10 Best Foods to Boost your Brainpower

We've all heard the saying "you are what you eat". There are many benefits of eating right including weight control and general wellbeing to enabling your brain to function at its best. 

Highly processed foods, fast food and other types of junk food aren't good for you or your brain, but which goods are the best when it comes to boosting your brainpower? 

1. Eggs

The humble egg is a nutritional powerhouse, and its yolk is especially good for your brain. According to research, having eggs for breakfast can improve your overall cognitive performance.

2. Wholegrain oats

While we’re on the topic of breakfast, here’s another food you might want to try: oats. The primary fuel for our brains is glucose, which comes from carbohydrates, and wholegrain oats contain plenty of carbohydrates – the good kind that our body breaks down slowly.

3. Lentils

Lentils are packed with folate, a B vitamin that has been linked to improved brainpower, so make sure you add this to your grocery list for the next time you hit the shops.

4. Walnuts

Hungry for a snack? Nutritionists often recommend a handful of nuts as a healthy option, but if you really want to give your brain a boost, reach for the walnuts. According to scientists, a diet that is rich in walnuts has been found to improve mental performance.

5. Veggies

Not all vegetables are created equal, especially when it comes to your brain. While vegetables in general were found to be beneficial, researchers discovered that those who ate green leafy vegetables (such as spinach) and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli and cauliflower) had a slower rate of cognitive decline.

6. Blueberries

Good news, blueberry lovers! An  study has found evidence that eating blueberries could help to improve or delay short-term memory loss.

7. Tomatoes

While it’s no secret that tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, it has actually been suggested that lycopene could help to protect against the kind of free radical damage to cells that occurs in the development of certain cognitive ailments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

8. Tea

Note that this refers to freshly brewed tea, not the highly sweetened, bottled variety. Freshly brewed tea contains a modest amount of caffeine, which has been found to boost brainpower by enhancing your memory, focus and mood. Just be careful not to overdo it – drink no more than two to three cups a day.

9. Fish

Certain types of fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and tuna, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which also happen to be very good for your brain.

10. Sage

As it turns out, sage has long enjoyed a reputation for improving memory. Although most people use sage as an essential oil when it comes to boosting brainpower, we’re sure there’s no harm in adding fresh sage to your meals too, especially if it makes your food taste even better.