Here is a simple list of the very best, proven natural foods & drinks for optimum brain (and body) health.
Wild salmon is not only an incredible food for brain health, it qualifies as incredible across virtually every other health standard as well and is clearly one of the healthiest foods that one can eat. Period. Wild salmon is one of the best sources of Essential Fatty Acids (such as the all-important Omega-3), a rich source of high-quality non-land animal protein, low saturated fat, generally among the lowest amounts of contaminants (such as mercury) among seafood, and other health properties — wild salmon can help do everything from improve your brain matter, your mood, your synaptic connections, your arteries, reduce your risk of stroke and Dementia and Alzheimer’s and much more.
It’s also important to know that only WILD salmon has been shown to contain the highest levels of the good stuff that your brain & body crave…as wild-caught fish grow and evolve their muscles, tissues and fat levels the hard way, fighting for survival of the fittest in the oceans and rivers.
While there ARE some good sustainable, eco-friendly, health-focused farmed salmon operations out there, It’s just as good, if not better to take your salmon fresh and wild and naturally orange in color. Your brain and body are worth it.
2) Cacao Beans.
Wait, you mean chocolate, right? Hurray! I’ve been looking for an excuse to hit that vending machine and grab a candy bar…it has chocolate in it, so now it’s actually healthy, right?
WRONG. Well, mostly wrong: what’s healthy is the cacao bean, minimally processed. This amazing, hedonistic bean is one of the world’s longest-revered foods (think ‘time of the Aztecs’ old) and has in recent years been shown to be a veritable powerhouse of cognitive enhancement, mood and bliss-enhancement (thanks in part to the Theobromine in cacao), antioxidants, flavonoids, catechins and many other brain & body-enhancing elements. In fact, chocolate has been very recently cited by some top health professionals and researchers to be THE single most exciting health food.
How is this possible, something that only recently was thought of as an unhealthy, dangerous, guilty indulgence…a sign of dietary decadence, now being hailed as beneficial to everything from brain health to skin elasticity to cardiovascular health to anti-cancer and pretty much everything in between? It’s simple: chocolate does not equal cacao bean, nor vice-versa; most candy and chocolate bars contain not only low levels of cacao bean compared to other unhealthy ingredients such as sugars, milk fat, artificial flavorings and so on, but the quality and processing of the cacao used in these products is often of low health benefits due to everything from alkalization (e.g. “Dutch process cocoa”) to refining and processing and over-roasting the healthy elements right out of the beans.
So if you want the real stuff, the best bet is to either use 100% organic non-alkalized cocoa powder from a high-quality maker who minimally processes the cocoa to ensure that the health properties are retained, or, second best, choose only high cacao percentage dark chocolate bars (typically at least 75% cacao content or higher, but we suggest 85% or higher), also from a high-quality provider.
Here at BrainReady, we’ve found it easiest to just mix a large spoonful of 100% organic cocoa powder with a bit of espresso, organic unsweetened soy milk and some cinnamon, even a sprinkle of cayenne red pepper…yes, cayenne pepper!) in the morning (and sometimes again in the afternoon) to make a drink not unlike what the ancient Aztecs used to make: it’s one tasty, brain & body-fueling drink that gives you your pure cacao bean dose without the sugars and milk fat, you get your protein from the soy milk, brain-enhancing (and blood sugar-stabilizing) cinnamon, a little brain-enhancing caffeine from the espresso and theobromine (plus more) from the chocolate, and a digestion, brain-enhancing and respiratory-enhancing kick from the cayenne pepper.
In summary, yes: chocolate is a brain health food. Or more specifically, the cacao bean is a true brain health and body health food. And worth considering adding to your diet (barring any allergies to chocolate or contraindications, of course).
3) Matcha (stone-ground Gyokuru green tea powder)
4) Acai berries & Blueberries (tie)
Acai berries possess not only all of the antioxidant, vitamin and brain benefits of other purple berries such as blueberries and blackberries but also (oddly, for a berry) contains Essential Fatty Acids like Omega-3′s like salmon, and and is even high in protein.
Sounds like a a true superfood, right? It is. With proven ORAC antioxidant levels higher than any other berry ever tested, Acai’s unique combination of health properties make it a true superfood for brain and body. Of course, we’re talking about fresh Acai berries here…not some local generic health food shop pills claiming to contain Acai. And that’s where the challenge can come in (hence our research and report on the best Acai products that we published recently), as Acai needs to be quickly processed (flash-freeze dried, flash-frozen, etc.) and maintained and processed if you’re to get the full benefits of this berry outside of South America
Then there’s blueberries: it didn’t seem fair to leave this time-honored, well-researched superfood off the list, particularly given its reputation as the ‘brain berry’ and its wide availability in fresh, original form (compared to Acai). And given how relatively easy it is to add blueberries to your daily diet, the combination of proven health benefits with ready availability make it a no-brainer to consider eating blueberries daily if possible. Think about it: what would your brain health, brain abilities, disease/risk profile, and overall health be like 5 or 10 or 20 years from now if you consumed blueberries every day?
