Want to give your brain a boost? Try these foods to keep you sharp.

Dark Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens have high iron levels, which enhance our learning abilities. In addition to being a base to your salad, greens can be tasty additions to your morning smoothie and give you an energy boost.

 

Dark Chocolate

Good news, chocolate lovers: Adding dark chocolate to your diet can satisfy your sweet tooth and boost brain health. Dark chocolate can help produce “feel-good” chemicals like endorphins, improve blood flow to the brain, and improve memory. This year, Medical News Today found that eating a small amount of dark chocolate with 70 percent cocoa has positive effects on brain health and the immune system.

 

Eggs

Eggs are rich in selenium, a trace element that benefits your memory and keeps your brain speed on high. A significant source of protein, eggs also contain choline, a nutrient that your brain uses to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that also works wonders for your memory. That’s not all—acetylcholine helps with communication among brain cells.

 

Avocados

Not only are avocados tasty, but they also have monounsaturated fatty acids that keep your brain healthy. Studies show that the fruit improves oxygenation and blood supply in your brain, according to Villanova University Dining Services.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a superfood for a reason—it does it all. From being a teeth whitener to a latte ingredient to an anti-inflammatory plant, turmeric also gives your brain a boost. Hailed the “wonder spice,” turmeric can help regenerate a damaged brain, STEM Cell Research & Therapy found in a study.

Walnuts

All nuts contribute to improved brain function. Walnuts, however, top the list because of their myriad benefits. The brain-shaped nut—no coincidence there—has a high concentration of DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, which protects brain health in newborns, improves cognitive performance in adults, and prevents cognitive decline as we age.

Coffee

Can’t function without your daily latte? No reason to quit any time soon. The caffeine in your Cup of Joe can improve your memory and speed up reaction times, New Scientist reports. Keep in mind, however, that although caffeine can lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, prevent Parkinson’s disease, and relieve headache pain, always drink coffee in moderation, as too much can cause irritability and make you jumpy.

Introducing Cockroach Milk

Oat milk, almond milk, and soymilk are popular dairy alternatives. Now there’s another one that may be the new superfood: cockroach milk, the post-natal fluid of a certain breed of roach. Don’t get turned off just yet—researchers from the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine say that the milk has many health benefits and tastes just like cow’s milk. We don’t know when cockroach milk will become a household product, but keep an eye out for it—it could be the next “it” food!

Sources:

Whiteman, Honor. “How Dark Chocolate Could Boost Brain Health, Immunity.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 27 Apr. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321618.php.

Kelly, Diana, et al. “The Best Brain Food You Should Be Eating | Reader’s Digest.” Reader’s Digest, Reader’s Digest, 6 June 2018, www.rd.com/health/conditions/best-brain-food/.

DuMontier, George. “Is Cockroach Milk the New Superfood?” Nashville, TN News, Weather, Entertainment, Sports – WSMV News 4, 29 May 2018, www.wsmv.com/story/38297712/is-cockroach-milk-the-new-superfood.

https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/services/dining/nutrition/thought/brainfood.html