Are you feeling a bit foggy in the brain lately? Misplacing your car keys or forgetting why you walked into a room is something we all do now and then. If you’re concerned and want to boost your brain health, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. The brain is energy-intensive, burning up to 20 percent of the body’s daily calories. Subsequently, it’s vital for you to eat plenty of brain-boosting foods to help you concentrate and stay focused.

Leafy Greens Best Vegetables for Brain

Science backs up this claim. For example, in a long-term study of 27,842 men, average age 51, doctors measured their diets over 20 years. Every four years, the men reported the previous year’s diet and any changes in memory and cognition. Doctors assessed cognition of the men at an average age of 73.

Overall, men who consumed the most vegetables were 34 percent less likely to have developed cognitive decline compared to men who got the least. The best brain-boosting vegetables are leafy greens like kale, spinach, collards and broccoli. They are rich in vitamin K, folate, lutein and beta carotene. Research suggests these nutrients may slow down cognitive deterioration.

Berries and Oranges Slow Cognitive Decline

Certain fruits also boosted cognitive health in study participants. Those who drank orange juice daily were 47 percent less likely to have developed cognitive impairment than those who drank orange juice less than once a month. Additionally, eating fruit benefited the participants. The flavonoids in berries, in particular, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, black currants and mulberries, delay cognitive decline.

 

Additional Brain-Boosting Foods

Other foods that fuel your brain include:

Fatty Fish: Choose fish low in mercury including salmon, cod, canned light tuna and pollack.

Walnuts: They’re high in alpha-linolenic acid, which protects arteries and lowers blood pressure – both good for your brain.

Coffee and Tea: Participants in a separate study who drank caffeine products scored higher on mental function tests.

Dark Chocolate: Cacao flavonoids are antioxidants that are good for the brain.

 

Shop Martindale’s Organic Produce

Shop Martindale’s organic fruits and vegetables, many sourced from local farmers within 100 miles of our store!

 

Brain Boosting Berry, Greens and Goat Cheese Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

Want to boost your brain health naturally? Try this delicious Berry, Greens and Goat Cheese Salad with Orange Vinaigrette recipe. It includes organic greens, strawberries, blueberries and walnuts dressed with a refreshing orange vinaigrette. Organic leafy greens boost your vitamin K, folate, lutein and beta carotene. Berries, especially strawberries and blueberries, contain flavonoids that slow cognitive decline. And walnuts are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which protects arteries and lowers blood pressure – both good for your brain.