Brain Foods: The Smart Way to Eat!

Brain food. What is it? My grandma always told me fish was brain food, but she also said, “If you keep doing that you’ll go blind.” That was an old wives’ tale, Fish is good for your body and your brain. Eating fish at least once a week can slow mental decline by three to four years. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day -- teach a man to fish and you may prevent dementia. Fish isn’t the only brain-booster, but building your brain can be pricy with all the supposed brain-boosting pills on the market, so to keep your waist thin, your wallet fat and your mind moving here are the foods that keep you healthy, wealthy and wisebut is nourishing your noggin as easy as opening a can of tuna? You may be surprised.

Food for Thought
Fish is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids, the essential fats that ensure healthy functioning cells in the brain.

Nuts and Seeds are rich in selenium, vitamin E and phytochemicals. Nuts and seeds protect against brain aging. They are plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids which also contribute to healthy brain cells

Green or black tea provides polyphenols, special plant compounds that keep brain neurons healthy and blood vessels elastic so that nutrients can flow to the brain. Choose green tea to enhance memory and alertness and improve attention span.

Whole grains supply the brain with its preferred source of fuel: carbohydrates. Whole grains also contain three B vitamins important for brain energy: folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12. Whole wheat pasta, barley, oatmeal, brown rice and whole grain breads are all sources for complex carbohydrates.

A Cart of Many Colors In general, think colors when perusing the produce aisle. If it’s brightly colored, it is brain food -- loaded with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that maintain brain health and enhance mental performance.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables contains many antioxidants, vitamins and minerals essential for optimal brain function and memory All berries are good, but especially blueberries are rich in anthocyanin pigments and potent antioxidants that build a protective shield around the brain, guarding against aging and damage to the brain

Spinach is an antioxidant powerhouse, bursting with beta-carotene, vitamin C and folic acid that help to keep blood vessels healthy and brain nerve impulses working properly. The iron in spinach is important for getting oxygen to the brain and improving concentration.

To improve your brain function, even out your blood-sugar level by eating and drinking water regularly -- try a meal or snack every three to four hours.
The best sugars for the brain are complex, low glycemic carbohydrates. Starches and fruit sugars (fructose) do not cause the roller-coaster mood swings that junk sugars do. The molecules in complex carbs are long, so it takes longer for the intestines to break them down into the simple sugars the body can use. They provide a time-released source of steady energy, instead of a sudden surge followed by a sudden drop.