Eating food which helps nourish your brain will allow you to improve your ability to carry out mental tasks for a longer period of time. In addition to this, your brain is the pivotal centre of your body which helps you to feel, think and move. Thus, below are 8 healthy snacks that will help nourish your brain.
1. Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are full of micronutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium. These micronutrients are essential for nerve signalling, memory, and learning. They help prevent several neurological diseases and impaired brain functioning.
2. Nuts
Nuts contain nutrients which offer a diverse number of benefits to our brain health. In fact, a study carried out by Harvard University found that people who ate 5 servings of nuts per week, for a long period of time, were associated with having better cognitive function than those who didn’t.
3. Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants which helps improve memory and slow down mental decline. Chocolate also helps improve our overall mental health as it helps increase positive feelings in those who consume it.
4. Eggs
Eggs contain a variety of nutrients such as folate, choline, and vitamins B6 and B12. Choline is linked with regulating our mood and improving our memory then helps increase your mental function. As well as this, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 help decrease mental decline such as dementia in older people.
5.Berries
Any type of berry, such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries contain anthocyanins which help with anti-inflammation within the brain. They also contain antioxidants which, once again, reduce neurodegenerative diseases.
6. Broccoli
Broccoli is packed with vitamin K, and antioxidants. Vitamin K helps improve our memory and cognitive functioning. As well as this, it helps with anti-inflammation which will help protect your brain against damage.
7. Coffee
Coffee contains caffeine and antioxidants which can help improve your overall brain health. The amount of caffeine found in your coffee will help improve alertness, your mood, and sharpen your concentration. Due to the high number of antioxidants found in coffee, it has also been linked with reducing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
8. Chickpeas
Chickpeas are full of magnesium which is essential for preventing memory loss. Thus, magnesium is linked with better cognitive functioning as well as reducing the risk of dementia. Chickpeas are the main ingredients in hummus which can be an excellent snack to eat.
As can be seen from above, there are a number of snacks that can help keep your brain healthy and lower the chances of neurological diseases. In addition to this, they can help increase your mood, memory, and brain development.
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Mandy Brincat is a Gestalt psychotherapist who enjoys working therapeutically with adults on various issues, such as general mental health and wellbeing. She also has experience working with children with anxiety and day to day stressful problems, and on relational issues with couples.
References
- Felikian, N. (2022, June 30). 18 Brain Food Snacks to Boost Your Productivity & Memory. MOSH. https://moshlife.com/blogs/wellness-blog/brain-food-snacks
- Jennings, K.-A. (2017, May 9). 11 Best Foods to Boost Your Brain and Memory. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
O’Brien, J., Okereke, O., Devore, E., Rosner, B., Breteler, M., & Grodstein, F. (2014). Long-term intake of nuts in relation to cognitive function in older women. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 18(5), 496–502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-014-0014-6