Brain Foods

Hello, my lovely readers! 👋 The past week has been quite a whirlwind for me, in a good way! I've been busy launching a new service - crafting product pitches for startups. It involved creating a compelling offer and designing a landing page. You know how sometimes those seemingly tiny tasks can take up more time than expected. I had to tackle a lot of those tiny tasks 😅, and I'm excited to share that my newly created website is now up and running. If you'd like to check it out, here's the link. And if you happen to know anyone in your network who could benefit from this service, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word. ❤️

Long computer hours were a drain on my mental energy. More thinking means more hunger, often for junk food! I find it easier to not have a stash of junk foods at home than to give in to the temptation (more on this later in this post).

Opt for brain-boosting foods instead, which we'll discuss today.

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Recent research has provided compelling evidence that the food we consume has a profound impact on brain function including focus, retention, and memory.

Let's explore some key elements and foods that directly affect brain function:

1. Fish/Algae

Fish is rich in EPA and Omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are crucial for brain health. For vegetarians like me, non-fish sources like algae, chia seeds, walnuts, and soybeans can offer these essential fatty acids.

2. Cabbage

Cabbage is good for gut health, which plays a vital role in brain function. Sauerkraut, a fermented cabbage dish, is an excellent source of beneficial probiotics.

3. Eggs

Eggs, especially egg yolks are a rich source of choline, which helps our body produce acetylcholine. The latter is essential for focus and concentration.

So if you’re having a tough time focusing, consume eggs!

4. Berries

In a study, toddlers who were given 240 gm of fresh blueberries were able to remember and recall words more accurately 2 hours later. Research has shown that consuming fresh blueberries can enhance word recall and memory.

Berries are rich in compounds that improve blood vessel flexibility, improving blood flow to the brain, and, subsequently, cognitive performance.

5. Green Tea

Long-term consumption of green tea has been linked to improved short-term memory, working memory, attention, and reduced risk of cognitive decline.

6. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content helps improve brain blood flow. Happy to note that it’s my favorite choice for a dessert!

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A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and oily fish contributes to the health of the brain's memory center and enhances memory performance.

Conversely, studies have shown that a diet high in refined foods can have detrimental effects on brain function. ⬇️

In one study, individuals who typically followed a nutritious diet were asked to switch to a diet rich in refined foods for just one week. This unhealthy diet included two Belgian waffles for breakfast on four days of the week and two takeaway meals during that week. Within days, this change led to impaired learning and memory as well as poorer appetite control. 🤯

Imagine if one week of bad diet can do this, what would a lifelong diet of junk food can do to our brains?! Diets high in sugars and lacking fresh vegetables and fruits are associated with a higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

Lastly, it's important to remember that staying adequately hydrated and maintaining electrolyte balance, including magnesium, sodium, and potassium, is vital for ensuring your neurons can function optimally.

So let’s ditch the junk foods, stay hydrated, and delve into the brain foods to keep our mental fireworks going! 💥