Vanguard Allure

Top Menu

  • Vanguard

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
  • Vanguard

logo

Vanguard Allure

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Fireboy: The Artiste To Beat

      February 28, 2021
      0
    • Azeez Oladapo Yusuf

      Azeez Oladapo Yusuf - Life of a serial entrepreneur @50

      February 28, 2021
      0
    • Princess Kelechi Oghene: Building Fashion Legacy

      February 21, 2021
      0
    • Gedoni And Khafi Ekpata

      Gedoni And Khafi Ekpata: To Love And To Hold

      February 14, 2021
      0
    • 'I'm pushing only JESUSBrand' - Dupsy Oyeneyin, Gospel Singer

      January 31, 2021
      0
    • Juliet Okonkwo: From Passion To Goldmine

      January 31, 2021
      0
    • Making music is my ministry, obedience to call of God - Chineze ...

      January 31, 2021
      0
    • Samuel Animashaun Perry: Arrival of Broda Shaggi

      January 24, 2021
      0
    • Adetola Nola: Up Real Estate Ladder

      January 17, 2021
      0
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
    • Nigeria Begins registration for COVID-19 Vaccine

      March 2, 2021
      0
    • BBNaija’s Dorathy, Patience Ozokwor Star In Mr Macaroni’s Skit

      March 1, 2021
      0
    • Herbert And Hana Launches Luxury Brand, Features Classic Pieces That Transcends Time

      February 28, 2021
      0
    • How I lost My Mum At 5 - Nancy Isime

      February 24, 2021
      0
    • Ekiti gov pays condolence visit widow of Flt Sgt Olawunmi

      February 23, 2021
      0
    • ebuka

      ‘9 months after lockdown, now babies everywhere, time well spent’ – Ebuka ...

      February 22, 2021
      0
    • BankyW and Adesua welcome first child after 4 years of marriage

      February 22, 2021
      0
    • Comedian Bovi rocks popular bloodied flag at the Headies award

      February 22, 2021
      0
    • Wizkid floors Davido grabs 3 awards at 14th Headies (Full List of ...

      February 22, 2021
      0
  • Nigeria Begins registration for COVID-19 Vaccine

  • Five Ways Drinking Cold Water Can Affect Your Health

  • Abducted Zamfara schoolgirls have returned – President Buhari

  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie loses mum

  • Birthday Photo Shoot: Toyin Lawani Stuns At 39

Allure MagazineFeaturesUncategorized
Home›Allure Magazine›6 Smart Foods That Are Good for Your Brain

6 Smart Foods That Are Good for Your Brain

April 18,2016
Share:

smart_food_img

There’s no denying that as we age chronologically, our body ages right along with us. But research is showing that you can increase your chances of maintaining a healthy brain well into your old age if you add these “smart” foods to your daily eating regimen. Eating well is good for your mental as well as your physical health. The brain requires nutrients just like your heart, lungs or muscles do. But which foods are particularly important to keep our grey matter happy? 

Foods high in compounds such as antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids can improve brain health and memory, experts say. From fruit to fish, here are six things that, based on various studies, may perk up your gray matter.

WALNUTS walnuts

They even look like little brains, so maybe that’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us what walnuts are good for.

Indeed, a 2009 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that diets in which nuts made up as little as 2 percent reversed signs of aging in the brains of old rats, including the ability of the brain to function and process information.

And a study presented in 2010 at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s disease reported that mice with Alzheimer’s demonstrated improved learning, memory and motor coordination after being fed walnuts.

Walnuts contain high amounts of antioxidants, which some researchers say may combat the damage to brain cells’ DNA caused by free radicals in our bodies.

CARROTS carrot

Carrots have long been known to be good for the eyes and it turns out, they’re good for the brain, too.

Carrots have high levels of a compound called luteolin, which could reduce age-related memory deficits and inflammation in the brain, according to a study published in 2010 in the journal Nutrition. In the study, mice whose daily diet was supplemented with 20 milligrams of luteolin had reduced inflammation in their brains. The researchers said the compound also restored the mice’s memory to the level of younger mice’s. Olive oil, peppers and celery are also high in luteolin.

BERRIES berries

Adding some vitamin-rich berries to your diet may not be a bad idea if you want to improve your memory, according to several studies. Vitamin C has long been thought to have the power to increase mental agility. One of the best sources of this vital vitamin are blackcurrants.

One study, published in 2010 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that after 12 weeks of daily supplements of wild blueberry juice, nine older adults who had started to experience slight memory problems showed better learning and recall abilities than a similar group of adults who didn’t take the supplements. The blueberry group also showed reduced symptoms of depression.

And in a 2009 report in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers said they examined a group of studies that showed fruits such as blue and blackberries, elderberries and strawberries, which are high in antioxidants, can decrease a type of stress in cells associated with aging and increase the signaling capabilities in brains. In one of the studies, researchers placed 6-month-old rats on a diet supplemented with blueberry and strawberry extracts (totaling 2 percent of their diet) for nine months. These rats had better spatial and memory skills than rats not given the supplements.

