Many of us turn to puzzles, exercises, and even apps to help improve our memory, but there are other tastier solutions. Healthy eating is key to preserving your mental health and jump start your memory, as well as preventing cognitive decline.
Science has shown time and time again that certain foods help stimulate and repair neuro functions in the brain. The effects aren’t instant but occur over time. In three weeks, after following these food tips, you will reap the rewards of being more alert and as a result gain a faster ability to recall things like your to-do list, people’s faces, etc.
Consider these three Mindful foods that will help you jump start your memory:
- Eat your berries. Berries can be a yummy addition to your morning yogurt and granola or your lunch smoothie. It can also help prevent memory loss. Blueberries are definitely brain food. Research shows that eating blueberries can protect the brain from stroke and improve our motor skills. Strawberries have also been linked to better brain function in older adults. And both berries are thought to “ward off memory loss from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.”
- Anti-inflammatory foods. Foods rich in antioxidants reduce inflammation. And inflammation damages the brain from oxidative stress, which can lead to disease (e.g. heart disease). So, consider eating lots of vegetables and fruits that are rich in antioxidants. Beans have a lot of antioxidants; in fact, red beans, red kidney beans, and pinto beans have 11,800 to 13,700 antioxidants per serving. If you’re hungry for fruit consider Granny Smith apples (5,300 antioxidants per serving), sweet cherries (4,800 antioxidants per serving), and plums (4,100 antioxidants per serving).
- Eat your fish. Your brain loves Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids help reduce depression, stress, pain and other mental health challenges. Salmon is a classic omega-3 choice that nearly everyone turns to first, but it isn’t your only option. Add more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet by eating walnuts, cauliflower, broccoli, winter squash, pinto beans and kidney beans. If you are interested in other fish that have omega-3 fatty acids consider halibut, trout, tuna, and sardines.