Part of any fitness program is eating healthy. Healthy eating can help you lose weight, improve your metabolism and even help build muscle tissue. What most people don’t realize is that it also can aid cognitive thinking and boost your memory. Improved memory and cognitive thinking is important no matter what your job or station in life. A healthy diet is especially important to help maintain brain functioning at both ends of the age spectrum, children and seniors.
Brain food includes spices.
Gingko biloba is one herbal supplement people have taken to boost memory, but there are common herbs and spices that you can use in cooking every day. Turmeric contains curcumin, which has been known to help reduce inflammation, making it important in preventing Alzheimer’s, as well as arthritis, diabetes and even cancer. Black pepper also boosts brain functioning, while boosting the effects of turmeric. Just smelling cinnamon has been proven to increase cognitive functioning, while adding as little as a half teaspoon a day to your diet provides enough of this superfood to protect your brain.
Fish that contain Omega3 fatty acids boost your brain power.
Fatty fish like salmon are not only good for weight loss and a healthy diet, they’re good for your brain. The fat they contain is important for the brain, since it’s about 60% fat, with half of that fat being omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish provide the building blocks and eating adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to slow mental decline and Alzheimer’s. Studies show that an imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 where there’s too little omega-3 leads to depression and aggression problems. It not only boosts memory and brain functioning, it improves your mood, too.
You’ll get plenty of brain food when you eat healthy.
The B vitamins help nerve and brain functioning, while also enhancing your mood. Foods like whole grains, eggs, dairy, meat, seeds, nuts, dark leafy vegetables and fruits are high in B vitamins. In fact, Eggs are particularly high in choline, grouped in the vitamin B complex. It’s known as a real memory booster. Nuts from trees aid in cognitive functioning and reduce the risk of brain damage. Walnuts are the best types of nuts for the brain. Fruits and vegetables with orange or red coloring are high in vitamin C, which also helps protect the brain.
- Caffeine, whether from coffee or tea, can improve your concentration and boost your mood. Green tea helps protect the brain and also aids memory. Don’t forget to drink water also. Even slight dehydration can affect your mental powers.
- Inflammation not only causes serious diseases like cancer and heart disease, it’s also linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Any food that’s anti-inflammatory, such as broccoli, can provide that protection.
- If you want a sweet treat, a small square of dark chocolate can improve your memory and mood. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that help the brain.
- You’ll get maximum benefits when you snack on food like blueberries or pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds contain minerals like magnesium, copper, iron and zinc that help the brain and blueberries are a powerful antioxidant.
For more information, contact us today at Next Level Fitness