Best Foods to Improve Brain Functioning
Dec 15, 2022
“Eat more veggies and fruits, and avoid junk food, it's bad for your health”.
We are sure everyone has heard these exact same lines from their parents multiple times and yeah most of us ignored their advice. After all, it's really difficult to stop eating our favorite junkies. But what if i tell you your favorite junkies can inflame your brain, reduce learning capabilities and generation of new neurons? Now, that all sounds really scary after all, no one wants their brain performance to go down and to make sure it doesn't we have created a list of healthy foods that will help you recover the damage and improve brain power.
Foods to Improve Your Brainpower
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of minerals like zinc, copper and magnesium. All three of these minerals provide amazing benefits to our brains. Zinc reduces the chances of depression and Alzheimer’s disease, Magnesium is crucial for maintaining memory and learning capabilities, and Copper reduces the chance of neurodegenerative diseases.
Blueberries
Blueberries have numerous health benefits, some of which are specifically for your brain. Anthocyanins, a group of plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, are found in blueberries and other darkly colored berries. Antioxidants combat both oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which help in brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Coffee
If coffee is the main drink of your morning, you will be relaxed to know that it is very healthy. Caffeine and antioxidants, two important components of coffee, can both benefit brain health. It enhances your alertness and is really effective.
Turmeric
Turmeric has recently generated a lot of attention. This ancient spice has a variety of brain-boosting properties. Turmeric contains a yellow compound named curcumin which helps reduce stress and anxiety and it also boosts the production of brain hormone called BDNF which helps increase the growth of new neurons.
Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in potent plant compounds including antioxidants. It's also very high in vitamin K, providing more than 100% of the RDA in a 1-cup (160-gram) serving of cooked broccoli. This fat-soluble vitamin is required for the development of sphingolipids, a type of fat search in densely packed brain cells. Some studies in older adults have linked increased vitamin K to improved memory and cognitive function.
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolates and cocoa powder are high in brain-boosting compounds such as flavonoids, caffeine, and antioxidants. Dark chocolate contains 70% or more cocoa. These advantages are not seen in normal milk chocolate that contains cocoa. Flavonoids are an antioxidant plant compound group. Chocolate flavonoids are gathered in areas of the brain linked with learning and memory. Researchers believe that these components help improve memory and slow mental decline.
Oranges
Oranges are a potent antioxidant that fights against free radicals that can harm brain cells. Furthermore, vitamin C improves brain health and may protect against conditions such as major depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer's disease. Other foods that are rich in vitamin C include guava, kiwi, tomatoes, and strawberries.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant known as lycopene. Lycopene helps to protect against cell damage in our body which occurs in the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Green tea
Green tea, like coffee, contains caffeine, which improves brain function. It has been shown to improve alertness, performance, memory, and focus. Green tea also contains a special amino acid called L-theanine which helps reduce stress and anxiety and boost your mood.
Conclusion
Incorporating healthy food items into our diet can bring amazing benefits in our lives. Food works wonders for improving and nourishing any function or organ of the body, and that is why it is also said that “Food is a medicine”.
The same rule applies to our brains too. A healthy diet is very necessary to ensure a healthy and heavy-performing brain.