While you may not know it there are healthy foods to eat for brain power. Including some things from this list will go a long way toward a mentally stronger you. In fact many of these you may have already been encouraged to eat for other reasons like a healthy heart. You just may not know how they benefit your mind.
First on our list of foods for brain power is fish. Specifically fish high in Omega3 fatty acids. This includes Salmon, cold water fish of various kinds and shrimp. Omega3 fatty acids contain DHA and EPA, two compounds that studies have shown build up the brain and promote its functioning along with lowering bad fats in the bloodstream. In fact the impact of DHA is so large that doctors are recommending DHA supplements for mother who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Infant formula makers are also adding DHA to their products. Many of the studies done show that babies who had a diet high in DHA had higher IQs than those that were deficient in DHA.
Next on our list of healthy foods to eat for brain power are foods high in Vitamin E. This again includes fish like salmon, which is high in E as well as leafy greens, nuts and whole grains which give the body a good source of E. Vitamin E protects the body as an antioxidant and also helps the body benefit from Omega3's by preventing their destruction within the body. E also helps with circulation, which the brain requires lots of and is part of your bodies natural repair functions.
Following E are foods that contain B Complex vitamins. Foods for brain power that include B vitamins are whole grains, berries, leafy greens, milk and moderate intakes of red meat. B vitamins are a group of vitamins that benefit the body and mind by: helping the body break down food for energy efficiently, protect nerve cells from damage, support the immune system and help produce red blood cells.
Iron is another important nutrient for the brain. Healthy foods to eat for brain power with iron include lean red meats, beans and spinach. Iron works in your brain to help produce healthy brain tissue and to support the production of neurotransmitters (the chemicals that nerves use to function and communicate).
The final thing on our list of foods for brain power are foods rich in Vitamin C. C is an antioxidant so it helps the body by protecting from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radical damage has potentially been linking to declining mental function as we age as well as dysfunctions like Dementia. Using Antioxidants to protect against such damage to begin with will help guard against the decline the comes from the effects of free radicals. It also helps the body absorb iron. Foods rich in C are fruits like Oranges, strawberries and green peppers.
While many of us could benefit from eating more of these types of foods it is sometimes difficult in our busy society to make the adjustments necessary. Another approach to getting these nutrients is the use of supplements. There are many good products out there that incorporate all these into easy to take tablets or gel caps.
Additionally, there are some manufacturers that have created brain focused supplements that provide not only the above mentioned nutrients, but compounds like Huperzine A which prevents the breakdown of neurotransmitters in the body and herbs like Ginkgo and Ginseng which improve blood flow to the brain and provide protective benefits to nerve cells. Using supplements that include these ingredients along with adding items from our list of healthy foods to eat for brain power will give you the biggest bang for your buck in regard to long term cognitive health.