Foods to Improve Memory Power

Your blood stream carries oxygen and nutrients to all the cells in your body, including your brain. Anything that gets in the way of your blood flow can affect the performance of those cells. Your heart, as the regulator of the circulatory system, controls your blood flow. Therefore, a healthy brain requires a healthy heart.

Vegetables

The more vegetables you eat, the better. Some of the most recommended vegetables for heart (and therefore brain) health are broccoli, cabbage, spinach, kale, leeks, and onions. A Harvard Medical School study that took place over 25 years and involved more than 13,000 women showed that eating higher amounts of vegetables lessens age-related memory decline.

Antioxidants

Foods with antioxidants help improve oxygen flow in your body and, therefore, your brain. Eat foods high in beta-carotene and vitamins C and E like carrots, citrus fruits, blueberries, red tomatoes, liver, nuts and seeds. Green tea is also a good choice.

Folic Acid and B Vitamins

These essentials break down monocysteine---an amino acid that is toxic to nerve cells---and help to produce red blood cells. Get these nutrients by eating soybeans, legumes, strawberries, asparagus, melons and black beans.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Consume flaxseed and flaxseed oil and walnuts and walnut oil to take advantage of these good, healthy fats that have been shown to improve cognitive functions. Halibut, mackerel, tuna and herring also contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Honey

Sweetening your food with honey may help decrease your anxiety and improve memory during the aging process. This may be due to its antioxidant properties, according to a 2007 study done at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

References

• Foods to Improve Memory & Brain Power Without Memory Supplement
• Foods to Improve Memory
• Forgetful? Eat memory-boosting foods