3 Brain-Boosting Foods to Add to Your Diet

Have you ever heard the old adage “You are what you eat”? Research has supported this for years and years: If you eat healthy foods, you become healthier . This includes brain health. So, without further ado, here are three brain-boosting foods to add to your next grocery shopping haul.

Dark, Leafy Greens

You may have hated green vegetables as a kid, but now is a good time to learn to love them. Veggies such as kale, spinach, bok choy, and collards are rich in ingredients and help slow cognitive decline. The vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene in these power foods are what benefit your brain . As a general rule of thumb, the darker the greens, the more nutrients they yield .

If you’ve reached adulthood and still can’t gulp down dark, leafy foods, there are plenty of ways to mask the taste and bump your consumption. Try adding greens to your frittata, smoothie, burrito, or pizza. Doing so will produce a taste that is generally the same but that offers a boost in nutritional value.

Berries

To some, berries are just as good as candy, so this is the easiest healthy habit to adopt! Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries have all been shown to have positive impacts on the brain as it ages. The antioxidant boosting and inflammation-reducing properties of berries are two of the contributors to these effects. Ramp up your intake by adding berries to your yogurt, oatmeal, smoothie, or salad. It’s also no secret that they are great standalone snacks! Pour some in a bowl and munch away.

Walnuts

Did you know that walnuts contain an important Omega-3 fatty acid called DHA? DHA is linked to brain health in humans from infancy to adulthood. According to BrainHQ , “DHA has been shown to protect brain health in newborns, improve cognitive performance in adults, and prevent or ameliorate age-related cognitive decline.” Consider adding walnuts to your desserts, salads, or homemade hummus.

When looking for new foods with plenty of benefits, choosing berries, walnuts, and dark, leafy greens is a no-brainer. Search out these superfoods the next time you are at your favorite local farmers market near The Jackson Apartments. Consuming more of these items will boost your brainpower and add variety to your daily meals and life.