With our fast paced day-to-day routine, work stress, sleep deprivation, caring for kids, stress and poor diets, we are definitely bound to lose much of our focus and end up having much shorter attention spans than we once had.

Research has proven that there are some foods that you can include in your diet to help boost alertness and get our minds back on track with better attentive energy. It is also very important to note the effect of hormonal changes, which especially women go through, and how they too have an impact on how our minds keep up.

Let’s breakdown the top foods for healthier brain functions:

Avocado and almond 

They are both specifically rich in vitamin E – a crucial antioxidant.

Omega 3

Omega 3 has always been known as one of the ultimate brain foods; with the constitution of its three different types: EPA, DHA and ALA.

EPA and DHA are found to be necessary for healthier brain functions. They can be found in oil-rich fish such as Mackerel, Herring, Salmon and Sardines. ALA is found in flaxseed, spinach, brussels sprouts, soybean and walnuts.

Blueberries

They’re packed with vitamins B6 and C as well as manganese and antioxidant pigments, all of which help in boosting long-term memory and cognitive processing.

Leafy greens and vegetables

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts are full of antioxidants such as vitamin C and carotenoids – plant compounds that are important brain protectors.

 

Curry

Research has shown that curry’s active ingredient, curcumin, has an impact in fighting amyloid plaques, which are proteins causing Alzheimer’s. You can use it as added flavor to pasta, chicken and beef marinades and some salad dressings.

 

Apples, red grapes and onions

These are also rich in flavonoids antioxidants.

Chocolate

I’m sure many of you out there will be very happy to hear that specifically dark chocolate with at least 70% of cocoa, is a carrier of another class of antioxidants linked to brain health – flavonoids. So enjoy indulging as you boost your brain’s health.

Water

Simply put, your brain cells flourish with the right intake of water. Staying hydrated is a must for your brain function as much as it is for the rest of your body.

In addition to food, Dr. Yasmine Galal, Pediatric Neurology Specialist, states that exercise and certain types of activities such as “chess, painting, language learning, playing musical instruments and certain brain games such as Luminosity” play a big factor in the brain’s functionality. “They require a lot of focus, thinking and complex movements, which is needed brain exercise resulting in better focus, developed thinking skills and problem solving abilities,” adds Dr. Galal. She also advises a 30-minute cardio workout of moderate intensity three times a week as well as yoga practice.