On Tuesday, I shared how greens are good for your brain (“Eat Your Greens. It’s Brain Food!“). Today I’ll share which are also good for the grey matter.
Let’s face it, keeping the brain healthy is just as important as keeping the rest of the body healthy. I doubt there is anyone who disagrees with that last sentence, but I do think many people are perplexed as to how we can keep cognitive functions clicking along at full speed. After all, we can feel our muscles getting stronger, and we can when out “guts” are well fed, but how do we know if our brains are being correctly exercised and fed? In future posts, I’ll discuss exercising the brain, but today the post is about feeding the brain.
In a Runner’s World article, six foods are given focus because of their brain protecting qualities. First item on the list is arugula, what I would consider a “stand in” for all leafy greens. (frankly, I would have chosen Swiss, but as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, “An Ode To Leafy Greens…”, I’m a little biased) Arugula does a fantastic job of feeding the brain with loads of vitamin K, and can be easy found in grocery stores and served in restaurants.
Others on the list include:
- Blueberries – could lower Alzheimer’s risks by 53%
- Egg Yolks – Choline in yolks is beneficial in allowing brain cells to communicate more efficiently
- Olive Oil – The antioxidant oleocanthal may play a part in the reduction of plaque formations in the brain
- Salmon – The Omega 3’s in salmon help reduce inflammation and oxidation in the brain.
- Walnuts – Like salmon, these nuts are rich in Omega 3 oils, and thus protect the brain.
For additional details on why these foods work for your brain, click on the Runner’s World link here. https://www.runnersworld.com/healthy-food/best-foods-brain-health