Which Foods Are Best For the Brain?
Green tea is well-known for its benefits, but did you also know that there are other foods that are better for your brain? The antioxidants found in leafy vegetables and nuts can slow the aging process as well as slow cognitive decline. You should include nuts when making a trail mix. Superfoods like kale and leafy greens may slow down cognitive decline.
Walnuts
Walnuts are one of the best foods for your brain. They are rich in ALA, an essential fatty acid that protects the brain. It also contains omega-3 as well as omega-6, which are two types of fatty acid that promote inflammation. Studies have shown that walnuts are better for the brain if the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 to about 2:1. In addition to their health benefits, walnuts also have impressive heart benefits.
Leafy greens
What foods are best for the brain
One study found that eating a lot of leafy greens may slow cognitive decline. Based on how much leafy greens participants consumed per day, they were divided into five quintiles. The group that consumed the highest amount of leafy vegetables was found to be 11-years younger than those who did. These differences were evident even when we adjusted for factors that could impact brain health such as alcohol consumption and smoking, as well as education and physical and mental activities.
Fish
There is not much evidence to suggest that fish is better for the brain. It is not even known how many people actually suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, which is a chronic, incurable form of dementia that destroys memory. People with mild cognitive impairment have a lower rate of memory loss than people with Alzheimer’s. The researchers collected data from 260 people about their diets and studied them. Most of them were not suffering from memory problems. 163 of these people ate fish at least once a week. The average person ate fish once to four times per week. The study also included brain scans taken at the beginning and seven years later.
Beets
Research has shown that eating beets can increase gray matter when you exercise. Beets contain oxygen-enhancing nutrients that increase blood flow. Beets are great for cardiovascular health because they lower blood pressure. Wake Forest University found that beet juice had a positive effect on high blood pressure in middle-aged people. Moreover, beet juice increased nitric oxide levels, which improve blood flow and oxygenation to the brain.
Turmeric
Recent studies have suggested that turmeric may help improve short-term memory and fight neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Curcumin is a special compound found in turmeric, a bright yellow root that is also used for curry powder. This compound may improve brain function and prevent the buildup beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. This can be beneficial to people with Alzheimer’s. These diseases can be prevented, although studies are still ongoing.
Dark chocolate
A recent study found that dark chocolate helps prevent cognitive decline. One of the many benefits of chocolate is its ability to increase cerebral blood flow. Grassi et.al. Grassi et.al. compared subjects who had been sleep deprived with those who ate the exact same amount of chocolate. The researchers also looked at whether or not the chocolate induced vasodilation. In both groups, the chocolate lowered AP Delta and AP Theta, while increasing AP Alpha and Beta.