10 Smart Foods to Boost That Brain Power

We all want to be smarter but is there anything we can do to change what nature has given us in the first place?

Yes, the good news is that there are certain foods that can boost our brain power so that our ability to learn improves and we can retain extra knowledge.

If we don't get enough of the right nutrients, our brains might not be able to function properly so we have to reverse that deficiency.

How to boost our brain power

1. We need complete proteins. These complete proteins are foods that have all the right building blocks for our brains and are found in many of the meats such as beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Of course for the best possible benefit from such meats, they should be free range, organic or grass fed poultry and animals. Any processed meat will not count for our brain building exercise!

2. To complement the complete proteins, we need plenty of good carbs in the form of fresh vegetables and especially healthy leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, collards, cauliflower, cabbage and potchoi. Even better is to eat as many vegetables as possible in their raw state.

3. Foods with a low glycemic index will provide a continual source of energy for the brain which extends over a long period of time. This is far more beneficial to brain function than foods which offer a quick burst of energy.

4. Fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy foods and grains all contain various levels of vitamins and minerals as well, which are also essential to proper brain function.

5. Broccoli is a great source of vitamin K which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brain power.

6. Eggs and oily varieties of fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring) are an excellent source of EFAs or essentially fatty acids for the creation and maintenance of memories, improving our learning powers and memory.

7. Raw nuts of all types give you a good helping of vitamin E, boosting your memory powers.

8. Gingko biloba, which has been used in Eastern cultures for thousands of years, is a potent "memory herb", working by increasing the blood flow to the brain through dilating the blood vessels and increasing oxygen supply. Be patient with this herb as it can take a few weeks before results start to show.

9. A handful of pumpkin seeds every day will give you a dose of zinc to enhance your memory and thinking skills, while a bowl of blueberries can improve your short term memory. 

10. Recently, the medical world has become interested in a supplement known as Ehos Endymion, which contains l-carnosine, a strong antioxidant which appears to have dramatic results for brain boosting. Other good things to come from this supplement include help for cataracts, improving skin tone, speeding up wound healing, and protecting the brain from plaque formation that may lead to senility and Alzheimer's. Apart from taking a supplement, l-carnosine is found in chicken and lean red meat.

Along with eating all these brain boosting foods, you should be having regular exercise and a proper night of good quality sleep for optimum benefit.

So now instead of grumbling about not being able to remember things or that you have too much to learn, you can now do something about boosting your brain power through your stomach!

Sources

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dx.doi.org/10.1037/xan0000118

Berman MG, et al. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. DOI:
doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x

Bialystok E, et al. (2007). Bilingualism as a protection against the onset of symptoms of dementia. DOI:
doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.10.009