5) Coffee beans
Ah, coffee. So popular, so ubiquitous, yet still so surprisingly misunderstood when it comes to “healthy or not”. How can this be?
You’d think that virtually everyone would be an expert on coffee these days, given the explosion of coffee chains like Starbucks over the last decade. Perhaps it’s because the situation is much like chocolate: the coffee bean, much like the cacao bean, is incredibly rich with antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Fresh-ground gently roasted coffee bean powder (again, like with cacao) has numerous brain and body health benefits…yes, including the caffeine content which has recently been shown to be GOOD for the brain, not bad, and particularly in the area of antioxidants. Regular coffee consumption has been shown to actually reduce the risk of mental decline and diseases such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s, and has also recently been found to be (shockingly) the “#1 source of antioxidants in the average American diet”…showing at once how health food-deprived the average diet continues to be while illustrating the surprising health benefits of something as common as coffee.
So where’s the controversy and confusion? The problem comes in when coffee is combined with other unhealthy things, as is so commonly done. For many people, coffee is still viewed as a ‘vice’, something bad for you, something ‘naughty’ that should be avoided…as if it were akin to smoking cigarettes or other addictive habits. The origin of this bizarre thinking comes partially from the effects of the caffeine (and other elements) which contribute to the stimulating effects of drinking coffee, and yes, for some people, coffee is not promoted as healthy for you due to sensitivity to caffeine or gastrointestinal effects that coffee can sometimes produce.
But generally speaking, the coffee bean is a safe, true superfood. And when properly consumed in ideal forms (such as pure Espresso), it’s one uniquely enjoyable beverage that also packs a host of brain and health-friendly properties.
So there you have it: a list of 5 brain health (and overall healthy) foods to consider adding to your diet (barring any allergies or contraindications) if you’re interested in optimum brain health, overall health and longevity, and optimal aging.
It’s important to note however that none of these foods nor any other food, drink, supplement or drug is a “wonder drug” that will produce immediate results. There’s no magic cure or wonder drug or superfoo that one should consume at the expense of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle, nor should you have unrealistic expectations around what any one of food can do for you. Rather, the foods cited here (like other healthy foods) are foods which have been shown to be particularly, often uniquely, beneficial when consumed consistently in moderation over time along with the rest of a healthy lifestyle and practices.
Nonetheless, these 5 foods are a great way to get started if you’re interested in keeping your brain and body healthy as you age, and yes…one or more of them just might make that critical difference in your current and future health. So why not tip the scale in your favor, and feel great while doing it?
Posted in Uncategorized | |
Loading ...
Most Americans eat more than their fare share of sugar. As a nation we consume more sugar than any other nation. In fact, many manufacturers have a different recipe for food products being shipped to America than that of any other country. Our food products contain extreme amounts of sugar.
Let’s face the fact that we cannot enjoy the delightful luxury of consuming cakes, pies, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and breads everyday and hold on to our slim and trimmed bodies. There is one exception and it is to the one who has mastered portion control. Unfortunately, though, most of us have not, and therefore, I would suggest you start weaning yourself away from your Thanksgiving delights. Perhaps it is time to get yourself back into a discipled mode. Why? Because Christmas is coming. During Christmas break, you’ll want to have tasty calorie packed treats without feeling guilty and looking too dumpy. Not to mention your heart health, which we have spoken of in previous articles. So, let’s apply moderation in all things. To eat or drink in excess is not good for the body or for the soul…Moderation in all things….
Your physical body is important. God is interested in the health of your body. You can’t live one day beyond the expiration of your own health, no, not even to bring transformation to someone else. Jesus’ actions prove that God is interested in health. “…they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick…” (Matthew 8:16-17). Many people receive healing, but still struggle with symptoms of the disease they’re being healed from. That’s because healing can be gradual, it involves a process. On the other hand, a miracle happens instantly. With this understanding you are not deceived. You won’t think “Jesus hasn’t healed me”. Quite the contrary, yes, he has! 
Trust is defined as – reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. In a world where people are struggling to trust, it is important for you to trust in the Lord. Society struggles to trust government officials, police officers, priests, the list can go on and on. This is partly because of the sins of the past.
Sight is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Everyone desires healthy sight. Statistics show that 126 million Americans wear eye glasses, while 35 million Americans wear contact lenses. As important as they are to us, unfortunately, many people neglect their eyes. I think we can all agree that healthy eye sight is very important. Anyone who drives, reads, paints, builds……needs healthy eye sight.