nutrition

Hungry for More? S, T, and U Foods Will Fuel Your Mind

We're nearing the end of the alphabet, but that doesn't mean there aren't more delicious and brain-boosting foods left to cover. If you've been following PayPath's mind-boosting foods series, where you last learned about the benefits of pumpkin seeds, quinoa, and rosemary, then you've come to understand how food fuels more than just the body, it also makes a difference in the brain's functions and health.
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Your Guide to Even More Nutritious Mind-Boosting Foods – M, N, O

Nutrition does more than feed the body, it also gives the mind the fuel it needs to make every day as successful and productive as can be. We're going through the alphabet from A-Z to bring you brain-boosting foods that are not only healthy, but full of all the good stuff that makes our minds work at their peak performance.

From avocados tolentils, delicious foods that make our bellies happy are also giving our brains something to signal our mouths to smile about. Here are more mind-boosting nutritious foods to add to your grocery list – mackerel, nuts, and oats.

Mackerel

Holy mackerel! Eating this fish is not only something to entice your taste buds, but it will have your brain fishing for another bite. BBC Good Food recommends oily fish like mackerel to enhance brainpower. "The main sources of oily fish include salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards and kippers." The DHA in these fish is, "important for healthy brain function, the heart, joints and our general well-being."

People with low levels of DHA have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, as per BBC Good Food. Plus, DHA, "is thought to help us manage stress and helps make the good mood brain chemical, serotonin."

So order the mackerel at your favorite seafood restaurant or grill or poach a filet at home. You'll not only love the flavor, but the favor this omega-3-packed fish will do to scale things up in the intellectual department!

Nuts

If you're nuts for nuts, then you're in luck, because nuts are brain food that are fun to munch and snack on. According to Forbes, "Nuts, especially walnuts, are extremely good for the brain and nervous system. They also contain vitamin E, which has been shown to prevent many forms of dementia by protecting the brain from free radicals."

There are so many variety of nuts to choose from, so mix and match or find a favorite to stick with. A handful of nuts is satisfying and easy grab any time of day. You may feel nuts, but at least you won't lose your mind!

Oats

Start your day with a warm bowl of oatmeal and you'll set yourself up for a productive and energized day to come. As per Shape, "The primary fuel for your brain is glucose, which comes from carbohydrates such as those abundant in oats. Since your body breaks down the carbs in whole-grain oats very slowly, they help keep you sharp for several hours."

Go for whole grain oats and reap the best of their benefits from head to toe. You'll be filled up and fueled up for a day that's sure to be a success. A bowl to stay on the ball is a meal worth digging your teeth into!

Want more? Check out these tasty and good-for-you treats. And if you missed the last installment, check out how java, kale, and lentils make the grade.

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More Nutritious Mind-Boosting Foods J, K, and L

We hope you've been enjoying our series on mind-boosting all-natural foods to keep you sharp and on the ball from sun up to sunset. Our last installment, which included goji berries, hazelnuts, and iron-rich foods like spinach, was a hit, so another round of delicious and nutritious foods is just what the doctor (and your boss) ordered so you can keep you going strong on full-throttle mode when the workload won't quit. With these mind-boosting edibles, your body and brain won't quit either!

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Even More All-Natural Mind Boosters G, H, and I

If you've been enjoying learning about (and eating) mind-boosting all-natural nutrition from avocados, blueberries, and celery to dark chocolate, eggs, and fish, then get ready for three more ways to keep your mind sharp, your body well-nourished, and your energy and stamina strong and steady all day.

Before you mindlessly grab a sticky candy bar from the vending machine or slurp down another cup of that nasty office coffee for a mid-day pick-me-up, consider going all-natural for a boost from Mother Nature instead. These next three choices, goji berries, hazelnuts, and iron-rich foods will have you revved-up and ready to rock your work day the all-natural way.

Goji Berries

If you're tired of the usual mixed berry fruit cup, try goji berries instead. As per Dr. Axe, "Goji berries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years." They help maintain energy and stamina and are considered a "superfood" by experts in nutrition.

Global Healing Center adds that "diets rich in berries reduce, or even reverse, declining brain function." Goji berries are rich in antioxidants and they "may slow down brain aging and prevent disease, while promoting the growth of healthy brain cells."

Munch on ½ cup goji berries for just 100 calories. Eat them dried on their own, add as a salad topper, or shake into a trail mix. You'll feel brighter and better in no time.

Hazelnuts

According to WebMD, "Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E." High levels of this vitamin means less cognitive decline as we age. One ounce of nuts like hazelnuts per day is all you need to get this boost.

Along with vitamin E, Livestrongadds, "Hazelnuts contain flavonoids which may support brain health."

Not only are these crunchy nuts absolutely delicious, but they will motivate your mind as they mesmerize your mouth. Nosh on a handful of these nuts raw or roasted, stir into yogurt, or bake into a high-fiber muffin. Enjoy the nutrition along with the brainpower surge.

Iron-Rich Foods

Eating Well recommends a diet rich in iron for a sharper mind. "Studies show that being even mildly iron-deficient affects learning, memory, and attention. Luckily, restoring iron levels to normal also restores cognitive function."

Some foods which are rich in iron include beans, meat, soy, and dark leafy greens. Go for a chopped kale salad, a few ounces of lean organic meat or soy if you're not a meat-eater, a zesty 3-bean salad, or a side of steamed spinach with lunch to up your iron intake so you're on the ball all day.

As perSun Warrior, "Spinach can prevent or delay dementia and also slows the effects of aging on the brain." Popeye was not only strong in body, but likely sharp in the noggin' too!

Want more? Please see the next batch of goodiesthat will make your mind as sharp as ever.

Stay tuned for the next foods in our all-natural brain-boosting nutrition series. Eating well will blow your mind!

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