Improve Your Brain Health with These 3 Foods
Hey Angels and Alphas,
Having strong bones, keeping your heart healthy, and preventing diseases are health goals everyone should strive to achieve. We could all probably name at least one strategy in every category that can help reduce our risk of disease. And that’s great! But there’s another system in your body that is just as important for adapting prevention strategies and it’s only just beginning to gain attention… the brain.
Most people, especially young adults, aren’t necessarily thinking about how to take care of their brain. It’s probably working just fine. That being said, investing in a healthy brain as early as possible is becoming more and more important for building a lifetime of health and wellness. Fortunately, science is finding more and more ways to build brain longevity for the long term. Just like investing wisely for your retirement, investing in your brain health will be a vital game-changer for your future.
Here’s how you can begin with a few simple steps:
1 – UNDERSTAND YOUR VITAMIN D INTAKE
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient that has gained much popularity in the past decade as its connection to overall health is explored. Brain health is no exception and the most recent observational research has discovered low blood levels of vitamin D were commonly found in Alzheimer’s patients.
Moreover, a correlation of low risk for Alzheimer’s disease was associated with a very high dietary intake of vitamin D. One of the possible explanations for this connection is that vitamin D plays a role in nerve health in the brain. Although research is not rock solid on this yet, it does tend to suggest a clear connection to brain longevity.
2 – TRY OUT EGGS AND CHICKEN EGGS
In the world of brain health, choline is becoming an essential nutrient with a strong connection to mental health. Choline is required so neurotransmitters found in the brain can work at their peak, improving cognitive development and memory retention. It could be so crucial to brain performance that it could even restore age-related cognitive functions in individuals.
But here’s the problem – national data shows that 90 percent of Americans aren’t getting enough choline in their diet.
This could have a massive effect on the brain health of the population over the long haul. That being said, there’s an easy fix. Food sources such as chicken, lima beans, whole eggs, wheat germ, and Brussels sprouts are options that can contribute toward the recommended daily intake of choline.
3 – EAT A DIET RICH IN FRUITS AND VEGGIES
Everyone knows eating more produce is good for the health for many reasons. But fruits and veggies could also lead to brain protection. Research has started to confirm that a high intake of fruits and veggies is correlated to better brain health, including lower risk of Alzheimer’s and a protection against depression. One of the specific reasons this connection exists is due to the polyphenols abundant in many types of produce. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties that protect the brain from cognitive declining.
In addition, B-vitamins, especially B6 and folate, have a strong connection to mental health. They’re commonly found in fruits and veggies. Research has discovered that a higher intake of these vitamins is linked to better cognitive performance and reduced loss of brain tissue usually associated with aging. Conversely, low levels of folate have been associated with a risk of depression.
Knowing that you need to be consuming more veggies and fruits to keep your brain healthy is one thing, but doing it is another thing. As you’re moving toward a higher intake, know that you can make significant improvements over time.
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