As you age, the daily practices you put into place can make a vital difference in helping to keep your mind sharp. In addition to staying mentally active and learning new things, diet also plays a critical role in supporting good brain function.
Consuming a well-rounded diet with brain-boosting superfoods can help support cognitive function, especially for individuals 65 and older. Luckily, these delicious superfoods are easy to incorporate into your diet regularly.
Best Foods to Boost Brain Power
Below, we'll explore 4 of the most powerful superfoods that can help keep your mind sharp.
Wild Salmon
Consuming fatty fish such as wild salmon is one of the easiest ways to help boost your brain health. Perfect for lunch or dinner, wild salmon is high in essential fatty acids (EFAs), an omega-3 fat that helps support enhanced brain function. Other examples of fatty fish include include sardines, trout, and mackerel.
Each of these types of fish is high in healthy fats, which can help enhance memory and lower the risk of cognitive decline, such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Salmon can easily be cooked in the oven, air fryer, or pan-fried for a simple, brain-boosting lunch or dinner meal.
Not only is consuming fatty fish essential to keep your brain sharp, but it can also help support a healthy heart and decrease the risk of depression.
Eggs
Looking for a wholesome breakfast idea? Skip the sugar-filled breakfast cereals and opt for eggs to start your morning instead. Eggs are a superfood because they contain many vitamins that are essential to brain health, such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Choline.
Research suggests that these nutrients are essential to both memory and mood and maintaining chemical balance in the brain. Not only are eggs easy to incorporate into meals, but they offer many versatile and enjoyable ways to be enjoyed. Some examples include scrambled eggs, egg salad, hard-boiled eggs, or over-easy eggs.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are more than a delicious and satisfying snack! These nutrient-packed seeds contain many vitamins and minerals that can help boost your brain health, such as iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Consuming enough of these important nutrients can help prevent brain fog and improve overall brain function. Snacking on just one-quarter cup of pumpkin seeds daily can help you obtain enough magnesium, iron, and fiber as part of a well-rounded diet.
Blueberries
Blueberries are another enjoyable superfood that is easy to incorporate into your everyday meals. These tiny berries contain compounds known as flavonoids, an antioxidant that can stimulate blood flow to the brain. Research suggests blueberries may help improve concentration and brain function by enhancing oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Blueberries can be enjoyed on their own or incorporated into smoothies, yogurts, or other recipes.
Boosting Your Brain Health with Ease
A few simple changes to your diet can help you keep your mind sharp while enjoying some of nature's greatest superfoods. Snacking on blueberries or pumpkin seeds for a mid-afternoon snack can offer plenty of nutrients and flavonoids to support your brain health. Consuming salmon for dinner helps ensure you obtain enough healthy fats for optimal brain function.
Want to learn more ways to advance your health? Explore our other health resources to help support your general health and wellness.