Americans, on the whole, do not practice healthy eating. A poor diet not only affects your body, but your mind, causing it to feel sluggish and losing its ability for how to remember names — or how to remember anything for that matter.
Your brain runs like a machine, working on fuel. Adding the wrong fuel causes it to slow down and sputter, and eventually quit working. If you don’t put the proper fuel into your body it will not work at its peak capacity and many things can go wrong.
All is not lost, however. You can bring your body, and your mind, back to life and good physical shape by giving it a good overhaul, and starting a new regime. Beginning with the right brain foods and exercise can rejuvenate it — keeping in mind that it may take a little time.
1. Berries. Berries contain antioxidants that allow the blood to flow smoothly to the brain. Much like metal pipes start that begin to oxydize and block the flow of liquid through them, blood vessels oxidize and begin to clog up with fats that can eventually stop the flow of blood. Clogged veins produce what doctors call “oxidative stress”, which contributes to many diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
The antioxidants in berries have been found in the hippocampus of the brain — the control center for memory, that are beneficial to unclogging arteries. Best berries: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. Blueberries are considered “super brain food.” They have been proven especially helpful in improving memorization.
2. Turmeric. Found in many curry recipes, this yellow spice has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Two studies conducted on the advantages of curry indicate that the spice shows a reduction in plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and that elderly who ate curry enhanced foods did better on mental tests than those who rarely consumed the spice
3. Fish. Thought to be instrumental in maintaining brain function, a diet rich in fish, especially salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, tuna and herring, could go a long way toward raising brain function. High in omega-3 fatty acids found in the brain, fish gives your brain a boost by going straight to the nerve cells, where the connections have a positive effect on learning and memorization.
4. Apples. The saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is absolutely true. Apples protect the brain from neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, by releasing an assortment of memory-enhancing chemicals directly into the hippocampus.
5. Cocoa and Chocolate. In moderation, chocolate is actually good for you! Flavonal-rich cocoa can increase circulation through the body and the brain. Compounds in cocoa may reduce the formation of heart-damaging clots. The problem with chocolate bars and other chocolaty desserts is they are laced with fat, which is counterproductive. So, don’t feel guilty if you eat a small chocolate square, just don’t go crazy with the candy bars or chocolate cake.
6. Nuts. High in Omega-3 fatty acids, nuts are heart-healthy. The best nut seeds and oils include: flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil, purslane, perilla seed oil, walnuts, and walnut oil.
7. Fish. There is good reason why fish are considered brain food. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, thought to be instrumental in maintaining brain function throughout life. Since omega-3 is present in the brain, ingestion of this fatty acid gives your brain a boost as well. In addition, they go straight to the nerve cells, where the connections have a positive effect on learning and memorizing. A diet rich in salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, tuna, or herring should go a long way in boosting your brain power.
8. Oysters. In the fish family, oysters are rich in the zinc and iron. Oysters are the brain food that help to prevent memory lapses and wandering. Low levels of zinc and iron have been linked to poorer mental performance in children, and have been found to aid in an adults’ lack of ability to concentrate and recall words.
Your brain will be functioning at it’s highest level if you make a normal routine out of digesting these top brain foods. The food you eat will improve memorization, help improve grades and sharpen you mentally as well as physically.
Research:
ArticlesBase -http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/top-brain-foods-1744002.html
Wikipedia — Gota Kola — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centella_asiatica
