Food for thought: Foods that stimulate your brain

Stimulate Your Brain With These Superfoods

We all know the saying, “You are what you eat," but most of us try not to think about that when we’re chowing down on pizza or enjoying a piece of chocolate cake! However, if you’re struggling to come up with new ideas at work or you need a little stimulation to fire on all cylinders, it could be worthwhile tweaking your diet to give your brain that bit of extra fuel and stimulation that it needs.

What has your diet got to do with your brain?

Everything you eat has the potential to enrich every cell in your body with nutrients -- provided that you eat nutritious foods, that is.

A diet that is high in essential fatty acids, fruits and vegetables does wonders for your brain power, which can help to boost memory, think more clearly and retain information more effectively. Whether you’re studying, working or managing your household, all of these skills would surely come in handy.

So where do you start if you want to eat the right foods to stimulate your brain? If you can add at least one of these foods to your regular diet, you’ll be well on your way to a more active imagination!

Fish

Fish provides your best source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are the primary components of the brain, retina and other nerve tissue. Studies have proven that Omega-3 fatty acids are the ultimate brain-boosting food, as they enhance learning ability, improve problem-solving skills and increase memory power. They even enhance communication between your brain cells! Your best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, tuna, mackerel, halibut, anchovies and sardines.

Fruits

Fruits are not only sweet tasting to give you an afternoon pick-me-up, but certain fruits can also have a positive impact on your brain as they can help you to recall information more quickly. Watermelon, tomatoes, plums, pineapples, oranges, apples, grapes, kiwifruits, peaches and cherries have all been shown to boost your brain power.

Avocados

Perfect for salads, pastas or smeared onto bread and wraps as a butter alternative, avocados are something of a superfruit in terms of their nutritional benefits. Although they’re not often thought of as a fruit -- perhaps because we rarely bite into them as a snack on their own -- they do fall into this category. Avocados are especially good at increasing blood flow to the brain, due to their mono-unsaturated fat content.

Chocolate

It’s true! Chocolate is beneficial to your brain and can help enhance your mood. This is because when you eat chocolate, natural stimulants boost the production of endorphins, which serves to improve focus and concentration. Milk chocolate has been shown to improve verbal and visual memory, and boost impulse control and reaction time. Richer, bitter-flavoured dark chocolate is full of flavanols, which boosts blood supply to the brain and helps to improve cognitive skills. Either way, keep in mind that moderation is the key to success.

Pulses and beans

Your brain is a complex organ fuelled by glucose, and because it does not produce its own supply, your brain needs to be fed glucose from other sources. Enter pulses and beans -- such as peas, lentils, green beans, lima beans, black beans and kidney beans -- which are rich in antioxidants and iron. These help to stabilise blood sugar levels and energise the brain with vital nutrients.