They supply our brain with energy that comes from the glucose that is plentiful in whole grains.
Low-GI whole grains are especially recommended, as they slowly release glucose into our bloodstream and maintains your concentration and focus at high levels. Wholegrains essentially provide better flow of blood through our whole organism and make our brain work better.
Wheat germ should get an honorable mention here, even though it’s not a whole grain. It has plenty of fiber, same as whole grains, but with the addition of vitamin E and omega-3, it should make your brain work faster and better.
#6. Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are especially important for our brain function because of the abundance of vitamin E inside them. Vitamin E is essential, as it improves our cognitive functions and further slows down the process of mental aging.
Seeds are also rich in zinc that is essential for boosting our memory and our thinking skills. Pumpkin seeds are the most recommended because they are richer in zinc than most other seeds.
Pumpkin seeds also hold an abundance of magnesium, which kills stress. Inside pumpkin seeds are also vitamin B and tryptophan which helps create good mood serotonin.
Pumpkin seeds boost our brain function and should be essential in your brain diet, as well as nuts and other seeds.
Conclusion
These diet addition ideas are essential for your general health, especially for your brain. If you start using these ideas in your life in general, you will only see benefits.
Eating healthy food for your brain is essential for your well-being and will make your overall life much easier. Having high brain health will also help you with your everyday needs and will drastically lower the risk of brain diseases.
Also recommended with this healthy diet is regular exercise. Frequent training, regardless of its concrete type, is generally beneficial for both mental and psychical health. Exercise improves our cognitive function and slows down mental aging as well as enhancing our information-gathering capabilities.
With these tips, you should start with improving your brain health as well as improving your general health and life.