24 Brain Boosting Foods that improve your brain’s performance and help give you more energy and focus
Beneficial
foods include those high in antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E. That`s
because oxidation causes an age-related decline in mental
functions, and a loss of telomere length. Here are some foods which can not
only prevent Alzheimer’s disease but boost your brain functions.
1. The healthy omega-3 fats like you get from fish
help build your brain cells. But there’s another kind of fat that’s very
rare, and has great benefits for your brain. They’re called medium chain
fatty acids (MCTs) – namely, capric acid and lauric acid.
All these
fats are only found in human breast milk, cow and goat’s milk, and coconut and
palm kernel oils (which is not the same as palm oil). MCTs fight depression and inflammation, two
major brain robbing conditions. Scientists are also studying these fats because
they may fight Alzheimer’s.
Nursing
babies get about 1 gram of lauric acid per kilogram of body weight each day.
You can get about two grams of lauric acid from one tablespoon of dried
coconut. Quality coconut milk will contain about three and a half grams for
every two ounces. Coconut oil has almost seven grams per tablespoon.
2. Avocados
give you mental might. Besides
also having tryptophan, avocadoes have been shown to increase blood flow, which
is the most important thing you can do to keep your brain working its best. As
it turns out, the increased circulation you get from avocado nutrients is
highly prevalent in the brain.
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EAT MORE: 24 Brain-Boosting Foods
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Avocados
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Brussels sprouts
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Eggs
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Romaine lettuce
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Oysters
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Cantaloupe
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Legumes
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Salmon
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Bananas |
Chia seeds
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Raw milk
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Spinach
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Blueberries
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Chicken
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Oranges
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Sweet Potatoes
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Beef
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Cold Water Fish
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Peas
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Tuna
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Broccoli
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Collard greens
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Green tea
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Turkey
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3. Don’t be
too quick to pass on that odd-looking potato.
Sweet
potatoes boost your body’s power to defend your brain from the incredible
volume of toxins we’re exposed to in the modern world. In fact, the plant
nutrients in sweet potatoes called anthocyanins may also help reduce your risks
from brain-destroying heavy metals like mercury.
Eating sweet
potatoes increases production of your two most powerful antioxidants, SOD
and catalase, which I’ll talk more about in a little bit.
As we know
that brain tissue is extremely sensitive to oxidation and free radical damage,
and that sweet potatoes are a great defence. Blueberries, cranberries, mangoes
and other deeply colored fruits also have a similar but lesser effect.
4. Cacao can
make every day happy and productive. More specifically, the seed the plant
produces, the cocoa bean... which is of course, used to make chocolate.
Two studies
give us great news about chocolate. The first study found that people who ate
one serving of chocolate per week were 22% less likely to have a stroke.1
The second study found that people who ate 50 grams of chocolate (about two
ounces) once a week were 46% less likely to die following a stroke than
those who didn’t eat chocolate.2
Chocolate
helps to counteract that in two ways. It’s rich in antioxidants and helps to
increase circulation. But remember, it is important to distinguish chocolate
from sugary candies. You don’t have to worry about the fat in chocolate, that’s
the good part. Chocolates that have the most cocoa give you the most protection
for your brain. Try to find chocolates that are at least 70% cocoa.
5. Foods with
tryptophan are essential. Tryptophan
is one of the ten amino acids your body can’t make, so you must get it through
food. It helps our brains produce serotonin, which makes us feel relaxed and in
control. Tryptophan can help fight depression, insomnia and anxiety. Turkey is
famous for having tryptophan, but cashews, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and
bananas are also good sources.
