Eating brain food is super smart move. Do you see what I did there?! Seriously, though, there are certain foods that will actually improve your brain health.
Are you just not as sharp as you’d like to be? Do you say “what’s the cute barista’s name?” and “you know, that little cute place with the ginger tea?” or “what was the name movie with Brad Pitt…”
Are words failing to find their way into your mouth? And do you struggle with minor lapses in memory that drive you batty?
Maybe you need to feed your brain, like you feed the rest of your body, with a little extra love and care. Put these brain foods on your fork, in your hand, and in your mug and you may remember the name of the block that your best friend lived on when you were 7. Or even just where you left your keys 5 minutes ago.
5 Brain Food Eats To Always Have in Your Kitchen
1. Blueberries — can help delay memory loss and research shows that blueberries improve focus and increase memory recall. Eat them fresh, make a tea, add them to quinoa, or use dried or frozen in your yogurt, oatmeal or smoothie.
2. Tomatoes — the same lycopene that is good for prostate health is also fab for preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s. Eat them in any form, but know that lycopene is most concentrated in tomato based sauces and paste. Try chopping them up with feta or for a more concentrated punch, try a zesty tomato soup.
3. Pumpkin seeds — full of zinc, which plays an important role in cognition and memory. These beauties are perfect on top of a salad, sprinkled into yogurt, simply toasted, or mixed into your favorite trail mix.
4. Fatty fish — besides salmon, try trout, herring and sardines. These fish are high in omega-3s DHA and EPA, which are important in brain health, joint functioning and overall wellbeing. Try them baked or broiled, in a wrap, or even for breakfast. Don’t forget to check here for the best type of fish to purchase.
5. Coffee — the caffeine in coffee (or tea) is linked to brain boosting effects and is coffee is loaded with antioxidants. Enjoy it in moderation (1 to 2 cups per day) to help you focus on important tasks. Sprinkle on cinnamon, add some pumpkin pie spice, or a shot of vanilla for added flavor.
Hopefully this brain boosting bit of information will inspire you to fuel your noggin. Give it a try and let me know how many fewer times you misplaced your sunglasses this week!