8 Foods To Boost Your Brain Power Just In Time For Back-To-School Season
I don't know if it's out of procrastination, boredom, writer's block, or all of the above, but when I sense my motivation levels are falling, the first place I resort to is my refrigerator. If you have a snacking habit, too, munching to mend a brain fog may not be such a bad idea. Instead of relying on a caffeine fix to help you focus, there are plenty of healthy, whole foods to boost your brain power.
These brain foods are sure to come in handy as the school year quickly approaches. Be sure to include some of these bad boys on your next grocery list.
1. Beans
Beans, beans, the magical fruit. The more you eat, the healthier your heart -- which is connected to your brain!
The high fiber, potassium, and vitamin content in garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, contribute to low cholesterol, improving blood flow to the brain and decreasing your chance of heart disease.
You can snack on a can of these legumes raw, or season and bake them for a flavorful treat.
2. Blueberries
Loaded with antioxidants, blueberries improve the communication of brain cells, so if you don't care for blueberries plain, adding them to smoothies or sprinkling a serving on top of yogurt for breakfast can jumpstart your brain.
3. Sunflower Seeds
I could literally eat sunflower seeds all day long. I always keep a jar in my fridge for emergency munching, especially when the creative juices aren't flowing.
One serving contains an impressive 30 percent of the FDA suggested daily intake of vitamin E, so adding a handful to your favorite trail mix, snacking on them solo, or throwing them in a salad could do wonders for your brain health.
4. Walnuts
Stephanie Perruzza MS, RD; Health & Wellness Specialist, KIND Healthy Snacks tells Elite Daily,
Omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat found in foods like nuts and chia seeds, have been shown to be beneficial to brain health by helping to improve memory.
Walnuts contain a ton of vitamin E, and healthy fats, making this lobe-looking nut an awesome study snack, but I won't blame you if you want to swap out the plain for the candied variety.
5. Eggs
Power up the brain early with a plate of eggs for breakfast. Just make sure you're not separating the yolks.
Yolk is high in choline, which has been linked to memory and communication among brain cells.
6. Dandelion Greens
Did you think these weeds were worthless? Think again.
Dandelion greens are loaded with healthy vitamins and nutrients across the board that cater to regulating your digestion, blood sugar, and improving cholesterol.
If you're not sold on plucking a few from the back yard and steaming them for salads, dandelion tea is also an option, and these greens are great to throw into smoothies.
7. Bone Broth
Bone broth has been making its way across Instagram feeds for some time now, but I'm thinking this photogenic soup alternative will be a hit come fall.
Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C., founder of DrAxe.com, best-selling author of Eat Dirt, and co-founder of Ancient Nutrition, tells Elite Daily,
[Bone broth's] high levels of collagen help reduce intestinal inflammation, and healing amino acids like proline and glycine keep your immune system functioning properly and help improve memory. Bone broth is what I prescribe most frequently to my patients because it truly helps heal your body from the inside out.
8. Mangoes
Mangoes are the optimal option for brain-boosting fruits, as they're loaded with vitamin B6 which, according to Dr. Axe, maintains healthy brain neurotransmitters, improves your sleep patterns, and keeps you happy.
Slice one up and take it on-the-go or add to salads for a taste of fruity flavor among a bowl of greens.