Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart and blood vessels, including the following:
Green, leafy vegetables: Leafy greens such as
kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like
vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Research suggests these
plant-based foods may help slow cognitive decline.
Fatty fish: Fatty fish are abundant
sources of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy unsaturated fats that have been linked
to lower blood levels of beta-amyloid—the protein that forms damaging clumps in
the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Try to eat fish at least twice a
week, but choose varieties that are low in mercury, such as salmon, cod, canned
light tuna, and pollack. If you're not a fan of fish, ask your doctor about
taking an omega-3 supplement, or choose terrestrial omega-3 sources such as
flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts.
Berries: Flavonoids, the natural plant
pigments that give berries their brilliant hues, also help improve memory,
research shows. In a 2012 study published in Annals of Neurology, researchers
at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women who consumed two or
more servings of strawberries and blueberries each week delayed memory decline
by up to two-and-a-half years.
Tea and coffee: The caffeine in your morning cup of coffee or tea might offer more than just a short-term concentration boost. In a 2014 study published in The Journal of Nutrition, participants with higher caffeine consumption scored better on tests of mental function.
Caffeine: might also help
solidify new memories, according to other research. Investigators at Johns
Hopkins University asked participants to study a series of images and then take
either a placebo or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet. More members of the
caffeine group were able to correctly identify the images on the following day.
Walnuts: Nuts are excellent sources of protein
and healthy fats, and one type of nut in particular might also improve memory.
A 2015 study from UCLA linked higher walnut consumption to improved cognitive
test scores. Walnuts are high in a type of omega-3 fatty acid called
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which helps lower blood pressure and protects
arteries. That's good for both the heart and brain.