Research on so-called “brain foods” shows that some chemicals in foods we eat go right to our brain cells. So the old maxim “You are what you eat” turns out to be true.
But can food really give us smarter kids, make us more intelligent, improve memory, help us think more clearly, and maybe even forestall those so-called “senior moments” — or worse, dementia?
The answer is a resounding “yes.” Although no “miracle” food is going to make your kid a genius, boost your brainpower instantly, or cure Alzheimer’s, regularly adding certain foods to your diet will help you function at your personal best, both physically and mentally, throughout your lifetime.
An international team of researchers found that seniors who consumed the most nutritious food had a nearly 25 percent reduction in the risk of mental decline compared to those with the least healthy diets. This study was published in the online issue of Neurology. The researchers followed 27,860 people aged 55 or older from 40 different countries for an average of about five years. Everyone in the study had either diabetes or a history of heart disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.
Over the course of the study, 4,699 people suffered a decline in thinking and memory. Those consuming the most nutritious diets were 24 percent less likely to have cognitive declines compared to people consuming the least healthy foods. The results didn’t change when researchers accounted for factors that might impact cognitive health, including physical activity, high blood pressure, and a history of cancer.
With brain function naturally declining with age and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease increasing, any steps that can be taken to protect the brain from the ravages of aging are important. One of the best ways to protect brain function is to provide this organ with the nutrients it needs to defend itself against free radical damage. Need some guidance? From fatty fish to tomatoes, these ten brain foods are proven to boost memory, help us think clearly, and contribute to overall good health.
1. Fatty fish
When people talk about brain foods, fatty fish is often at the top of the list. This type of fish includes salmon, trout, and sardines. Fatty fish is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been touted as a brain tonic for young and old alike. In one study, older adults who ate fish at least once a week slowed cognitive decline by about 10 percent compared to those who didn’t chow down on fish, and the fish-eaters also performed better on tests of memory and mental sharpness.
According to findings from the University of Pennsylvania, published in Scientific Reports, children who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have IQ scores that are 4 points higher, on average, than those who consume fish less frequently or not at all. Omega-3 consumption is linked to better sleep, which may explain the higher IQ in kids who eat fish at least once a week.
A cohort of 541 9- to 11-year-olds in China, 54 percent boys and 46 percent girls, completed a questionnaire about how often they consumed fish in the past month, with options ranging from “never” to “at least once per week.” They also took the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, which assesses verbal and nonverbal skills such as vocabulary and coding. Their parents then answered questions about sleep quality using the standardized Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire.
The research team found that children who reported eating fish weekly scored 4.8 points higher on the IQ exams than those who said they “seldom” or “never” consumed fish. Those whose meals sometimes included fish scored 3.3 points higher. In addition, increased fish consumption was associated with fewer disturbances of sleep, which the researchers say indicates better overall sleep quality.
2. Blueberries
Blueberries have been shown to have the highest concentration of antioxidants of any fruit studied. One-half cup of blueberries has as much antioxidant power as five servings of carrots, peas, apples, broccoli, or squash. Blueberries offer protection from oxidative stress in the heart — as well as the brain.
One clinical trial that attracted media attention used a concentrated blueberry juice high in anthocyanidins. The trial involved 26 healthy adults aged between 65 and 77. Half of the people drank concentrated blueberry juice each day for 12 weeks. The blueberry concentrate was equal to eating 230 grams of whole blueberries daily. The other half of the volunteers drank a placebo drink with a blackcurrant taste but no anthocyanidins.
After 12 weeks, people drinking blueberry juice showed improvements in cognitive function, blood flow to the brain, and activation of brain areas linked with cognitive function. There was also evidence suggesting an improvement in working memory.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is high in vitamin K and is known to enhance brain power and improve cognitive function. Researchers at Dundee University in Scotland found that sulforaphane, a chemical found in broccoli, can help keep the brain sharp and fight the deterioration of brain cells that cause Alzheimer’s disease.
According to another study, lutein, a pigment found in green vegetables like broccoli, helps preserve crystallized intelligence by protecting the neurons in the brain. Intelligence can be categorized into two types: fluid and crystallized. Fluid intelligence is your ability to solve new problems without help from prior knowledge. Crystallized intelligence, on the other hand, is your problem-solving ability stemming from years of experience.
4. Carrots
A Harvard University study showed that American men who took 50mg of the antioxidant beta-carotene every other day for 15 years delayed cognitive aging. They performed significantly better than the placebo group in cognition and verbal memory. Not a pill popper? Five servings of carrots a week reduce the risk of stroke by 68 percent.
Besides beta-carotene, carrots have high levels of a compound called luteolin, which could reduce age-related memory deficits and inflammation in the brain, according to a study published in 2010 in the journal Nutrition. In the study, mice whose daily diet got supplemented with 20 milligrams of luteolin had reduced inflammation in their brains. The researchers said the compound also restored the mice’s memory to the level of younger mice.
