Learningrx's Top Brain Foods; Brain Awareness Week Mar. 14 - 20

Looking for a brain-power packed dinner? In honor of Brain Awareness Week, Mar. 14-20, LearningRx brain training centers of Northern Virginia have designed a dinner made up of the top 10 brain foods, including: salmon, olive oil, garlic, dark leafy greens (kale and mustard greens), garbanzo beans, and a dessert of dark chocolate-covered blueberries sprinkled with walnuts, accompanied with red wine. Visit LearningRx centers and get a free sample of chocolate-covered blueberries, and the recipe too. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

What makes these ingredients so great for the brain? Walnuts have vitamin E and that helps lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Blueberries help protect the brain from stress and improve thinking and memory. Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids that help improve cognitive function, which helps with working memory, while red wine has antioxidants that help block plaque in brain. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, another class of antioxidants that research links to brain health. Garbonzo beans contains magnesium which benefits brain cell receptors to speed the transmission of messages, while also relaxing blood vessels, which allows more blood flow to the brain. Dark, leafy green vegetables like kale and bok choy are filled with antioxidants which are particularly powerful brain protectors. Olive oil is a great source of monounsaturated fats, which has been shown to actually slow brain aging. Garlic may help stave off some forms of brain cancer. And quinoa contains a wide array of antioxidants in high concentrations that help prevent damage to the brain.

Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. For more information, go to http://www.dana.org/BAW/.

“Research shows us that certain foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 are powerful stimulators for the brain,” said Maureen Loftus, executive director of LearningRx of Reston, Va. and Vienna, Va. “Many of these ‘brain’ foods are effective for cognitive and memory development as well,” said Loftus.

LearningRx provides cognitive skills training to all ages; whether it be preschoolers or school-age children struggling in school, students and adults looking for a competitive edge, the older adult dealing with dementia or memory loss, or the athlete or military veteran who is coping with a traumatic brain injury. LearningRx creates a brain training program that is customized by an expert trainer, with one-on-one guidance and feedback throughout the program.