The 5 best foods to boost your brain health

( Natural News ) Like the body, the brain needs fuel, which can be obtained from brain-healthy foods. Here are some foods that can give your brain a boost : Cacao: Eating chocolates — the real ones, made from cacao — is good for your brain, thanks to powerful compounds called flavonols. These compounds act as antioxidants and help preserve the brain’s stem cells — which produce new brain cells. Flavonols, as antioxidants, also help fight chronic inflammation which can cause diseases related to thinking and memory. In addition, research has shown that flavonols support the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain involved in memory and mood. While eating chocolates is good for you, eat it in moderation, about a square or two each day. Caffeinated drinks: Drinking coffee or tea can also be good for your brain. This is because of their caffeine content that may help prevent age-related cognitive decline. Research has shown that consuming about 500 milligrams (mg) of caffeine every day — the equivalent of about five cups of coffee — may help protect against memory problems in humans. Colorful fruits and vegetables: Adding more colored foods to your diet also improve your brain health. And by colored foods, these refer to naturally colored ones like fruits and vegetables. Colorful fruits and vegetables, such as beets , berries, leafy greens, carrots, and peppers, have high amounts of antioxidants like carotenoids and anthocyanins. These antioxidants are natural pigments that give those fruits and vegetables their bright colors. Antioxidants are good for the brain because they can protect brain cell linings from the damage caused by free radicals, which are toxic molecules that cause inflammation and are caused by factors like a poor diet or smoking. Greens and beans also provide folate, which is beneficial […]

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