Foods that Feed Your Brain and Fuel Your Body
By Sandy Schroeder
Eating healthy to think better and move faster can seem like a big deal, but it really just means picking out superfoods and making it happen. When I scanned the list of brain foods that Drs. Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen provided, I found many of my favorite foods were already included. Take a look and see what you think of the brain and body superfoods.
Superfoods to Feed the Brain
The brain burns 300 calories daily and can respond in 1/10,000 of a second! No wonder it needs special care and feeding with foods like these.
Salmon and ocean trout - The omega-3 fatty acids in fish boost blood flow in the brain. Enjoy grilled salmon with citrus or saute ocean trout with fresh spinach.
70 percent cacao dark chocolate - Learning and memory get a boost when we choose dark chocolate that has the compounds that promote blood flow and boost neuron strength. Buy dark chocolate in bars or as cocoa.
Blueberries and other berries - Improve brain cell communication and avoid cognitive decline when you dig into a bowl of blueberries and yogurt, or enjoy a blueberry smoothie.
Nuts and seeds - Protect the brain and reduce inflammation to avoid Alzheimer's with snacks of sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts. Skip the chips and cookies and set out bowls of your favorite nuts, or choose nut butters on toast.
Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower - These vegetables help lower the risk of neuro-degenerative diseases. Make broccoli and cheese soup. Try a cauliflower crust for your pizza or fix your favorite cabbage coleslaw as a side dish for a fish dinner.
Superfoods to Fuel the Body
Generate the energy your body needs to work and play with these prime choices.
Tuna and salmon - These fatty fish are good choices for protein, fatty acids and B vitamins. Enjoy tuna salad for lunch and salmon patties for dinner.
Sweet potatoes - Get a huge dose of Vitamin A when you serve baked sweet potatoes or mix chunks with peppers and black beans for a special bean burrito.
Eggs - Start the day with an energy boost full of protein in your favorite omelet or frittata. Or fix an egg salad sandwich for lunch.
Apples - Enjoy a slow sustained energy release with your favorite apple juice, sauce or tart for dinner. Pack apples along as snacks for work too.
Avocados - These superfoods are full of healthy fats and fiber to maintain steady energy levels. Enjoy avocados as dips on toast, sliced into salads, or paired with turkey breast for sandwiches.
Enjoy all of the brain and body superfoods and keep looking for more ways to use them.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in.Downers Grove, Ill.