Best Brain Boosters

If it is true that sugar and stimulants make you stupid, then choosing the right foods can definitely make you smarter. In fact, it is possible to boost your intelligence, not only as children, but at any age. Our ability to make intelligent decisions depends not only on our innate intelligence but also on the clarity of your mind, how quickly you can think, your attention, how long you can concentrate, and your memory. All these can be improved with nutrition.

We don’t just eat for physical activity, we eat for mental activity as well. If you have an exam, a critical meeting, a deadline or a paper that’s due, you can boost your brain power to allow yourself to be in the best position to succeed. Our critical thinking, decision making, awareness, creativity, and our thoughts are all influenced by our nutrition.

The brain is composed of a highly complex network of neurons, which are made from what we eat. Thinking is a pattern activity across this network. The activity, or messengers, are neurotransmitters, which are made from and directly affected by what we eat. When we learn, we actually change the wiring of the brain. When we think, we change the activity of neurotransmitters. It was this logic that made scientists investigate whether giving a person an optimal intake of nutrients use by the brain and nervous system would improve actual performance.

Their conclusion was that what happens when you achieve optimum nutrition is that the act of thinking becomes more connected. You make associations and remember things better which means that you can solve problems faster. They also concluded that multinutrient approaches tend to work better than single-nutrients, with the possible exceptions of vitamin B1, zinc and folic acid.

Below is a list of specific foods that can help boost your brain and memory:

• Almonds increase blood flow to the brain
• Walnuts are high in omega-3, essential for healthy brain activity
• Blueberries improve learning and motor skills
• Strawberries, blackberries and other berries show similar benefits
• Brussels sprouts contain tryptophan which converts to serotonin, which influences mood, in the brain
• Broccoli assists in proper brain functioning
• Cauliflower assists in cleansing white matter in the brain and spine
• Ginger contains anti-inflammatories which help protect against brain disease
• Apples are power food for the mind, body and emotions
• Watermelon targets brain function
• Chick peas contain complex carbohydrate to give you energy plus protein which keeps you alert. They also contain high levels of magnesium which may help in quicker thinking and faster acting brains.
• Avocado contain a fat, called oleic acid, which is good for our brains.
• Dark chocolate – contains high amounts of flavanols which improve cognitive function
• Apples, grapes, tea and red wine also contain flavanols
• Cabbage is a good source of choline, a B-vitamin known for its role in brain development. It may boost cognitive function, and improve learning and memory. It may even diminish age-related memory decline and your brain’s vulnerability to toxins during childhood as well as conferring protection later in life.
• Lettuce helps increase blood flow to the brain and cleanse blood plaque
• Cantaloupe/melon supports the brain
• Pine nuts help stimulate brain activity

Follow these general guidelines to boost your intelligence:

• Ensure an optimum intake of vitamins and minerals, both from diet and supplements.
• Optimize your intake of essential fats, especially omega-3 fats, by eating flax seeds and oily fish, and/or taking a daily fish oil supplement.
• Achieve stable and sustained blood-sugar levels

These are just the basics. There are many other things you can do enhance your intelligence and memory. But now that you know this, you might be even more motivated to eat a healthy diet. Think well about what you eat and you will eat to think well!