Let’s face it; there are multiple health foods and products on the market – and they’re created to support, improve and keep healthy many different parts of the body. But how many foods and nutrient-rich products available can do your brain good? How many can you rely on keep your mind alert and your memory functioning well during your life – especially as you get older? Well, actually, you may not be aware of it, but there’s a whole host of good, natural, organic foods you can introduce to your diet for that very purpose – and, equally, a number of highly regarded supplements – owing to the nutrients they contain that help to grow new brain cells, improve cognitive skills and drive memory function. Here are some great examples…
Awesome antioxidants and vital vitamins
Antioxidants, what are they? They’re substances the body derives from certain foods to prevent oxidation; that is, harmful oxidising agents (or ‘free radicals’) that seek to ‘complete’ themselves by interfering with other crucial nutrients in the body and causing lasting damage. Nowhere is this more critical in the body than in the brain, where free radicals can harm its cells – potentially afflicting myriad brain functions – unless countered in their efforts, of course, by antioxidants1. To that end then, a plethora of berries are great to pepper your diet with, so rich are they in antioxidants; research suggest that they aid the brain in memory function and work to halt – possibly even reverse – other functions from declining2, 3.
Berries you may consider eating more of as memory health foods include blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, goji berries, mulberries, raspberries and strawberries, while the South American-derived acai berry is absolutely packed full of antioxidants, as well as containing fatty acids (see below).
As far as vitamins go, both Vitamins C and E – along with the beta-carotene antioxidant that’s converted into Vitamin A in the body – are praised for the support they offer the brain in memory and reasoning functions, as well as helping to keep arteries unclogged and working well (thus enabling blood to flow freely to the brain). For Vitamin C and beta-carotene, colourful fruits and veg like broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, green, red and yellow peppers, mangos, oranges, rainbow chard and tomatoes are the ones to plump for. Meanwhile, avocados are terrific for Vitamin E.
Note: always remember to choose organic fruits and vegetables when you can – those that have been genetically-modified or grown with the aid of pesticides can’t be vouched for in terms of nutritional value (or what else they might contain)!
Fantastic fatty acids and superb seeds and nuts
Omega fatty acids are a food ingredient familiar – at least in name – to many people; indeed, many more are well aware it can be found in specific breeds of fish (halibut, salmon and tuna, among them). Less well known, though, is that the likes of eggs, soy milk and certain yoghurts and specific nuts and seeds (or their oils) are great sources of them too. Such acids are so revered as brain health foods because they aid normal brain growth and development and boost memory, while research suggests that when Omega-3 fatty acid consumption is reduced, there may be a link to cognitive decline or dementia (Alzheimer’s disease)4.
Speaking of nuts and seeds, these particular foods are great at helping to clear arteries and increase your levels of serotonin (the neural transmitter that’s called on to help control the likes of memory, mood and sleep)5. Walnuts are terrific here, as is coconut oil, hemp seed oil and unprocessed organic olive oil.
And, you know, sometimes the maxim that a little of what you fancy does you good is actually, well, right! In this case that’s because, yes, chocolate – of the minimally processed and pure cacao-containing variety – is a fantastic thing to include in your diet for its release of dopamine, which isn’t just good for positive mood, but also for enhancing cognition.
If, however, you find you’re struggling to incorporate a good number of these brain health foods into your daily diet, then there is another option open to you: natural supplementation. You’ll find the following, highly advised supplementsthen – as well as others – are available at The Finchley Clinic:
Brain Nutrients – provides key vitamins, phospholipids and amino acids to optimise the function of the brain, for healthy concentration, memory and learning.
NADH – also known as CoEnzyme 1, this supplement provides crucial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy to the brain, nerves, muscles and heart, as well as other organs.
ORËÁ (formerly ZNatural) – the original ‘liquid zeolite’ product that permeates the blood, organs, glands and cellular tissue throughout the body (not least the brain) to promote natural immune defence and disease resistance systems.
References:
1. Connealy L. E. ‘The importance of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables’. Natural News. http://www.naturalnews.com/024710.html. November 2008.
2. Krikorian R. et al. ‘Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults’. J Agric Food Chem. Apr 2010. 58 (7): 3,996-4,000.
3. Carey N., Gomes S. M. and Shukitt-Hale B. ‘Blueberry supplementation improves memory in middle-aged mice fed a high-fat diet’. J Agric Food Chem. May 2014. 62 (18): 3,972-8.
4. Ehrlich S. D. ‘Omega-3 fatty acids’. University of Maryland Medical Center. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/omega3-fatty-acids. Last reviewed: May 2015.
5. ‘Serotonin’. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=5202, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5202. 2015.