Brain Power Foods

Foods that boost brain power are foods popularly known as brain power foods. These foods have the ability to improve the function of the brain in terms of alertness, concentration, memory, problem solving, and creative thinking too. Just like our arteries get blocked upon eating the wrong foods, so do blood vessels in the brain. These alter the function of the brain and result in poor memory, low concentration levels, lack of focus, and slowly begin to affect other bodily functions. It is, thus, important to take care of one of the most vital organs of the body, and improve the quality of your life by consuming good foods to boost brain power and memory.

Foods to Enhance Brain Power

A lot of foods that we tend to overlook while eating all the junk food are those foods that enhance the abilities of the brain and its function. On the other hand, these brain power foods are great to eat and none of them are those that you want to avoid. Consuming any one food from the list everyday will sufficiently improve your brain function, and you will be able to tell the difference over time.

• Water: Let's start with the basics. We all drink water everyday, but we don't realize how much. Drinking about 8-10 glasses of water a day is important to keep the brain working well. For those of you who are unaware, about three-quarters of the human brain is composed of water. Studies have proven that those who drink enough water a day have better brain function than those who don't.
• Berries: Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, blackcurrant, etc., are known to improve memory and brain power. Add these to your cereal or enjoy them with a bowl of yogurt. These can be had daily, and their antioxidant properties will provide several other benefits to the body.
• Oily Fish: Oily fish have omega 3 essential fatty acids that are essential for good memory and concentration powers, as well as lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The iodine present in fish is known to improve clarity of thought. Fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and albacore tuna are great choices in this regard. Consume them twice a week to benefit from their properties.
• Nuts and Seeds: Certain nuts and seeds are other great sources of omega 3 fatty acids as well as vitamin E and are the perfect foods for brain power. In fact, a lack of these nutrients in the body have known to lead to memory loss and poor function of the brain. Among these, walnuts and almonds are the most popular for alertness and memory improvement respectively. Flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are also essential in boosting the function of the brain. Sprinkle a few nuts in your cereal or bowl of oatmeal, or have a handful of slightly roasted nuts and seeds as a snack. Consume flax seeds in their ground form by taking a teaspoon with water every morning, or sprinkling some on your salad.
• Green, Leafy Vegetables: Brain food also includes green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc., and are rich sources of antioxidants that fight toxic wastes in the body that affect brain function. The vitamin C in these vegetables protects the brain from numerous diseases and conditions that may afflict it. Consume these vegetables daily for maximum benefit.
• Whole Grains: Whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, and bran are sources of complex carbohydrates that are healthy for the body. Glucose is the biggest energy source of the brain. Other foods such as white bread, which rice, potatoes, refined sugar, etc., contain simple carbohydrates that can give a temporary bout of alertness to the brain, and then cause you to feel tired and weak again. As such, include their complex counterparts in your diet to get the most of its effect on the brain.

Other foods such as tomatoes, avocados, soybean, yogurt, raisins, plums, eggs and milk are great brain power foods. Now, only these foods are not going to help your cause. There are other ways to increase brain power so that you can make the most of this valuable asset bestowed upon you. Physical exercises are essential to keep the brain active too. Furthermore, there are numerous brain exercises and games that help enhance brain function. Sleeping well in order to maintain brain power is also important.

Now that you are aware of how you can increase brain power with the help of these foods and other activities, improving your concentration, focus, memory function and other such attributes that will help you in daily life, should not be difficult. These are simple foods that are rich sources of essential nutrients, and including them in your diet will not only help the brain but other bodily functions as well. Consume these foods to lead a healthy and positive life.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.