Some of the Best Brain Foods

Did you know that there are some excellent foods that enhance hormone production, brain chemistry, memory, mood, & cognition?

Try to incorporate these foods everyday into your meals & see if you see a difference:

1. Eggs=Eggs contain choline, one of the superstar brain nutrients. Choline is necessary to produce acetylcholine, which plays a critical role in memory.
2. Smart Oils=Olive, Walnut, Avocado, Flax=These oils are far superior to canola, corn, & soy oils which contain Omega-6 fats rather than the brainy Omega-3's.
3. Flax Seeds=Not exactly truffles or super yummy but they are a true super food.  Use them sparingly until you adjust to the taste.  They are literally made of nothing but good fiber, vitamins, & Omega-3's.
4. Vegetable-Packed Salad=A big, flavorful salad is full of good fiber, vitamins, & antioxidants.  Your brain really loves antioxidants C & E, so pack that salad with nuts (not peanuts), seeds, olive oil, bell peppers, broccoli, & fruit too!
5. Strawberries, Blackberries, & Blueberries=These fruits contain antioxidants that help boost cognition, coordination, & memory.  Eat some berries daily if you can!   Blackberries also have anthocyanins.  This helps protect our brain from stress!
6. Nuts (not peanuts)=Almonds make a perfect smart snack.  They have a sensible mix of fiber, protein, & fat that stabilize your blood sugar.  Plus, the vitamins & minerals in nuts (B, E, Magnesium, & more) are excellent for you & hoping that you don't get a ton of grey hair!  Other Nuts worth noting for sure are Walnuts, Cashews, & Pecans!
7. Pumpkin Seeds=The seeds of the pumpkin are the best part of the pumpkin!  The seeds are rich in nutrients including Zinc, Vitamin A & E, & Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids.  Zinc is also in it which plays a vital role in enhancing memory & thinking skills.
8. Oily Fish=Probably one of the singles most important elements required for optional brain health.  The brain is 60% fat, but it doesn't like processed foods, trans fat, or Omega-6 fats.  Your brain needs those Omega-3's!  Oily fish like wild Alaskan salmon, mackarel, & tuna contain DHA, the best form of Omega 3.  Increased Omega-3 intake has been linked to alleviation of a spectrum of mental health concerns, from anxiety & irritability to depression & even schizophrenia!
9. Spinach=Spinach slows down the effects of age-related declines in brain function & help protect the brain from oxidative stress.  It also improves your learning capacity &  motor skills.
10. Avocados=They are almost as good as blueberries in promoting brain health.  True, the avodado is a fatty fruit, but it's a monosatured fat which contributes to healthy blood flow.  Healthy blood flow=Healthy brain=Lower blood pressure.
11. Dark Chocolate=There are powerful antioxidant properties in dark chocolate that contain several natural stimulants, including caffeine, which enhance focus & concentration, & stimulate the production of endorphins, which help improve your mood.  However, this is one 'superfood' where more is NOT better!  This has to be eaten in moderation!  .5ozs-1oz a day is all that is needed to get the benefits!

Some great Tips to Remember:

• Essentially, fats build your brain, & proteins unite it.  Carbohydrates fuel your brain, & micronutrients defend it. (From the Brain Food Pyramid)
• However, remember the best source of carbohydrates is produce, not refined starches, sweets, & grains.
• Our brain is the greediest organ in the body, but its proper nourishment is VITAL to creative thoughts, positive mood, memory, & good overall health.  It's no surprise that what you eat affects how you think, feel, remember, & potentially even increase intelligence!  If it's possible for clean eating to eat your way to genius.....WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO?????

*Information gathered from: Marks Daily Apple, Franklin Institute, New Scientist, Psychology Today