Foods That Are Good For Your Brain

If your mind is performing sluggishly, underachieving, and tossing away brain cells faster than a shopaholic counting out coins at a blue light sale then you may need to add into your diet plan some foods that are known for their positive effect on brain health. Studies are suggesting that there are indeed specific nutrients that your brain requires to keep it working at peak performance. When it comes to keeping your brain happy and healthy there truly are good foods and bad foods that you should be aware of. 

What you eat can affect your cognitive functioning throughout the day. So if you want to get your brain pretending it is Einstein then sharpen up a pencil and get ready to prepare a grocery list of food items that your brain wants you to go shopping for. These are the foods that feed your mind. So which foods are the best for your brain health? First on your shopping list should be Omega 3-fats. These are fats which are very important for keeping the brain healthy and working at top speed.
Omega 3 fats are fats that your body requires for good health and they are found in pecans, walnuts, flax seeds, olive oil, and oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines.

Antioxidant rich foods are also very important to keep your brain working at top speed. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage and cell loss so help to prevent illness, signs of early aging, and brain cell loss. Foods such as blueberries, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, grapes, red wine, green tea, and a whole lot of other vegetables and fruits are also great foods for your brain.

Proper nutrition is essential for good brain health. If you want to help your grey matter to be super duper healthy then Vitamin B12 is a supplement that you should add into your vitamin regimen. Vitamin B12 helps to create myelin which is a vital link in helping the tiny nerve endings in your brain relay messages from one area of your brain to another. Myelin is the protective insulation which surrounds these nerve endings. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products such as meat and milk, it is also in some seaweed, yeast, and enriched foods. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of the population may not receive enough B12 in their basic diet. This nutritional deficiency occurring largely in seniors and vegetarians.

Get cracking to get your mind happy. Choline which is found in eggs and liver is another rich brain food. This essential nutrient is vital to the processes which create good memory responses. Consuming an egg or two a week and especially if you are pregnant is something you should definitely put on your to-do list. Studies suggest that Choline is essential in the building of brain tissue and adequate supplies pre-birth may actually help prevent memory loss later in life. The foods you eat can definitely affect your clarity of mind.

Chocolate and caffeine get your brain functioning at top speed. Surprisingly caffeine is indeed brain food. It gives your mind a definite mental boost but don't overdo it on the caffeine or too much stimulation and you'll experience nervous tension instead. 

Chocolate, I almost don't need to say more. Everyone loves a good reason to enjoy a rich piece of delicious chocolate. Cocoa contains theobromine and caffeine both of which are stimulants which will help you to be more alert. Chocolate however does have a much more important ingredient for brain boosting power within it and that is its rich antioxidant level. Dark chocolate is especially high in healthy antioxidants. Chocolate really is a food your mind enjoys thinking about. Yep, we mentioned antioxidants already but aren't you glad that we brought it up once more. Cocoa has high levels of flavanols which are rich antioxidants.
Feeling a little not quite right in the brain lately? Just as there are specific foods which are good for your brain there are also ones that are bad for your brain. Trans fats in red meat and oils, hydrogenated fats, high salt foods, high sugar foods, and excess alcohol are bad for your brain.

It is very important to note that your grey matter loves oxygen. If a food decreases oxygen in your body then this is a food which will most likely be bad for your cognitive thought processes. While we are on the topic of oxygen one of the best things that you can do for your brain is to take it out for a nice brisk walk every day. Too cold outside? A treadmill is the perfect solution. Increase your oxygen and you help increase your mind power.

 Another important factor in brain health is sleep. This is actually the time when your brain is most active. While your body is asleep it is the perfect opportunity for your brain to organize everything that it has accomplished during the day. Insure that you get your 8 hours of zzz's each night.
Consult your doctor if you experience cognitive dysfunction. There are many reasons why a slow sluggish mind can occur and quite a few physical issues that can lie behind your cognitive dysfunction.

 Some people with chronic illness suffer from a mental cloudiness referred to as brain fog. It is also common for pregnant women to suffer from a mild form of mental impairment which disappears after the birth of the child. Mental alertness can be impaired due issues of illness, age, brain injury, or fatigue. It can turn simple tasks into a perplexing puzzle. Generally this lack of clarity is a temporary issue but in some cases it can be permanent.

Cognitive dysfunction can also occur simply from the foods that you eat. A food allergy or a diet lacking in proper nutrition can lie at the base of reduced brain function. Of course there are other more serious reasons why a person might be experiencing a lack of mental clarity and this is why consulting with a health expert is so very important. Injury or illness can result in brain fog or other cognitive functioning disorders. Always consult with your doctor if you are experiencing a loss of brain function to discover the factors which could be influencing your cognitive dysfunction.

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