To have a fresh and buoyant brain that resists aging you need to supply it with smart foods that boost your brain power.
Do these words describe you- alert, lively, pep, zing, and having lots of get-up-and-go? If you wish to enjoy life to the fullest or what the French describe as “joie de vivre” then you have to feed your brain properly. A well fed brain will improve your performance in all areas of your life and it will contribute to a greater level of mental clarity and focus. Plus you will not age as fast. Who does not want a youthful brain?
Here are some more foods that can help to give you that.
Go Wild for Salmon
Wild salmon is rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids. You have probably heard of the omega-3s as they are constantly being touted as an important aspect of good health. That is because they are. Salmon is a brain food for sure. The omega-3 that it is composed of helps to improve the functioning of the brain and also decreases inflammation in the body.
Other types of oily coldwater fish that are also of benefit include tuna, sardines, herring and rainbow trout. Aim to consume salmon or another kind of omega-3 rich fish at least two or three times a week.
Add a Burst of Color to Your Diet
To have a youthful brain you need to eat as many colorful vegetables and citrus fruits as you can. Liven your diet up with as much color as possible. Colorful fruits and veggies are very high in the antioxidants they contain which make them winners in the brain’s department. Choose rich vivid colors such as green, red, purple, orange and yellow when you are shopping for produce.
Dark leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale and romaine lettuce are excellent choices. These provide the highest level of antioxidant properties of all of the fruits and vegetables. Add some red with the help of tomatoes, cherries and red peppers. Orange can come by way of oranges (of course!), carrots, apricots, mango and papaya. As for a blue /purple splash of color, look to red grapes, blueberries, blackberries, eggplant and prunes. Aim for an average of two to four servings per day.
Make Like a Bird and Go Nutty for Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are both useful for the brain because they are full of protein and essential fatty acids. They are also a good source of vitamin E. Studies have proven that the more vitamin E you consume the better it is for your cognitive functions. Vitamin E is also instrumental in improving memory. Some examples of excellent choices for nuts and seeds include flaxseed (ground flaxseed is easier for the body to digest), walnuts, hazel nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, peanuts, filberts, Brazil nuts and unhydrogenated nut butters.
Add an ounce of nuts or seeds to your diet. You can easily add them to cereal, soups, stews, casseroles, etc. Make sure you don’t overindulge however as both nuts and seeds are high in calories and can pack on the pounds. Also do not buy salted nuts or flavored ones like barbecued.
To have a fresh and buoyant brain that is as youthful as possible, make sure that you eat the foods that will promote its potency, strength and vitality.
To learn about more foods that can promote youthfulness and longevity visit these websites:
http://www.naturalhealthweb.com/articles/virtue20.html
http://guide2herbalremedies.com/top-5-foods-longevity/
http://www.thethinkingbusiness.co.uk/brainfoods.htm
More on Brain Foods
Samantha