Naughty Foods, but Nice to Boost Your Brain’s Health
Dark chocolate, red wine and avocado—indulgent yet brain-friendly foods that support memory, mood, and cognition. Yes, pleasure can be good for your mind too!
Naughty foods make us think of things such as whole grains, oily fish, and berries, but did you know there are three naughty but nice brain boosting options too?
Naughty Foods for Your Shopping List
So, when you next feel like indulging and wish to justify your actions by focusing on being healthy, consider these three options to boost your brain power.
- Chocolate: For brain boosting, the chocolate must be of the dark variety, which is more than 70% cocoa. Dark chocolate contains vital flavonoids, otherwise known as antioxidants, which have been successfully linked to brain health. Did you know that eating dark chocolate can make you happy? Endorphins bind with the opiate receptors in your brain, leading to feelings of euphoria, in other words, a “chocolate high.” Chocolate is also a top dietary source of tryptophan, an amino acid precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with happiness. Now that’s good enough reason to snack on a little dark chocolate today.
- Red Wine: Studies have shown that people who consume moderate amounts of red wine may experience a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. So bottoms up! Resveratrol is a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, and prevents blood clots.
- Avocado: Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats (omega-3 and omega-6). These essential fatty acids increase blood flow to the brain, lower cholesterol levels, and help the body absorb antioxidants. Avocados contain antioxidants which protect the body and the brain from free radical (pollution) damage. Avocados are a rich source of Vitamin E, Potassium and Vitamin K. All of these vitamins protect the brain from the risk of stroke.
Our Thoughts on So-Called “Naughty Foods”
So there you have it, whether it’s an afternoon snack or a late-night indulgence, you have plenty of excuses to consume naughty foods to boost your brain. For memory loss, depression, anxiety, and other cognitive disorders, there is also a new cutting-edge treatment called Brain Mapping. This treatment includes Brain Training and can help alleviate and restore brain functioning. Brain mapping is a must for those who struggle with cognitive mental health.
