Daily Health

by Krystal Crawford

If you’ve ever had a difficult time concentrating or staying focused throughout the day, eating a Paleo plant-based diet may be the ticket to boosting brain power! With the growing trend of brain-related complaints, more studies are noticing how plant-based foods can improve memory, focus, and prevent cognitive decline in the future.

Plant-Based Foods and Your Brain: An Interesting Correlation

Studies have shown that plant-based foods reduce inflammation, which can lead to disease risk for the brain. Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables helps to reduce inflammation to promote tissue repair and balance neurotransmitters for increased cognitive function. Replacing processed foods, meat, and dairy with plants can help your brain to perform at optimum levels.

Top Plant-Based Foods to Feed Your Brain

Leafy Greens: include collards, kale, lettuce, and spinach that contain neuroprotective compounds such as antioxidants, carotenoids, folate, and vitamins E and K.

Walnuts: are the best nuts for brain health. They contain high levels of DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty-acid known to improve cognitive performance, protect the brain in newborns, and reduce age-related cognitive decline. Walnuts also include vitamin E and polyphenols to reduce inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain.

Avocado: excellent source of monounsaturated fats and omega-3’s to promote healthy blood flow to the brain. In a study, 40 healthy participants over the age of 50 consumed one avocado a day for 6 months, had significant improvement in their memory and problem-solving skills.

Seeds: include pumpkin, chia, and flax that contain high amounts of antioxidants to protect the brain from inflammation. They are also an excellent source of copper, magnesium, iron, and zinc which are essential for memory and learning.

Olive Oil: high in the natural potent antioxidant, polyphenols, which help reduce inflammation to prevent tissue damage. Olive oil contains a significant amount of vitamin E and K, the two vitamins with proven to benefit the brain. Vitamin E helps to prevent cognitive decline and vitamin K boost brain processing speed to keep you sharp and alert.

Blueberries: rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to help protect the brain from oxidative damage and age-related cognitive decline. Phytochemicals called “anthocyanins” have been credited to help modulate cognitive and motor function and improved memory. Anthocyanins are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and been identified in the neocortex and hippocampus regions of the human brain, which are critical for cognitive function.