Whole Foods To Help Boost Brain Health And Increase Concentration!

Lack of Concentration, Whole Foods That help Improve And Protect Brain Function:

Brain health is today’s hottest health topic. While research gives us more and more answers about what we can do to safeguard our brain health and significantly lower our risk for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, the average person has little idea what exactly they can do. We have all had days where we are just unable to concentrate on anything.

Studies have shown that,

There is a definite relationship between what we put in our mouths and how well our brain works. Studies have also shown that eating a diet high in saturated fats causes a person to feel sluggish, lack energy and focus. Even though there is no magic pill that we can take to help us concentrate on the tasks we need to complete, there are certain foods we can add to our diet that will help improve brain function.

A Healthy Body and a Healthy Brain:

It’s essential that we support our overall health through our diets, exercise, and lifestyles in order to be able to maintain our optimal brain health. Most people’s general health when they reach middle age begins to weaken.

Lack of nutrients and exercise combined with poor eating will, unfortunately, take a toll on the body and especially the brain. There appears to be an incidence of cognitive decline in the elderly due to a combination of increased stress, increased oxidative exposure, and nutrient insufficiencies.

In order to,

protect against cognitive decline and provide support for brain health, a multi-faceted approach is required, including the exercise of the mind and body, avoiding stress, and most important of all, the necessary nutrients.

The Importance of Keeping Your Brain Healthy:

There are many health issues directly related to brain function:

• The obvious ones are those that people observe with an elderly relative or parent.
• The onset of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia is prevalent today.
• Even when a specific form of memory or mental condition is not diagnosed, the majority of people will lose their mental alertness with age.
• A small loss of cognitive ability can bring about a lower quality of life.

The good news is that some of this mental deterioration can be prevented and in some cases reversed. Although medical researchers are still learning about the root causes of mental disease, they have discovered factors that contribute to it, and the surprising finding has been that people of all ages can benefit from activities that help keep the brain functioning in a healthy way.

Lack of Concentration:

Have you ever given a thought as to what causes a lack of concentration? At least putting forth this question you have taken the first step of realizing the problem. There could be various reasons for lack of concentration and identifying them is the key to resolve the problem.

It is understandable that the majority of people are overstressed and are under constant pressure at the work-front, problems in personal relationships, or anxiety because of job pressure. A troubled mind is obviously a soft target for various mental disorders to attack your brain. Your mind will be distracted to complete the unfinished jobs and in the process of multi-tasking, you are unable to concentrate or focus on one thing.

Basic Factors Contributing To Lack Of Concentration:

• Depression is one of the major factors for lack of concentration.
  • The depression could be due to personal relationships, an inferiority complex, the death of a loved one, or work pressure.
• Slow thought process-preoccupied with thoughts can also decline your concentration ability and makes it difficult for you to focus or pay attention to any given task.
• Disinterestedness or the feeling of boredom triggers a lack of concentration.
• Anxiety can hamper your concentration to a large extent when your mind unable to think about anything else except the reason for your anxious behavior in such situations your mind cannot concentrate.
• Insufficient nutrients and vitamins in your diet can lead to fatigue, drowsiness, and disturbed sleep, which in turn leads to a lack of concentration.
  • Iron deficiency is one of the reasons that reduce concentration levels and this can be compensated with food that is rich in vital nutrients required by the body will help.

How To Improve Concentration:

The best way to improve concentration is to condition your mind to stick to the job you have already taken up and remind yourself not to get distracted with any other thoughts until you finish it. A positive frame of mind does a whole lot of good to your concentration level.

Brain memory games are ideal to improve your concentration, you can check out some scientifically designed games available online, which are great techniques to boost your concentration levels. The online memory games will help you combat lack of concentration with a marked improvement.

Some Steps to Improve your Concentration: 

• Avoid Multitasking.  (trying to do more than one thing at a time), loud noises and visual stimulation (such as from a T.V.) make concentration much more difficult, and being around them or doing them too much can put you into a habit of non-attention which can be hard to break.
• Try meditation.
• Practice with Focus Games.
• Take breaks. Go outside and breathe deeply or take a brisk walk. Make yourself do this often and you’ll be able to return to your task recharged and ready to focus more creatively.
• Stay calm. Deep concentration is a matter of increasing or directing your life-force or conscious, cosmic energy.
• Eat a Healthy Diet. Foods that can help increase concentration,
  • Caffeine is a good source of energy,
  • Water helps promote blood and oxygen circulation. Fruits and green foods give the body
  • antioxidants that boost brain activity.
  • Protein-rich foods like almonds, lean meat, and eggs can increase concentration and awareness.
    Baked beans and toast. Read the list below.
• Take Naps and Breaks.
• Divide Large Tasks into Smaller Ones.
• Learn techniques to increase and control your energy. One such technique is Paramhansa Yogananda’s Energization Exercises. Controlling your energy is an important first step toward the ability to concentrate deeply.

Here’re Whole Foods That Help Improve and Protect Brain Function:

Food is an easy way to improve brain function because you can build up the nutrients and chemicals needed for your brain to operate at maximum efficiency while also enhancing your overall health. here are certain foods we can add to our diet that will help improve brain function.

Essential fatty acids:

Many people are led to believe that dietary fats are bad. However certain fats obtained from foods are critical for optimal brain health. Your brain cells depend on fats for construction, repair, and ongoing communication.

