If you’re looking for a way to improve your brain power, then I have some good news for you: there are plenty of foods out there that help with mental acuity. Whether it’s the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon or the antioxidants in berries, each food has its own benefits when it comes to staying sharp—and even sharper! So let me give you all my recommendations on what foods work best for improving your cognitive abilities:
Wild salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for the health of your brain. Omega-3s help prevent anxiety and depression, as well as improve focus and concentration.
Wild salmon also provides a good source of vitamin D, another nutrient that’s beneficial for the brain. Vitamin D may be especially important because it plays an important role in blood vessel function (and thus blood flow) throughout the body—including its most densely populated organ: the brain!
Wild salmon has much less mercury than farmed varieties; this can be beneficial if you have high levels of mercury in your system already because it helps slow down or reverse progression toward Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing oxidative stress caused by free radicals.*
Raspberries are a good source of vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. They also contain manganese, which is important for brain health.
Raspberries are rich in phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients) that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. These antioxidants help to reduce inflammation throughout the body—and that can be helpful for people with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or arthritis pain!
The avocado is a fruit that was first domesticated in the Andes Mountains of South America, but it’s now grown worldwide. It’s rich in vitamin K, which helps to build strong bones and reduce inflammation. Avocados also contain monounsaturated fat—which has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and lower your risk for heart disease—and potassium (a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure).
Avocados are also high in vitamin C: one cup of avocado will give you about 60% of your daily recommended dose!
Broccoli contains sulforaphane, which helps to protect brain cells from damage. Sulforaphane also has heart-healthy benefits: it can reduce cholesterol levels and improve blood flow to the heart.
Sulforaphane is found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower; it’s known for its potent antioxidant properties that protect against free radical damage in our bodies. Free radicals are molecules produced when food is broken down or digested by our bodies; they can cause cell damage that leads to illness or disease if left unchecked (1).
Vitamin K plays an important role here because it helps prevent blood clotting—a major risk factor for atherosclerosis (2).
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which are compounds that help to fight against aging and diseases like Alzheimer’s. It has also been shown to improve cognitive function when consumed regularly. In addition, dark chocolate is high in magnesium, an important nutrient for brain function.
Finally, dark chocolate contains flavonoids—a class of compounds that offer cardioprotective properties by reducing blood pressure and inflammation; lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels; increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels; reducing triglycerides; improving blood sugar control; decreasing oxidized LDL particles (which contribute to atherosclerosis); preventing platelet aggregation (which can lead to heart attacks); reducing markers of oxidative stress (damage caused by free radicals).
Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve memory in older adults. According to one study that looked at the effects of walnuts on brain function in mice, the nuts’ antioxidant content may help prevent damage to neurons caused by free radicals—so-called “oxidative stress.”
Other studies have found that eating walnuts has been linked with better cognitive performance and reduced signs of inflammation in people with Alzheimer’s disease. These findings suggest that walnuts may be able to protect against age-related cognitive decline when eaten daily as part of a healthy diet.
Salmon has all the right ingredients to make your brain work better. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain health. Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and swelling in the brain, which may be related to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
Omega-3s also improve blood flow around the body by acting as a precursor for prostaglandins—a group of hormones that regulate blood clotting and inflammation. In fact, people who eat more fish tend to have healthier hearts than those who don’t!
Salmon also contains vitamin D—another important nutrient for keeping your thoughts sharp (and protecting against cognitive decline). Vitamin D helps with cell growth and development; we need it for our bones too but especially during adolescence when our bodies are growing rapidly into adulthood shape.”
Our brains are the most powerful thing we have, so it’s important that you keep them healthy and strong. We know this may be hard to believe, but all these foods actually help! Make sure to try some of these out with your family over the next few weeks while they’re in season or if they’re not available at your local grocery store yet.