FISH Fish

Although recent research has shown that taking fish oil supplements may not help slow the cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease, other studies have shown that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids could help slow typical cognitive decline that comes with age.

A 2005 study in the journal Archives of Neurology found that people 65 and older who ate two meals of fish a week for six years had a 13 percent decrease in cognitive decline, compared with people who didn’t eat any fish regularly. And people who ate one meal of fish a week had a 10 percent decrease in cognitive decline.

Fish high in vitamin B12 may also help protect against Alzheimer’s, according to a study published in 2010 in the journal Neurology.

COFFEE AND TEA 

Coffee and tea do more than keep you awake in the mornings studies have shown they may prevent Alzheimer’s disease and improve cognitive function.

A 2010 study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that when researchers gave caffeinated coffee to mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s disease, the disease either slowed in progression or never developed. Based on the finding, coffee eventually could serve as a therapeutic treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said.

Tea showed protective effects on the brain, too. Tea drinkers did better on tests on memory and information processing than non-tea drinkers did, according to a 2010 study of 716 Chinese adults 55 and older in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging. Tea also has potent antioxidants, especially the class known as catechines, which promotes healthy blood flow. Bottled or powdered teas don’t do the trick; however, It has to be freshly brewed. Tea bags do count, however.

SPINACH 

Spinach on white close upYour mom always told you to eat your spinach, and there’s science to back up her advice. The green leafy vegetable is loaded with vitamins C and E, which, studies have shown, help to improve cognitive abilities.

A 2000 study in the Journals of Gerontology showed that rats whose diet was supplemented with vitamin E experienced a 500 to 900 percent increase in brain and nerve tissue over an eight-month period, as well as an increase in the release of dopamine in the brain, the “pleasure” chemical that controls flow of information to different parts of the brain.

And a 2000 study in the journal Brain Research found that aging rats had some of their age-related memory and motor deficits reversed after they were fed diets supplemented with spinach, strawberries or blueberries.

By Teri Mendes

TagsBerriesCarrotsCoffeeFishTeaWalnuts
Previous Article

Morris, Meg and Linda: Rising ...

Next Article

Style First, Or Suffer Later?

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • FoodWellbeing

    Check How Much Caffeine Is In A Cup Of Coffee?

    May 18, 2020
    By Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele
  • Food

    Can Carrots Be Eaten On keto Diet? All You Need To Know

    September 17, 2020
    By Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele
  • FoodHealthy Living

    Tips To Avoid An Upset Stomach After A Cup Of Coffee

    April 6, 2020
    By Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele
  • coffee
    Allure MagazineFeaturesFood

    Coffee may taste good and get you going in the morning, but what will it do for your health?

    July 12, 2016
    By allure1
  • Allure MagazineFeatures

    Tomato-Based White Wine Fish Soup

    April 10, 2016
    By allure1
  • Walnuts
    FoodWellbeing

    Let’s talk Walnuts and its rich health benefits

    July 6, 2020
    By RITA
0

  • Allure MagazineNews

    One big happy family! Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz and children release new photos to mark his 40th birthday

  • Allure MagazineNews

    “Spread love not hate, respect each other except she stole your man”, Ex-beauty queen, Iheoma Nnadi tells women

  • Allure MagazineNews

    Beyonce and Jay Z holds African themed baby shower (photos)


  • 5324
    Followers
  • 12744
    Likes

Timeline

  • March 2, 2021

    Nigeria Begins registration for COVID-19 Vaccine

  • March 2, 2021

    Five Ways Drinking Cold Water Can Affect Your Health

  • March 2, 2021

    Abducted Zamfara schoolgirls have returned – President Buhari

  • March 2, 2021

    Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie loses mum

  • March 1, 2021

    Birthday Photo Shoot: Toyin Lawani Stuns At 39

Categories

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Nigeria Begins registration for COVID-19 Vaccine

    By Dami
    March 2, 2021
  • Five Ways Drinking Cold Water Can Affect Your Health

    By Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele
    March 2, 2021
  • Buhari

    Abducted Zamfara schoolgirls have returned – President Buhari

    By Dami
    March 2, 2021
  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie loses mum

    By Dami
    March 2, 2021
  • Chioma Jesus, Sammie Okposo, Midnight Crew set for #THUGGLA2018

    By RITA
    April 24, 2018
  • American rapper, Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer prize for 2017 ‘Damn’ album

    By RITA
    April 17, 2018
  • Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti drops new album titled ‘Black Times’ 

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018
  • Actor, Yul Edochie declares intention to run for presidency

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018

Entertainment

  • March 1, 2021

    Birthday Photo Shoot: Toyin Lawani Stuns At 39

  • March 1, 2021

    BBNaija’s Erica stars in upcoming movie ‘Devil In Agbada’

  • March 1, 2021

    BBNaija’s Dorathy, Patience Ozokwor Star In Mr Macaroni’s Skit

  • March 1, 2021

    Adesua Etomi shares photos of her pregnancy journey to motherhood

  • March 1, 2021

    BBNaija’s Nina is the Latest Owner of a Range Rover

Follow us