This used to happen to me all the time. I’d walk into the kitchen, and suddenly, had no idea what I had been looking for.
Or I’d walk out of the store, and think “Ugh, where in the world did I park my car?”
There were times when I would meet someone at an event, introduce myself and shake their hand, then “Oh no! What was their name again?”
We’ve all been there. It's embarrassing, frustrating, and frankly, quite scary!
Memory, both short and long term, is something almost everyone feels slipping away with age.
Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way!
Experts have found this list of simple, every-day foods can help revolutionize the way the human brain functions, increase brain power, prevent age related cognitive-decline, and stave off that pesky memory loss.
Ever heard of the mediterranean diet? Turns out, they’ve been doing something right all along and nutritionists now know following this type of diet can be extremely beneficial for brain health.
Here’s a simple breakdown.
Yes, you read that right! Certainly there are unhealthy fats - like fats found in fast food. Those should definitely be avoided. The good news is, there are also delicious, healthy fats that provide essential nutrients to the brain!
In The Truth About Fats, Harvard Health published that one of the best sources of HEALTHY fats is fish! Fish provides an essential fat called omega-3’s that can actually build brain and nerve cells that help your brain with learning and memory!
That means eating fish a few times a week can help the brain in both the short and long term.
Salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring are some of the best types of fish to try! For those of you who aren't fans of fish, it’s still possible to get omega-3’s by eating nuts and seeds with healthy fats, like walnuts and chia seeds.
Here’s the scary part. If the brain doesn’t have enough omega-3s regularly, it can significantly increase risk for memory loss, cognitive decline and even Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 70%.
So start eating those healthy fats!
Here’s an interesting fact: eating berries can increase blood flow in the brain, improving communication by creating new neurons!
What?? On top of being nutritious, berries contain antioxidants! These important nutrients can actually improve memory significantly, helping to keep the brain healthy and free from brain fog.
Listen, I don’t have to tell you the importance of having a clear mind every day. Berries are a delicious way to start off mornings and help keep the brain sharp all day long. Try eating a serving every day with breakfast, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or as a healthy dessert!
Pop-eye fueled his muscles with spinach, but we non-cartoons can fuel our brains with it!
Growing up, mom probably told you to eat your broccoli - and she had some good reasons for it.
Including vegetables into your daily food choices, especially dark leafy and cruciferous (there’s your word of the day) vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and spinach work to reduce the risk of disease and improve brain function.
On top of being full of brain protective antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene, these greens have high amounts of vitamin K, which has shown to work wonders improving memory!
Include some spinach with your morning eggs, sprinkle some kale in a smoothie, munch on veggies and hummus as an afternoon snack, or hide some arugula in sauteed ground chicken or turkey! We believe in you, and so does Pop-eye!
If an apple a day can keep the doctor away, you might be surprised to learn that an egg a day could help keep Alzheimer's away.
Eggs have gotten a bad rep in the past for being high in cholesterol, but it’s now known that dietary cholesterol has a much smaller effect on our body’s cholesterol than we previously thought.
Eggs are super nutritious, and they are one of the best sources of a chemical called choline. Choline is needed by your brain to make a neurotransmitter for memory and cell communication called acetylcholine.
Regular intake of choline from eggs has been linked to lower risks of developing Alzheimer’s as well as better cognitive test performance.
Long story short, eggs are a great way to help prevent the brain from deteriorating with age.
Enjoy organic, certified-humane, pasture-raised fried eggs in the morning for breakfast or hard-boiled for an afternoon snack!
We live in a time where we need our brains functioning well almost every waking hour of the day. You could say good-bye to brain fog and memory hiccups with your diet. Take great care of your brain, and it will take good care of you. After all, it’s the only one we’ve got!
I’ve started my own brain health journey and have absolutely nothing but great things to say about it. It’s one of the best, most important decisions you can make for yourself, and I know I’ll be thanking myself in the future for every little small step taken today.
Let's work towards better lives with better brains together!
Learn more and power your brain health journey by following us on Facebook and Instagram, @remembarbrainfood and on our website and blog, www.remembarbrainfood.com.