Brain Healthy Foods

With so many things that can go wrong where food is conce ed, it’s better to focus on the foods which help things to go right. Thankfully there are several tasty snacks ready to do just that. Let’s look at a few: Avocado The vitami K and folate found in avocados work hard to protect your brain. They help prevent blood clots, meaning you’re better protected against strokes. They also aid in areas such as memory, cognitive skills, and concentration. Beets There’s a lot to love about beets. Recognized as one of those anti-inflammatory veggies, they do everything from knocking toxins out of your body, to give better blood flow to the brain, which helps you get the mental ‘edge’ you so desperately need. Blueberries To protect against natural deterioration of the brain, blueberries are best! They improve memory over time, and recent research proves they can actually reverse memory loss! Broccoli Another veggie for memory acuity, broccoli has a lot to offer, specifically two crucial nutrients for improved brain function—Vitamin K and choline. Vitamin K strengthens cognitive abilities while Choline improves memory. Let’s not forget folic acid, which helps ward off Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Coconut Oil There’s been so much talk about coconut oil, it’s hard to believe it does so many good things and still protects your brain from memory loss due to aging. This is another great anti-inflammatory which helps aid in neuron growth. Dark Chocolate To get the best benefits of chocolate, go for something 70% cocoa or higher. This is another food to improve blood flow to the brain. Cocoa has been found to improve verbal fluency and cognitive function in the elderly. Eggs The choline in eggs helps your brain chemistry stay on track. Studies have shown eggs help you to feel happy and aren’t just necessary for healthy growth in developing brains. Extra Virgin Olive Oil There’s a lot to love about this one, from the way it protects your brain from damage, but also can reverse the damage done to the brain due to disease or age. Extra Virgin Olive Oil makes it easier to learn, improves memory, and even works to stave off dementia. The nice thing? It’s super easy to add to your diet. Leafy Greens Anytime you eat something that’s a leafy green, you’re adding good things to your diet regarding iron and vitami C. But did you know these veggies slow down the effects of aging on your brain? 1-2 servings a day is all you need to see a positive change! Salmon Having trouble with memory or just can’t seem to think lately? Try salmon for a duick fix, courtesy of all those omega-3’s so necessary to good brain health. If you think something so simple can’t help so significantly, consider this: Studies have shown kids with ADHD who eat salmon have considerably improved focus. Turmeric Everyone’s been talking about how great turmeric is as an anti-inflammatory, but it’s also wonderful to up your oxygen intake in your brain, meaning a boost in cognitive skills. You’ll also feel more alert with this simple addition to your diet. Walnuts It’s doesn’t take many walnuts to find yourself thinking better. That’s because they have a high concentration of the Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA. DHA is powerful brain food and has been proven to improve cognitive performance and prevent age-related cognitive decline.