I like to eat healthy, nutritious, and yummy foods. I love that there are so many benefits in eating healthy, which is the main topic of today’s post: BRAIN FOOD! As I’m preparing myself to take the PTA National Board Exam next week, I have also researched other ways I can prepare my brain and body. Through my search of the best brain foods out there, I’ve found that eating foods that contain specific nutrient such as B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, complex carbohydatres, and protein can actually help sharpen the memory, improve a person’s mood and help keep the mind active.
So instead of grabbing a doughnut or a greasy breakfast taco from your favorite taqueria on the morning of an important exam, eat foods that will increase memory function and improve focusing abilities. Foods such as:
Vitamin-rich Foods: Essential for a healthy body and brain. They help feed the brain and keep it active. B vitamins like folic acid, B12, and B6 play a role in the functioning of brain meesages that are sent back and forth throughout your body. Leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, bananas, nuts, and seeds are excellent vitamin-rich foods.
Fats: Fats help with blood circulation in the brain, memory, and immune system. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential, especially before an exam. Salmon, sardines, and tuna are a few examples and may help improve memory and reduce learning disabilities.
Carbohydrates: Eating the right kind of carbohydates such as corn, squash, beets, old fashion oatmeal (my favorite), and whole grain cereals before an exam may help with anxiety. Serotonin, which is a substance that is converted in the brain after consuming carbohydates, may help lessen confusion and anxiety before taking an exam.
Protein: Essential brain food. Once foods rich in protein such as eggs, greek yogurt, dried beans, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, fish, lean poultry, and nuts are digested, they are broken down into amino acids that help feed the brain. Feeding your brain with protein will help keep you alert and improve memory for an exam.
My breakfast usually consists of 3/4c of old-fashion oatmeal with half a banana, 1 1/2 c of almond milk, a dash of cinnamon, and 1 tsp. of vanilla. When it’s cooked, I like to sprinkle 1 tbsp. of wheat germ and 1 tsp. of almond butter. I also boil 2 eggs and eat it along with my oatmeal. I take Super-B Complex vitamins that has added vitamin C and Fish Oil with my meal every morning.
Before I forget, green tea which contains the key ingredient Polyphenols, is an excellent brain food. Polyphenols can protect the brain from wear and tear and helps with dopamine production, which produces a positive mental state. Going in a test with a positive attitude is probably the best thing to have while you’re taking an important exam. Goodbye second guessing, worry, and fear!
Even if you don’t have a big exam coming up, consuming these nutritious foods will help keep your brain healthy, strong, and sharp. Some research have also shown that eating nutritious brain foods can prevent or delay a person from disorders such as dementia and Alzheimers disease that affects the brain later in life. So eat up!
(credit: webmd.com)
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