Have you ever wished you were an
Einstein, a Mensa or some gifted savant
with a brain that easily demystifies
calculus, algebra or some other complex
phenomenon such as the wave-particle
duality and genetic engineering? If yes,
then you are not alone. Part of our desire
as humans, apart from riches, power,
freedom, etc is a
high IQ. We desperately
want to be smart, to be able to figure out
things quickly with ease and swag.
Sadly, majority of the IQs we get is due to
genes- the IQ of our parents. So it's like
this: if your grandparents were professors
during their live time and your father is a
programmer working with Google while
your mom is a neuroscientist? You are
likely to be born a genius. But even then, it
is not always the case. Environment and
other factors also play a role.
And foods? Yes, they too.
What's their role
in the scheme of things? Read this: Eating
the right foods is enough to cause a
reasonable boost in your brainpower.
Although, you can't change or wish into
existence that your biological parents be
geniuses that very cold rainy night they
conceived you, you can start doing
something right now that can see a boost
in your mental capacity: eat right, eat
healthy and eat a lot of brain foods!
Here….
Brain food
1: Sardines
Fish
generally, and sardines particularly
are a rich source of the omega 3 fatty
acid docosahexanoic acid (DHA) which
has been found to boost brain function
and improve memory in people of all ages.
Although, the present economic realities in
Nigeria has made sardines a luxury food,
they are still one of the few brain foods
with a capacity to quickly boost memory
and slow down degeneration of neurons
seen in old people at risk of Alzheimer's or
dementia.
Brain food
2: Beans
This is one cheap and easily accessible
brain food that has been underutilized and
underreported for its brain-enhancing
functions. Beans are a rich source of
vitamin B- a water soluble vitamin required
for the synthesis of acetylcholine, the
neurotransmitter in the brain that aids the
formation of memory. So if you cannot
conveniently afford a regular supply of
sardines for your kids, complement the
little you can with beans. They would grow
up to become Mensas!
Brain food
3: Eggs
Eggs are another brain food worthy of
note. Their rich source of choline makes
them an invaluable and necessary booster
of brain functions. Boiled or fried or raw,
eggs are a sure memory booster. And on
the regard of boosting brain function, the
egg yolk has been found to be more useful
than the egg white (albumen).
Brain food
4: Dark chocolate
Perhaps, this may be yet another reason
to encourage your addiction and obsession
with chocolates. However, the emphasis
here is on dark chocolate, and not the
conventional ones which have been
doctored by its manufacturers to provide
little or no health benefits. Being a rich
source of polyphenols and
methylxanthines, dark chocolate does not
only perform the function of boosting
memory- it also boosts mood and is has
achieved fame for being a potent
aphrodisiac (+18: you really don't need
those expensive Viagra pills to do the job
if you are a regular eater of those rich,
creamy, and dark chocolate bars).
Brain food
5: Curry:
You may be thinking, "what has curry got
to do with the brain and memory?" Well,
apart from spicing up your foods and given
them those divine and celestial aromas,
curries play a role in brain function and
memory consolidation. Its active
ingredient, curcumin, a special polyphenol,
is known for bringing about the formation
of new brain cells, a process called
neurogenesis.
Brain food
6: Avocado
Although, they look so humble and benign,
don't be fooled by their appearance:
avocados are a superfood for the brain!
They contain practically all the vitamins
(A, D, E, K, C, and B) and minerals like
sodium and potassium which play a role in
the electrical generation and conduction of
impulses in the brain and elsewhere. So
the next time you come across this very
humble fruit, give it its due and deserved
respect (una no be mate. The fruit is
loaded!)
Brain food
7: Green leafy vegetables
In mid 2015, the Federation of American
Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB)
conducted a study to know the effect of
green leafy vegetables on the brain and to
identify the active components in them
that are responsible for their effects. They
reached a predictably positive conclusion:
yes, green leafy vegetables enhance
mental activity. Also, they identified
vitamin K, present in the green leafy
vegetables, as the primary compound
responsible for the mental enhancement.
Other compounds with mental enhancing
effects found include lutein, folate and
beta-carotene.
Brain food
8: Coffee
Whether freshly brewed or stale, coffee is
a nasty and notorious booster of brain
function. Its active ingredient, caffeine, increases focus, mental alertness and
memory consolidation. Again, apart from
being a neurostimulant, coffee (caffeine)
has been discovered to have unholy,
libidinal properties.
Brain food
9: Agbalumo (African Cherry)
Research conducted has revealed that
agbalumo/udara contains more vitamin C
than oranges! Now, how does this fact
help the brain or boost memory? Vitamin
C has anti-oxidant properties which help
slow down the neurodegeneration of brain
cells caused by oxidative stress-
eventually helping prevent strokes and
other neurogenerative insults on the brain.
Also, vitamin C is neuromodulator in the
synthesis of dopamine in the brain-
dopamine, apart from being the chemical
that rewards pleasure-seeking behaviours,
also plays a role in the development of
long term memory. So guys, why don't you
all endure the temporary lip smacking
experience of eating an agbalumo and
making a chewing gum out of it for a brain
like Einstein's?
Brain food
10: Tangerines/Orange
Tangerines too? Yes! Also known as
satsuma in Japanese, tangerines and
oranges are not left out on the list of brain
foods anyone desiring a superior
brainpower should have. They contain lots
of antioxidants, folate, and potassium –
which have all been found to benefit the
brain. In fact, folate alone has been known
to significantly mitigate the risk of
Alzheimer's disease and decline in
cognition. Tangerines in particular are a
rich source of flavonoids which have
useful application in the process of
memory formation and retention. So guys,
let's start licking some oranges and
satsumas!
Brain food
11: Milk
Research published in the International
Dairy Journal reported that people who
drink at least one cup of milk daily do five
times better at memory tests than
nondrinkers. Milk has a lot of magnesium
in it- and magnesium has been implicated
in formation and retention of memory. So
except you have lactose intolerence,
always complement that meal you are
eating with a satisfying and nutritious
glass of milk!
Brain food
12: Sweet potato
Have you ever tried boiled sweet potato
with egg stew? Try it and you will come to
know that there is a God indeed! The taste
is divine….like one meant for gods! No
joke. Now, on a more serious note, sweet
potato is one brain food you should have
on your checklist of brain foods. At least if
not for the deliciousness of its taste, do it
for the boost in memory it gives.
Containing high amounts of carotenoids
with antioxidant and antiinflammatory
properties, sweet potatoes come in handy
as one type of brain food for both the
young and the old!
