5 foods in my kitchen pantry that are brain boosting nootropics

1.Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans. Eating nuts (hence, consuming the antioxidant vitamins E) is strongly correlated with longevity and cognitive health . Regular nut consumption, as growing evidence indicates, could be used as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, by forestalling or reversing its effects. Nevertheless, nuts are high in calories, thus people see these health benefits to be outweighed by a potential weight gain. Interestingly, though, people who consume nuts regularly weigh less than the ones who does not include them in their diets .

2.Wholegrains. You brain need energy; without appropriate fuel, the ability to concentrate and focus become depleted. In fact, glucose has been extensively correlated with willpower and self-control (there is a whole book devoted to this, written by Roy F. Baumister). However, since gluten is a serious concern for many of us, choosing wholegrains with a low glycemic index can keep blood sugar levels steady, metabolizing energy throughout the day. Thus, opt for “brown” cereals, pasta, and bread.

3.Broccoli. Vitamin K has anti-inflammatory activity and offers protection against oxidative stress . Involved in brain physiology, it has been found that its deficiency induces cognitive decline, especially in the elderly .

4.Blueberries. Consumption of blueberries may be effective in improving or delaying shortterm memory loss . Additionally, recent studies suggest that its supplementation improves spatial memory and enhances brain’s capacity of antioxidation, altering stress signaling .

5.Tomatoes. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, protects us from free radical damage that cause oxidative damage to cell membranes, which make us to age faster in cognitive terms.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24871475
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23044160
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24108469
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25151653
5. https://enews.tufts.edu/stories/101399BlueberriesMayImproveMemory.htm
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24709099
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24075937