The increasing amount of research is showing how diet impacts brain health and memory. It has been proven that eating large amounts of certain meals can affect memory while eating other foods frequently can improve memory and lower the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease as we get older. Let’s take a look at what dietary habits can help you boost your memory and keep it in top brain health.
When we speak of high blood cholesterol levels, we generally focus on heart health. However, an excessive intake of saturated fats as well as elevated blood cholesterol levels could negatively impact the brain’s function. Cholesterol plaques form in all blood vessels within the body, which includes the brain. If this occurs the oxygen supply into brain cells is not efficiently as it should be which can lead to faulty memory and thinking.
Five Memory-Boosting Foods
The brain is a vital organ. It’s responsible to keep your heart beating and your breathing, as well as allowing your body to sense, move and think, as the control center of your entire body.
This is why it’s important to ensure your brain is in top shape.
Foods can maintain your brain’s health and improve specific mental abilities like concentration and memory. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to improved memory and better memory protection. This diet focuses on fats rich in unsaturated fats but less saturated fats. These enhancers for memory are included in a balanced diet and have been studied for their benefits on memory.
Blueberries
It’s been nice to see more human studies (rat studies) investigating the potential benefits of blueberries for memory over the last few years. The majority of studies about blueberries and memory are focused on either correcting or delaying minor cognitive deficiencies and spatial memories.
The ability to remember the structure of our environment is called spatial memory. If someone has a solid spatial memory they can recall specific details, such as how they reached an area or the way their room furniture is put together.
Psychological tests, such as tests that assess one’s ability to traverse mazes, could be used to measure spatial memory.
Blueberries are rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are plant substances that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. They are found in both fruits and vegetables.
Blueberries contain anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant believed to improve cognitive performance in blueberries.
The current knowledge of the way these chemicals work is fascinating since it’s complicated and seems to be approaching the health of your brain and memory from various angles. Anthocyanins as well as other flavonoids, decrease inflammation of the brain.
They also improve blood flow and increase synaptic transfer (messaging among neurons in the brain).
Include some fresh, frozen, or dried blueberries into your next salad, yogurt, or smoothie, the next time you shop at the grocery store!
