We have all heard “you are what you eat”. Although a nutritious and balanced diet is great for our bodies, there are some foods that are more beneficial and more nutritious than others. We all know the foods that we should eat, which are considered “healthy” but, what to say about foods that are good for only a very important part? the brain. Next, here we show you a list of 5 foods to improve brain health, as well as to ensure its proper functioning.
The chocolate
While eating hundreds of bars of chocolate can make you sick and drinking a large amount of hot chocolate in one day, it does the same thing, the main ingredient of this delicious food is very nutritious for the brain: cocoa.
Scientists have found that the antioxidant content found in just two to three tablespoons of cocoa powder is much higher than the antioxidants found in other foods, such as green tea or red wine.
The main antioxidant found in cocoa, known as flavonol, is said to help increase blood flow to the brain. While regular chocolate milk lacks flavonols, they can be found in dark chocolate.
Fish
Another of the 5 good foods to improve brain health is fish because it contains Omega 3, which is a fatty acid known to be highly beneficial to the body in several ways. Eating one serving of fish a week can greatly reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease;
These fatty acids help with brain function because they coat neurons that sometimes have a fatty acid layer that hardens due to high cholesterol and saturated fat content in the body.
The Omega 3 covers neurons with good fats, allowing them to move easily throughout the brain. It also provides more oxygen to the brain and allows you to retain new information while still remembering old information. The best fish that promote brain health are salmon, tuna, and herring.
Green leafy vegetables
The green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, among others are excellent for the brain both children and adults. These vegetables are a great help when it comes time to remember and process old information. This is because these foods are full of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid, which are great nutrients needed in the brain. They break homocysteine levels, which can lead to forgetfulness and even Alzheimer’s disease.
These vegetables are often very high in iron. If there is not enough iron in the intake, cognitive activity slows down greatly. So when your mom always urged you to eat spinach, now you know why.
Dried fruits and seeds
All types of nuts are good for our brain health. This means that peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and any other type of nut or seed you can think of are good for your brain.
They are foods full of Omega 3 and Omega 6, as well as folic acid, vitamin E and vitamin B6. All of these foods allow you to think more clearly. They also help you think more positively because Omega 3 and Omega 6 are fatty acids that work as natural antidepressants.
Some of the dried fruits and seeds are also packed with thiamine and magnesium which are great for memory and cognitive function.
Curry
This spicy food is a great way to spice up the brain and keep it looking like new. A main ingredient in curry powder, turmeric, is packed with antioxidants that help fight aging of the brain and maintain cognitive function as you age;
These antioxidants also fight free radicals that can cause inflammation and other ailments in the body. Not only is curry good for the brain, but it also helps fight diabetes and heart disease.
