Brain-boosting Breakfast Foods: What You Need to Know About Your First Meal of the Day
With the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other neurological disorders on the rise in recent decades, many are left wondering what they can do to protect their brain health.
As we age, our brains change and shrink; brain cells die off at a faster rate than they are replaced and our cognitive abilities decline. But there are things we can do to slow down this process, like sleeping and eating right.
While there may not be a definitive answer, certain foods have been linked with improving memory function and overall cognitive performance.
So, what morning foods are perfect for giving you that mental edge? Read on to find out!
Eggs
They’re delicious, they’re satiating, and they’re great for your health at any age!
Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat. They are high in protein, vitamin D, and contain a little-known powerhouse of a nutrient called choline. Choline helps with communication between neurons and promotes the growth of new cells in the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory and learning.
What’s even more fascinating about eggs is that they have been shown to help with memory loss due to age or injury so, don’t forget to include them in your breakfast routine! Hard-boiling some eggs for some on-the-go snacks are also a great way to fit this brain-boosting food into your day.
Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries; these tasty fruits offer a wealth of benefits including improved memory function and increased cognitive performance. Rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, berries have been linked to slower rates of cognitive decline, a reduction in body inflammation and an increase in brain plasticity.
When you eat foods high in antioxidants like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries your body also naturally produces more glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the cells in your body from free radicals that would otherwise damage them or cause disease.
Whether you enjoy them on their own or as part of a hearty breakfast cereal like oatmeal or yoghurt parfait, there’s no wrong way to get your daily dose of berry goodness!
Walnuts
Walnuts contain an important omega-3 fatty acid called alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which people are often deficient in. This nutrient has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of dementia by improving blood flow to the brain.
Walnuts are a great brain food, not just for omega-3 but also because of the high concentration of antioxidants. These protect neurons from free radical damage which can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Walnuts are also rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps maintain normal cognitive function.
What’s more, they’re good for your heart too! A study published by the American College of Cardiology found that people who ate nuts twice a week were 39% less likely to have heart attacks or die from other cardiovascular diseases than those who never or rarely ate them. So, eat up! Sprinkle walnuts on top of your porridge or bake them into breakfast cookies for a delicious start to the day.
Starting your day right with a brain-boosting brekkie is made all the better when you’ve had a good night’s sleep. If you’re struggling to fall asleep each evening, you might want to try out Bioplus Sedasleep. With a powerful mix of Passionflower and hops, Sedasleep helps relieve sleeplessness and reduce restless sleep.
Sedasleep contains a herbal combination of Passion flower and Hops. Passion flower is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to relieve sleeplessness and reduce disturbed or restless sleep. |