Table of contents:
- Various foods and drinks for a healthy and functioning brain
- 1. Salmon
- 2. Fruit of the berry family
- 3. Dark chocolate
- 4. Avocado as food for the brain
- 5. Spinach as food for the brain
- 6. Coffee
- 7. Water
Being busy when you are on the move, often makes you tend to eat fast food or pay less attention to nutrition. Besides not being good for health, these foods are also less supportive of brain health which is used continuously. Then, are there foods that are good for consumption for brain health?
Various foods and drinks for a healthy and functioning brain
Several types of food that you need to consume to maintain brain health, including:
1. Salmon
Salmon is one of the foods that are good for brain nutrition. In fact, this type of fish may even be included in the top ranks of brain-healthy foods. The reason is, salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids.
Basically, about 60% of the human brain consists of fat, and some of it is omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are useful for forming brain and nerve cells, so they are good for brain health.
Not only that, omega-three fatty acids are also important to increase your ability to absorb information, especially in the learning process, and help you to have a better memory.
Then, omega-3 fatty acids can also help slow down various mental health problems that become more susceptible as you get older. The nutritional content in salmon can also prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Conversely, if you are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, you also increase your risk of learning difficulties and depression. Therefore, do not underestimate the importance of eating fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Not only salmon, you can also eat trout and sardines which are also rich in these nutrients.
2. Fruit of the berry family
Berries have many health benefits, including the health of your brain. Why? The reason is, berries contain anthocyanins, which are substances that provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects when consumed, so they are rightly called foods that are good for the brain.
Eating foods rich in antioxidants is very good for the health of the body, because it can reduce oxidative stress, or when there are too many free radicals in the body, as well as inflammation. Both of these, if left unchecked, can increase your potential for aging brain cells and various neurodegenerative diseases.
Meanwhile, the antioxidants present in berries can improve brain function, including strengthening your memory and preventing short-term memory loss.
3. Dark chocolate
You might not think ifdark chocolate and cocoa powder is rich in nutrients that are good for brain health, including flavonoids, caffeine, and antioxidants.
The flavonoids in chocolate can improve thinking and memory skills. In fact, a review written in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews states that these nutrients can slow the progress of the development of mental health problems associated with age.
4. Avocado as food for the brain
Avocado is a food for the brain that is rich in fatty acids called oleic acid. This fruit can help boost your brain by creating a sheath around the brain known as myelin. Mielin helps process information at speeds of up to about 300 km / hr.
Without myelin, your body can slow down your brainpower. Not only that, avocado fruit is also good food for the brain because it contains unsaturated fatty acids which can increase blood flow and help nerves that carry information to the brain.
Apart from these ingredients, avocado also contains other nutrients that are good for brain health, such as folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
5. Spinach as food for the brain
Spinach is food for the brain that can improve brain function and performance. The reason is, spinach has a high folate content and vitamin K where nutrients are important for your brain.
Folate, which is also known as folic acid, is a B vitamin that helps protect your nerves from damage. This prevents delays when messages are sent to your brain.
Meanwhile, vitamin K has been shown to be linked in improving memory and brain activity. This can slow down the process of cognitive decline that is based on age factors and prevent Alzheimer's disease.
6. Coffee
Maybe some of you don't know that coffee is actually a good food for the brain. In coffee there are caffeine and antioxidants that can help your brain function better.
Coffee's main ingredient, caffeine, has positive effects on the brain including increasing your ability to focus. Caffeine will help you stay focused by blocking adenosine, a chemical that can make you feel sleepy easily.
Not only that, caffeine can also improve your mood, because this content can increase the number of neurotransmitters such as the hormone serotonin in the brain. Caffeine is also useful for sharpening your concentration. Therefore, coffee can be consumed for your brain health.
7. Water
Did you know that 70 percent of our body consists of water? There have been many recommendations to drink at least 2 liters of water a day, but not everyone is doing it. All bodily functions depend on water to function properly. Water in the body functions like oil for the engine.
If you don't have enough water to replenish the lost fluids, your brain will suffer the consequences. Lack of drinking water can cause fatigue and headaches. Instead, make sure to drink plenty of water so that you can work with a clear mind and remain productive.
