Nearly everyone that has studied for a test the day before it probably went through loads of coffee or drinks full of caffeine to just keep themselves awake. But when it came to the day itself, you barely remembered the things that you studied, because you were basically forcing your brain to do something while it was tired. However, you don’t need to do that anymore, because there are foods that will make your brain work better, and you to have better concentration levels. This article will provide you 15 of them:
1. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil has been proven that in a diet it can help you have improved memory and learning and has also been associated with prevention against neurodegenerative diseases because of its antioxidants that are known as polyphenols that are found in this oil. However, while it’s great for your brain, it’s in your best interest to not cook with it because these polyphenols will decompose at high temperatures, so it’s best that you eat them cold or at room temperature as a part of a sauce or in a salad.
2. Salmon
What makes salmon so great for your brain is its omega-3 fatty acid content that will help your brain keep running fast, smoothly and to also improve your memory, and just like the extra-virgin olive oil, it protects your brains against neurodegenerative diseases. But this fish doesn’t only help with that, but it also helps prevent cancer and to kill tumors, which is a crazy number of goods things that a single type of fish can do. However, you should be careful with the origin of your salmon, since this is specifically about the wild-caught ones, not the farmed variety that is filled with a lot more bad fat and can be full of toxins and mercury.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the most versatile foods out there and is capable of keeping your skin looking young, your hair smoother, and when it comes to your brain it’s also going to help it in a lot of ways. One of them is that coconut oil works as a natural anti-inflammatory, and also helps with memory loss as you age by using it’s medium-chain triglycerides to break down bad bacteria that is on your gut, and by doing this, it also helps you absorb nutrients more efficiently, which indirectly contributes to a healthier brain and body.
4. Avocado
The avocado is one of the healthiest fruits that you can consume and is also great at helping your brain out in multiple ways. Because it has both vitamin K and folate, it can help prevent blood clots, which is useful for your brain because the chances of a stroke are lessened, while also improving both memory and concentration. They also have a lot of vitamin B and vitamin C, which will help keep your body running without any problems or tiredness. And while they have a high-fat content, the ones that they do have is packed with monosaturated fats, which is the good kind that keeps your blood sugar levels steady.
5. Blueberries
Blueberries contain a lot of antioxidants, like vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. And we know from before that all these things can help preserve your memory, help with improved concentration and focus, and help the communication between your body and your brain, making your reflexes faster for an example. Blueberries also contain gallic acid, which is especially good at protecting your brain from degeneration, fast aging, and stress. That is quite a lot of goods packed in such a small, sweet package. It’s recommended that you eat blueberries daily.
6. Eggs and Egg Yolk
Eggs have not been always regarded as one of the best foods for your brain, rather, for a long time, it was on a list of foods that weren’t really that good for you. However, in today’s age, we know that this is not true, especially when it comes to the egg yolk, which has a large amount of a substance called choline, which helps in the fetal brain development for pregnant women. However, that is not the only good thing eggs do for you, they also help to break down a substance called Bethane which produces hormones that are related to happiness.
7. Dark Chocolate
Chocolate has always been an enemy of diets and health, but not this type. Dark chocolate contains extremely high levels of flavonols, which is a plant-based nutrient that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. An example of what it can do is help lower blood pressure and improve the blood flow to both the brain and the heart. However, dark chocolate is also really bitter. And sometimes the only way to make it tolerable is to add sugar on the mix, which can open the door for other types of diseases. But if you have a craving for it and are in a healthy diet, there is no problem with eating something sweet and healthy occasionally.
8. Green Leafy Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables are comprised of foods like kale, swiss chard, spinach, and romaine lettuce, and they have constantly been associated with protecting people against dementia. In one study that evaluated the eating habits and mental ability of 950 older people for an average of five years, and the ones that ate a serving of leafy green veggies at least once a day had less mental deterioration than those who didn’t, even when other social factors were factored in like age, education, social class, and family history. Not only that, but leafy greens are so packed full of nutrients that they also help your brain work faster and better, so it’s a great thing to include in your meals when you are preparing yourself for an exam.
9. Turmeric
It’s incredible that this spice has so many health benefits, but it’s no wonder that the one that has it is turmeric since its roots have been historically used as a medicinal plant for its healing properties. Today, we know the reason why turmeric was used like that, and it’s called curcumin, a chemical substance found in turmeric that is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents in the world. Not only that, but this spice can boost your antioxidant levels, helping your immune system, and elevating your brains oxygen intake which will keep you more alert, a perfect spice to put on some food before you study for an exam.
10. Broccoli
We all know that when we were kids, broccoli wasn’t your favorite food, even if we were obligated to eat by our mothers. Turns out, they were right in doing that. Because broccoli is one of the best foods for your brain, thanks to its vitamin K and choline content, which are very high, and as discussed before, help you keep your memory and thinking sharp and clear. But broccoli has benefits even outside of them, especially on its vitamin C levels which is essential for your immune system, and to protect your brain from Alzheimer and dementia. Mothers do know best after all.
11. Beetroot
Beets are easily one of the most nutritious vegetables out there, and it’s no wonder that it has properties that can help you study for your exam or stay focused on certain activities. They are good anti-inflammatories, help against cancer with their antioxidants, and can help your blood get rid of toxins. They can help boost your focus, memory and energy levels as well, keeping you concentrated for much longer. Another property of beetroots is the ability to improve your blood circulation, and by improving that, it helps your brain get more oxygen, which helps it to say focused and to think faster for longer.
12. Bone Broth
Bone broth is something that takes quite an amount of time to make, however, it is worthwhile, both for your gut, and your brain. Turns out that it’s full of benefits to you, like boosting your immune system, help against leaky gut, improved the health of your joints, help you overcome food allergies, and even more. But its main properties are the high levels of collagen that it has, which helps reduce intestinal inflammation, and amino acids like proline and glycine that will keep your immune system functioning well, and your memory to work properly, protecting you against dangerous diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia
13. Celery
Celery is a vegetable that has few calories (16 per cup) but packs a nutritional punch that will benefit you instantly. Starting with its high levels of antioxidants that act as natural anti-inflammatory agents and can help alleviate problems like joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome. It also has a high number of polysaccharides which help with digestion and with how your body absorbs nutrients, helping it absorb them more efficiently, which in turn means more energy for your brain. It also has a lot of other nutrients like Vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium and folate, which all help to preserve memory, and to protect your brain against neurodegenerative diseases.
14. Kimchi
Kimchi is a fermented food that has the power to change your gut flora. That power comes from the fact that it has a lot of probiotics, which helps your gut and your metabolism to work faster and more efficiently in general, which means more nutrients to your brain, but that is not the only thing that Kimchi does. Because this food has been shown to keep you calm with its probiotics, reducing the chances of anxiety problems or a panic attack of happening, two things which can damage short-term memory.
15. Walnut
Walnuts are good for your brain because they share the same kind of antioxidants that salmon has, which is omega-3 fatty acids, that can be considered the fuel of the brain. Consuming them daily has shown that it reduces the chances of Alzheimer’s or dementia appearing, while also improving your brain functions like memory, concentration, quick thinking, and can lead to you being much more focused for longer, which is also perfect for any kind of test that you’ll take.
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