Are you aware that certain foods help with better brain function? Yes, there are foods that you can consume to help you improve your brain health.
It's common to get distracted by work or family life, forget appointments, and lose track of important information. You do your best to remember, but sometimes you might fail to recall. However, there are certain foods that can help your memory while also improving your cognitive function in a very effective manner.
Best Foods to Boost Your Memory
These memory-boosting foods are readily available and must be included in your diet regularly.
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Green and Leafy Vegetables
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collards are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They're also high in fibre, which helps with digestion and keeps you full longer. They're packed with nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, and folate that can help boost your memory. Broccoli is also a green vegetable that helps boost brain power. -
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish is an excellent source of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential to brain function and may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults.
Fatty fish is also a good source of protein, which helps build new cells in the hippocampus — a part of your brain involved with memory and learning. It also contains selenium which helps improve memory and concentration levels. -
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help improve your brain health. They also contain choline, which is an essential nutrient for brain function, as it supports memory development, learning and other cognitive functions.
Eggs are also high in vitamin B12, which helps maintain healthy nerve cells in the brain. -
Berries
Berries are among the best memory-boosting foods that you must consume for better brain health. They are rich in antioxidants, which are crucial for keeping your brain cells healthy and preventing them from degenerating.
In addition, they contain other ingredients that can help improve your memory by increasing blood flow to the brain. They also contain vitamins and minerals needed for the proper functioning of your brain cells.
Berries are found in various varieties, such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and so on. -
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, and they are a food group that has always gotten more attention when it comes to brain health – and all for the right reasons.
Some nuts and seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to improve memory and brain function. These include flaxseeds, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
Other nutrients in nuts and seeds include B vitamins (B6, B12), selenium and antioxidants like vitamin E. -
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is a good source of iron and magnesium essential to brain health. It also contains flavonoids, which have been shown to improve memory and learning.
Dark chocolate also contains an antioxidant called epicatechin, which may help protect against brain deterioration as we age. -
Whole Grains
The brain needs energy to function, concentrate and focus. Whole grains with a low glycaemic index help you slowly and steadily release energy to power the brain keeping you mentally alert. Not eating enough healthy wholegrains that supply good carbs to the body can not only result in irritability but also lead to brain fog. Whole grains also have vitamin E, which helps with brain health.
Some of the popular whole gains you can consume are: -
Tea and Coffee
Tea and coffee are two of the most consumed drinks in the world. They are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In fact, these two beverages have been commonly used for centuries for their cognitive benefits.
Coffee is known to improve mental alertness and concentration, while tea helps you stay energized and focused throughout the day. Both beverages contain caffeine, a stimulant that binds to receptors in your brain to produce feelings of wakefulness, energy, alertness and memory retention. -
Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the most powerful spices you can use to boost your brain health. It's an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powerhouse that has been shown to help prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Turmeric also contains a compound called curcumin, which has been shown to have neuroprotective effects on the brain. When you consume turmeric, you are able to absorb these protective properties into your bloodstream. -
Soy Products
Soy serves as an excellent source of protein and contains more than 50 nutrients, including antioxidants and phytoestrogens. Soy products are an excellent source of complete protein that can help maintain brain health and protect against cognitive decline.
Soybeans are rich in isoflavones, which have been shown to support optimal brain function. Soy protein also contains leucine, an amino acid that may improve your mental performance even when you're not eating any other nutrients.
These brain foods word as stimulants and memory enhancers, and they are a must. Try to include as many of these memory-boosting foods in your daily diet to keep your mind sharp and boost your memory power.