As you know, eating a balanced diet can help you feel healthier and more energized. One of the best benefits of eating well, however, is the effect it can have on your state of mind. It’s not like a magical “brain food” exists that will instantly cure your need to check Facebook every five minutes, but certain foods can definitely help you feel more clear-headed and focused. Usually, nutrition doesn’t immediately change the way our brains work. However, there are certain foods that might be particularly poised to help your brain.
Oily Sea Foods.
Mackerel and Salmon are good recommendations of fatty fish. They’re high in omega-3 fatty acids to help keep your brain running smoothly. It also helps to improve memory and these same fatty acids can also help prevent cancer and kill brain tumors.
Oats
Oats are one of the healthy carbs that doctors recommend for brain functioning. Oats have good magnesium levels in them, and that can actually help with good brain function. You can even enjoy oats more when you eat it with fruit and yogurt.
Avocado
While avocados often have a bad reputation because of their high fat content, it’s important to note that these green powerhouses are packed with monosaturated fats or the “good” kind, keeping blood sugar levels steady and your skin glowing. Avocados contain Vitamin K and Folate which help prevent blood clots in the brain (protecting against stroke) as well as help improve cognitive function, especially both memory and concentration.
Coconut Oil
There’s almost nothing that coconut oil can’t help, and when it comes to your brain, it’s full of benefits, too. Coconut oil works as a natural anti-inflammatory, suppressing cells responsible for inflammation, that is, it helps reduce swelling and infections in the brain. It can help with memory loss as you age and destroy bad bacteria that hangs out in your gut.
Water
Okay, it’s not a food, but the importance of staying hydrated can’t be emphasized enough. Good hydration definitely can make you feel more clear-headed. So while you probably don’t need to drink exactly eight glasses of water eight times a day, you should definitely be refreshing your brain with some good H2O. Listen to your thirst!
Credit: Dr Josh Axe and Jessica Crandall, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
