7 Brain-Power Foods You Should Eat Every Day

With these 7 foods, boosting your brain health and your memory can be a delicious endeavor!

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #1: Almond Butter
Almonds, as do many nuts and seeds, contain high concentrations of vitamin E, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and some studies indicate it can slow the decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Almond butter contains three times more Vitamin E than peanut butter. For a snack, you can spread a teaspoon over celery, or mix a spoonful into oatmeal.

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #2: Greens with Cheese
Greens, such as spinach or broccoli are packed with vitamin K, which has been has been shown to improve verbal episodic memory, as well as your ability to absorb and remember verbal instructions. Leafy greens also deliver high doses of folate, which works in tandem with vitamin B12 to help improve cognitive function for older adults. Since greens don’t contain vitamin B12, add some cheese or eggs to a spinach or Romaine salad.

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #3: Blueberries
The flavonoids in blueberries have been shown to improve spatial memory in rats. Their antioxidants help lessen inflammation, which can cause longer-term problems for the brain and its memory function,

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #4: Green Tea
One study found that subjects who drank green tea before a cognitive-functioning test, performed significantly better than those who drank a placebo. Researchers who monitored the brain function of those undergoing testing say that the green tea improved brain plasticity, which means that it allowed their brains to learn faster.

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #5: Salmon or Tuna
DHA is type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fattier fish like salmon and tuna. DHA can improve memory and the time it takes to recall a memory. Researchers tested DHA supplements on a group of 176 adults who had low levels of omega-3s in their diets. Just the DHA that you’d find in a 3 ½ ounce serving of salmon, made a measurable difference.

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #6: Cherry Tomatoes
Bright red and orange vegetables are top sources of carotenoids, which seem to improve cognition and memory over longer periods of time. One of the most powerful of these nutrients is lycopene, which is found in high doses in the skin of tomatoes. Lycopene also protects you from depression and inflammation. Why cherry tomatoes? Because lycopene is concentrated in the skin and they have much more skin per ounce than beefsteak tomatoes.

BRAIN-POWER FOOD #7: Root vegetables
In a recent study, subjects 70 years of age and older, were given a dose of beet juice and then hooked up to an MRI machine. The researchers discovered that the beet juice measurably improved blood flow to their brains. The nitrates, which are found in beets, carrots and other brightly colored root vegetables is what did this.

Read More