5. Green tea
Researchers in Japan found drinking a cup a day cuts your risk of age-related cognitive decline by 37 percent compared to those who consume less. Let it steep for at least three minutes for more brain benefits. The beneficial compounds, polyphenols, are also found in olive oil, chocolate, beer, and wine.
Another study, led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and carried out from 2015 to 2018, revealed that regular tea drinkers have better-organized brain regions — and this is associated with healthy cognitive function — compared to non-tea drinkers.
The research team recruited 36 adults aged 60 and above and gathered data about their health, lifestyle, and psychological well-being. The elderly participants also had to undergo neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Upon analyzing the participants’ cognitive performance and imaging results, the research team found that individuals who consumed either green tea, oolong tea, or black tea at least four times a week for about 25 years had brain regions that were interconnected more efficiently.
In a study by Schmidt et al., healthy male volunteers received a soft drink containing several grams of green tea extract before they solved working memory tasks. Scientists then analyzed how this affected the men’s brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI showed increased connectivity between the brain’s parietal and frontal cortex. Furthermore, these neuronal findings correlated positively with the improved task performance of the participants. These findings suggest that green tea might increase the short-term synaptic plasticity of the brain.
6. Nuts
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that a good vitamin E intake might help prevent poor memory. Nuts, particularly almonds and hazelnuts, are excellent sources of natural vitamin E.
Researchers at Andrews University discovered the brain-boosting power of walnuts. They divided 64 students into two groups. One group munched on banana bread made with walnuts every day for two months. The second group ate banana bread without walnuts for the same period.
They gave the students various cognitive tests at the end of the eight weeks. They discovered the students who had eaten walnuts daily for two months performed better on tests that measured inferential reasoning. Inferential reasoning is the ability to judge the accuracy of statements in articles, papers, or other sources.
Walnuts may boost thinking power because of their effect on blood vessel function. One study showed that walnuts increased the ability of blood vessels to relax in type 2 diabetics; this improves the flow of oxygen and nutrients through blood vessels in the brain and helps lower blood pressure. You can see how this might improve the ability to think. Walnuts are as good for the blood vessels in your brain as they are for your heart.
7. Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron, all of which are key minerals for brain health. Magnesium is essential for a well-functioning nervous system. It supports brain development, memory, and learning. Low magnesium levels may increase health issues related to neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, migraine, epilepsy, anxiety, and depression.
Zinc is critical in regulating communication between brain cells that impact brain development, memory, and learning. Zinc deficiency has been linked to many neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and depression. Your brain uses copper to help control nerve signals. And when copper levels are out of whack, there’s a higher risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Iron deficiency is often characterized by brain fog and impaired brain function.
8. Raisins
Raisins are good for your brain because they are an excellent source of boron, a trace element that improves hand-eye coordination, attention, and memory. Other good sources of boron include hazelnuts, almonds, and dried apricots.
Tests of brain electrical activity in animals and humans have shown that boron deprivation results in decreased brain electrical activity. A series of experiments found that relatively short periods of restricted boron intake (42 to 73 days) adversely affected the brain function and cognitive performance of otherwise healthy older people, especially on tasks requiring motor speed, dexterity, attention, and short-term memory.
Raisins also heal wounds faster and prevent deficiency in Vitamin D. Sprinkle some of these sweet dried fruits in your cereal, yogurt, or oatmeal.
9. Rosemary
Hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties, we still have a lot to learn about the effects of rosemary. The aroma of rosemary essential oil may improve memory.
In a study, rosemary essential oil was diffused in a testing room by placing four drops on an aroma stream fan diffuser and switching this on five minutes before the participants entered the room. Sixty-six people participated in the study and were randomly allocated to either the rosemary-scented room or another room with no scent. The results showed that participants in the rosemary-scented room performed better on the prospective memory tasks than the participants in the room with no scent. This was the case for remembering events and remembering to complete tasks at particular times.
Research has shown that the aroma of rosemary essential oil can also significantly enhance working memory in children. Analysis revealed that the children in the aroma room received significantly higher scores than the children in the non-scented room. The tests for immediate serial recall and counting span tasks demonstrated the greatest difference in scores.
10. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the easiest and most economical ways to increase your intake of a brain-protecting class of plant nutrients called carotenoids. Tomatoes are a rich source of two all-star carotenoids: lycopene and beta-carotene. There is good evidence to suggest that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, could help protect against the kind of free radical damage to cells that occurs in the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, cooking and processing tomatoes increase the bioavailability of lycopene by releasing it from the vegetable fiber. As a result, lycopene in tomato paste is four times more bioavailable than in fresh tomatoes.
