6 foods that can boost your brainpower

You are what you eat, or so they say. Well, the good news for those of you concerned about the health of your brain is that you can still have a delicious diet and look after the organ that keeps our bodies working, all at the same time.

Certain foods can protect the brain against degeneration, nourish neurons and even boost its productivity when incorporated into our diets as a regular staple.

From a wholesome curry to a nice cut of beef; or for the non-meat eaters among us, chickpeas and walnuts, here are six foods that can help boost your brain power.

Curry

Indian food can give a big boost to the health of our brains. Curry contains turmeric, a spice rich in the anti-inflammatory antioxidant curcumin which can both boost memory and stimulate the production of new brain cells. That isn’t all curry can do for us either – research suggests that curcumin may help prevent the build up of beta amyloids whose build up plays a huge role in Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric can also offer some assistance in breaking up existing plaques already affecting sufferers of the problem.

Celery, peppers and carrots

We’re always told to eat our vegetables to help improve the mind, but have you ever wondered why? Celery, peppers and carrots give us some idea as they are all high in luteolin, a compound found in plants that can calm inflammation of the brain. Luteolin has also been linked with lower rates of age-related memory loss in mice.

Red meat

Red meat is an excellent source of vitamin B12 which is proven to be vital for healthy brain functions. Those with B12 deficiency are more likely to score lower on cognitive tests while it has also been linked to a smaller brain volume, suggesting that those who do not get enough of the vitamin could be at risk of brain shrinkage. For those who don’t eat meat, you can pick up vitamin B12 in the form of supplements, but as is the case before adding any sort of supplements to your diet please check what the effects may be with these Side Effect Answers.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are one of the best sources of magnesium available to us. Magnesium helps keep brain cell receptors up to speed which means it allows us to send information through our body much quicker. It can also help relax blood vessels which increase the flow of blood to the brain, ensuring that our vital organ is always well fueled.

Crab

The humble crab contains more than your entire daily requirement of phenylalanine. Why’s this important? Because phenylalanine helps the chemicals dopamine, adrenaline and thyroid hormone, all of which improve the health of our brains with studies suggesting it can even help fight Parkinson’s. Just like red meat, crab is also a great source of vitamin B12.

Walnuts

Walnuts are packed with good brain food, from omega-3 fats to natural phytosterols to antioxidants. Those three have been shown to reverse the brains aging process in rats. One of the omega-3 fats found in walnuts is DHA which has been found to boost brain functions and even promote brain healing. Now that is proper brain food.