Boost Your Brain Power With These Foods
By Sara Butler
Your brain is an impressive organ. It makes you who you are and keeps every single system in your body chugging along. That's exactly why your brain needs to be cared for and treated well, fueled with only the best foods. Yes, there are certain foods that can help to boost your brain's health and energy. Think about adding a few of these super-charged brain foods to your grocery list.
Salmon
Salmon has a reputation as a healthy food, but it's valuable for the health of your brain too. Your brain is made up of about 60 percent fat. So, it needs certain fats in order to maintain its balance, one of which is omega-3 fatty acids.
Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, specifically in docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. DHA and omega-3 fatty acids protect your brain as they help to build it up, helping the brain cells to work efficiently and at a higher capacity. As an adult, not getting enough DHA can cause issues with attention and focus, as well as mood swings, poor sleep, fatigue, and irritability.
Blueberries
Blueberries are good for your brain because they help to keep it performing at its very best. How do they do this? It's their concentration of antioxidants that make them so powerful. The antioxidants in blueberries help to protect the brain from stress and also help it to age in a healthy way. They also help to reduce inflammation which allows your brain to stay energized.
Coffee
Coffee is consumed by many people to help provide them with energy in the morning but it's the caffeine that, if taken in a reasonable amount, is good for your brain. That's because, as a natural stimulant, caffeine helps to prevent a neurotransmitter called adenosine from binding to the cells in the brain. Adenosine will make you feel tired, so it essentially helps to protect your brain from feeling tired.
Coffee is also high in antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation over your whole body, your brain included. The antioxidants in coffee also help to protect the brain from damage and stress, improving alertness, concentration, and improving your memory along the way.
You eat for every single part of your body. A balanced diet full of lean protein, fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help to get your body -- and your brain -- where it needs to be.
You are as smart as your food choices, so make them good!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.