No-brainers for the brain

Salmon Over the past few years, the conversation around food has shifted to ingredients that improve cognition, memory, creativity and motivation. Optimal living aided by ‘nootropic foods is the popular eating mantra for restoring and maintaining brain health. Supplements are giving way to conscious-eating that incorporates nootropic-loaded natural diets, which combine herbs and natural brain force augmenters such as pine pollen, blue algae, spirulina, moringa leaves and coffee. Says Shamshul Wahid, Group Executive Chef, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt Ltd, “Simply explained, nootropic foods charge up our cognitive functions and optimise various brain functions, particularly related to memory and attention span. They are literally food for the brain and regular consumption can lower the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.” He recommends including eggs, turmeric, salmon, dark leafy greens such as broccoli and kale, green tea, blueberries, coffee and dark chocolate in daily diet as natural sources of nootropic food. The stress of everyday work life is consuming lifestyle; not keeping up is the biggest fear of the urbanista. This is where nootropic foods help, say experts. According to Chef Vineet Bahuguna, Hilton Garden Inn, New Delhi, “They target specific cognitive functions and improve overall mental performance and brain health.” He, however, advises having a wholesome meal to maintain overall mental and physical health. Nootropics have a wide range of natural chemicals that improve the quality of life. For instance, the flavanol in dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain and promote the production of new brain cells. Red wine contains high levels of the resveratrol antioxidant which is an anti-carcinogen. Green tea’s L-Theanine amino acids are stress-busters and regulate brain waves. Coconut oil is a powerful nootropic, which contains medium chain fatty acids that bypass the regular digestive system and are converted into ketones by the liver. […]

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