Feed your brain

by Ed Biado

Brain power: in today?s ?think quick, act fast? world, those two words make a lot of difference, separating the men from the boys. But when we get older, that dynamic organ that is one of our few allies in the rat race will be the cause of our being outdated. Wouldn?t want that to happen, would you? What you need is to keep your mental state in tip-top shape and eating the right foods will do just that. Here?s what you should add to your diet to keep that brain of yours last longer than the Energizer bunny:

1. Whole grains aid in keeping your mind focused and agile. They make blood flow better, thus, providing a steady supply of oxygen to the brain. Whole grains are the healthiest kinds of carbohydrates that, when broken down, simply become glucose?something that the brain needs to function properly.

2. Blueberries are among the top antioxidants that prevent the brain from suffering oxidative stress. Known as the ?brain berry,? they have very positive long-term effects on the brain, its functions and health.

3. Raisins are great because of their boron content, which helps improve hand-eye coordination and memory span.

4. Cacao beans contain antioxidants and other elements that are not limited to cognitive enhancement. In fact, cacao, in high content, is an overall health food. This is particularly potent in dark chocolate and non-alkalized powder forms.

5. Coffee, in its simplest form (read: black), is actually very healthy. What makes it unhealthy is addition of a million other ingredients in coffee shops. Regular coffee consumption is credited to reduce mental decline and related diseases.

6. Sugar, when used to sweeten coffee, helps increase caffeine absorption in coffee and increases mental alertness. It also has similar effects to carbohydrates like whole grains because they?re all just different forms of glucose.

7. Eggs are an excellent source of choline, which helps the brain become organized and coherent. Egg yolks are the part with choline, not egg whites, so it doesn?t count if you don?t eat the yolk.

8. Wild salmon, not the farm-raised kind, is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and other brain-enhancing substances. What makes salmon caught in the wild better than domestically cultivated ones lies in their health?they?re better evolved, they hunt and feed naturally and they?re less exposed to contaminants.

9. Sunflower seeds, with its exceptional vitamin E content, make a fantastic antioxidant that decreases the risk of memory decline. They are also well-equipped with vitamin B-complex, a precursor of instant recall.

10. Lean beef has a generous amount of iron, an element that is needed to maintain good memory. Even if you?re on a low protein diet, a decent serving of lean beef once in a while would do you more good than harm in the long run as iron deficiency leads to Alzheimer?s.