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Food for Thought: 4 Foods That Help Keep Your Mind Strong

Wondering which foods to eat to take your mental health to the next level? Try the following and feel good about doing something positive for your mind.

When most people think of healthy eating, they tend to think of eating in such a way that will help you decrease your cholesterol level, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower your chances of diabetes, and so on.

Rarely do they think about what can be done to help improve brain function and psychological well-being.

But, these are a huge part of the overall health picture and not something to overlooked. So which fare will give your brain a boost?

Here are some great options.

Blueberries

By far one of the top brain boosting foods is the blueberry. What’s great about these is that they’re loaded with antioxidants that can help reduce your risk of depression, improve memory and cognition, and may even be able to help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Blueberries are also relatively low in calories so they’re an easy addition to any diet plan. Start making an effort to get them in.

Salmon

If you typically rely on beef and chicken to get your protein needs met, it might be time to make a change. Bringing salmon into your week is one of the best things that you can do to support a healthy brain and also add more variety to your diet plan—something that your taste buds will surely welcome as well.

Salmon is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for reducing inflammation throughout the entire body (including the brain) as well as for reducing your risk factor for depression as well.

Those who are not taking in enough omega-3 fatty acids are more likely to suffer from depression and other psychological disorders. As these omega-3 fatty acids are not found in many foods, most people do need to make a concentrated effort to get them in. Salmon can certainly help.

Coconut Oil

Don’t let the fact that coconut oil is mostly saturated fat scare you off. The fact is, some saturated fat is good in your diet plan. More importantly, your brain needs it in order to function optimally.

Saturated fat is what helps to maintain the integrity and function of brain cell membranes. Something you must not do without.

Coconut oil is also great for reducing total body inflammation and may also help promote optimal fat loss as well.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the next important ingredient that will help you maximize brain health as best as possible. Turmeric is involved in the manufacturing of the DNA in our body that helps to reduce inflammation, improving the longevity of the brain.

It’s a spice with many different health benefits, so one that you should seriously consider adding to your daily diet.

Dandelion Greens

Most people have never had the chance to eat dandelion greens or simply don’t think it sounds that appetizing so turn their nose up at it. It’s time to stop that. Dandelion greens are actually a fantastic source of nutrition for the human body—including the brain.

They provide important prebiotic fiber, which is a type of fiber that helps nurture the growth of gut bacteria that support the brain.

So there you have five delicious foods that all deserve a spot on your menu. Pick them up today and reap the brain-boosting benefits they have to offer.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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