Top 5 Foods That Nourish Your Mind

Did you know the foods you eat can affect how your brain functions? You may not become the next Isaac Newton, but you can experience amazing benefits with brain foods. These foods can help with memory, keep you focused, and process new information better. Read on for more on the best mind-nourishing foods and the many perks you’ll enjoy from eating them.

Nuts and Seeds

As we age, it’s important to keep cognitive function strong. Nuts and seeds are healthy fats packed with nutrients to help you think, learn, and remember. I like to use the analogy that every nut is like a different vitamin. Each offers its own type of brain health-related benefit, just like individual vitamins each have different perks. Take walnuts for example, adding them into your diet may help reverse some forms of age-related brain deterioration, while almonds are great for improved memory. Some other good ones to reach for are pistachios, which help prevent inflammation in the brain, and macadamia nuts, a preventative for strokes. Nuts are also great for brain development, so getting your kids snacking on them is a good idea too. And as for seeds, chia is a good place to start. (If you’ve never tried chia pudding, I highly recommend it. Nut milks make a great base for it.)

Fish

The oily kinds like salmon, trout, and mackerel contain a ready-made form of DHA (an essential fatty acid) that your body needs. That translates to more mood-boosting brain chemicals and a decreased risk of neurological disorders, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, migraines,, numbness, and tingling. If you’ve never had these types of fish but are curious to try them, I’ve got some great recipes that I’m happy to share at your next appointment

Coconut

As one of the best fats out there, coconut can power neurotransmitters that assist in stabilizing hormones, so it can help with anxiety, focus, and even PMS. In oil form, it provides both your brain and body with extra energy. The fats contained within coconut oil are called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Don’t worry about remembering its name, what matters is that MCTs go to the liver and get turned into ketones. And it’s the ketones you really want, because they have all kinds of amazing brain benefits. One easy way to introduce coconut oil into your diet is by sauteing your favorite vegetables in it. I think it pairs well with leafy greens like kale.

Beans

Beans are a great choice because they’re packed with B vitamins. That’s especially vital for your brain and nervous system because they help make neurotransmitters that pass signals between nerves. Think of neurotransmitters as tiny little messengers that help our bodies think, feel, and move - so they’re important! Beans are also an excellent source of protein, not to mention very affordable, so it’s a win all around. And if gas is a concern, start by giving lentils a shot.

Avocado

It may be a fatty fruit (many mistake avocados as a vegetable, by the way), but it’s full of monounsaturated fat - which is a good kind - because it contributes to a healthy blood flow. And that’s important because there’s a direct connection between that and a healthy brain. But it doesn’t end there. If you’ve got high blood pressure (or know someone who does), avocados can help lower it. That’s important because when you do have hypertension, you’re at greater risk for a decline in cognitive abilities.

Using whole foods as a means to heal yourself is part of what nutrition response testing is all about. The power of food is pretty amazing stuff. Just keep an open mind and you’ll be surprised by all it can do.

Here’s to your health!