Water – water is required for survival 70 % of your brain is water. Each of us needs to drink plenty of water to maintain proper brain function. If you don’t consume enough water every day you will become dehydrated. When your brain becomes dehydrated, it is harder for your brain to make connections and recall information. You will easily become confused and disoriented. Stay hydrated if you expect your brain to keep working at its best.

Unsaturated fats are:

those that must be obtained from the diet because the body cannot create them. Among the most important of these are unsaturated omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 6 fatty acids are plentiful in the typical American diet, it’s the omega-3 fatty acids that are less plentiful in our diet.

1. Water: 

We all know our bodies need water to function properly, but studies have shown that dehydration can cause brain tissue to shrink. Studies have also shown that dehydration impairs short-term memory, focus, and decision making.

2. Beets: 

Studies have shown that eating beets actually increases the blood flow to your brain, which, will improve brain function.

3. Oysters Are:

High in zinc and iron, which are vital for proper brain function. Studies have shown that a lack of zinc and iron in a person’s diet can result in poor concentration, and ability to recall things that have happened, as well as many other problems throughout the entire body.

4. Eggs Have Gotten:

A bad reputation lately and although it is true that too much of a good thing can be harmful, adding eggs to your diet is great for brain function.

• The reason is that eggs are full of B-12, which helps to fight against atrophy (the natural shrinking of the brain as we age).
• The yolk of the egg is full of choline, which is a building block of brain cells and it has been proven that choline can help greatly improve your memory.

 

5. Blueberries are:

• Often referred to as superfoods because many of them contain fisetin and flavonoids, which help to improve your memory.
• Blueberries have been shown to help improve motor skills, as well as learning capacity.

 

The levels of antioxidants found in blueberries help slow down the oxidation of the brain. Not only do these chemicals help reduce the risk of mental diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as some cancers, they also can result in increased memory and motor skill function.

6. Nuts and Seeds:

Are full of Omega’s 3 and 6, folate, vitamins B6 and E, all of which help you to think more clearly. Some also contain magnesium and thiamine which are great for cognitive function as well as memory.

nuts and seeds are not only healthy but you can eat them as snacks add them to your salad or vegetable dish. Almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds are good brain-healthy choices try to limit these to a small handful a day, due to their high-calorie content.

7. Leafy Greens:

We all know we should eat our leafy greens every day and here is just one more reason we should. Leafy Greens contain B6, B12, and folate. They also contain high levels of iron and it has been proven that if you do not get enough iron your cognitive activity will slow down significantly. Leafy greens include kale, spinach, chard, and greens.

8. Fish:

• If you want to reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s Disease you can start by eating two servings of fish per week.
• The reason is that fish contain high levels of omega 3 and omega 3 coats the neurons in the brain allowing them to move easily.
• Omega 3 also allows the brain to get more oxygen, retain new information, as well as recall old information.
• Herring, Salmon, and Tuna are the best fish you can eat to help with brain function.

9. Broccoli:

• Broccoli is also a great whole food for a healthy brain.
• Broccoli has been proven to improve memory, as well as slow the aging process of the brain.

10. Black Currants:

– Black currants not only help protect brain cells, but they are also jammed packed with antioxidants. They protect the cells found in the hippocampus, a part of the brain which helps usher in information to be remembered and stored in other parts of the brain. The darker the color, the richer in antioxidants they are.

11. Soy Beans:

– While many scientists previously thought soy was damaging to the brain, new studies have shown soy to have protective qualities. Similar to lipids, these chemicals play a large role in the development of the brain; especially the parts which are responsible for memory.

More Food Choices For Brain Health:

A. Antioxidants:

These foods are great sources of antioxidants, vitamin C, and beta-carotene that protect brain cells from damage that results from free radicals.

• Berries: Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Goji Berries, Mulberries,
• Boysenberries and Cranberries.
• Red Grapes.
• Mangos.
• Oranges.
• Carrots.
• Tomatoes.
• Cantaloupe.
• Green, Red & Yellow Peppers.

B. Folic Acid:

Folic acid helps to prevent brain cell degeneration, and so you lose less brain cells. These foods are great sources of folic acid.

• Okra.
• Collard greens.
• Asparagus.
• Black Beans.
• Romaine Lettuce.
• Spinach.
• Lentils.
• Black-Eyed Peas.
• Sunflower Seeds.

C. Fatty Acids:

Processed food, as opposed to a whole food, either has none or has had its essential Fatty acids removed to prolong shelf life. But, essential fatty acids, including, EPA/DHA and Omega-3 are important for the health and development of the brain because they reduce inflammation and support cell regeneration.

Here are the foods that are high in important fatty acids:

• Salmon.
• Sardines.
• Herring.
• Mackerel.
• Tuna.
• Flaxseeds.
• Walnuts.
• Soybeans.
• Shrimp.
• Tofu.
• Chia seeds.
• Hemp seeds.

Final Thoughts:  

Adding whole foods to your diet that are healthy for your brain is a great way to help prevent degeneration as you age, as well as help you focus on your tasks right now.

If you are having trouble concentrating, try adding some of the mentioned foods to your diet, and enjoy optimal brain and overall health and wellness.

It is also important to note that a diet that is comprised of whole foods, and one that eliminates processed products and junk food has a vast amount of other health benefits.

If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.

Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

Sources:

Eat Healthily. Live Healthily!

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