Top Brain Foods: Food that Helps You Concentrate

Television, radio and the Internet are all filled with fluff on dietary supplements, or 'brain foods', as they like to call them, foods that are supposed to enhance your concentration, improve your memory, increase your attention span, and make your brain function better. For the consumer, it is difficult to tell, which claims are true, which are just marketing schemes, designed to make us buy their product. The aim of this article is to set all of the hype aside, and bring you the facts about top brain foods out there. There maybe a lot of bogus claims out there, but some foods can definitely fit the description of brain foods.

Caffeine - the well-known brain food

There are always the time-tested and well-known brain foods that everyone knows. Caffeine is definitely a top brain food. It may not increase your intelligence, but it can make you more alert and give the much needed energy boost to help you focus. Nowadays, it is not too difficult to get your daily fix of caffeine, it is practically in everything: sodas, chocolate bars, energy drinks - you name it. The effects of caffeine are, unfortunately, short term, and the abuse of caffeine can lead to sleeping disorders and discomfort, so do not overdo with this top brain food!
Sugar Can Enhance Alertness

Glucose, not table sugar, is your brain's primary fuel source. Glucose is metabolized from the carbohydrates that you consume. This explains the why a glass of sugar-rich soda can provide you with a short burst of brain power that can help you memorize the material better before your exam.

Too much of good thing can be bad though, over-consumption of this brain food can impair your memory. So, do not overdo with this brain food, as you can gain a couple of extra pounds.

The Benefits of Protein

A diet rich in protein, and low in fat and processed carbohydrates can increase your overall health, although protein can hardly be considered a top brain food, as there is not much research to back up the connection between the consumption of protein and increased enhanced brain power. Thus, it should be considered a top food, but perhaps not a top brain food.

Fish Really is Brain Food

Fish, on the other hand, can be a great source of quality protein, and a brain food as well. Fish contain a lot of omega-3 fatty-acids. The consumption of omega-3 fatty-acids lowers your cholesterol and has been even linked to decreasing the risk of dementia, and heart disease. Fish can definitely be considered a top brain food, as research has shown that it slows down mental decline and even improves memory. This is especially important for elderly people.

Whole grains, Seeds, Nuts

Seeds and nuts are rich in vitamin E, that is associated with decreasing mental decline that comes along with aging. Another brain food is dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidant as well as caffeine, which will improve your focus and and enhance your concentration.

The good thing thing about seeds, nuts, and dark chocolate is that you can enjoy eating as much nuts and seeds as you want, without worrying about the extra calories. These are some brain foods!

Consuming brain foods like whole grains and fruits instead of sugar-rich foods is a good way to decrease the risk of heart disease and enhance brain function. They also provide you with essential dietary fiber and vitamin E, consider eating popcorn and whole wheat. Avocados are good brain food choice as well, despite the fact that they contain fate fat, the fat in them, is actually good for you and your mind.

Blueberries

Researchers have found that blueberries work wonders on animals, they relieve stress and decrease the likelihood of developing different mental conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Blueberries worked wonders on rats, whose motor skills did not decline with aging, when they were fed with blueberries. Blueberries are surely a brain food, as consuming them actually made aging ratsas sharp as their fellow younger rodent friends.

Sources:

http://www.thethinkingbusiness.co.uk/brainfoods.htm

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/brain-food-eat-for-productivity.html