You wake up in the morning and start your day with a hearty breakfast to get your mental engines up and running. The question is, what power foods exactly give you that awesome mental brain boost that you need to conquer the day!
Power foods have the ability to boost our physical health, build up our muscle mass physique, and most importantly, give us the needed energy.
There are, however, some power foods that can improve the working of our brain and memory as well.
In this article, we’ll be covering some of the food types that are considered power food for the brain and memory.
Great Power Foods for Energy
With so many “healthy” food options out there today that claim to be the miracle food group that’ll give you energy, boost immunity, and turn you into a superman, it makes it quite hard to know the truth from marketing lies.
There is one rule you can apply when it comes to picking and choosing the best fail-safe option. Stick to real foods! What we mean by “real foods” is something that is natural, unprocessed and most likely can be found in nature.
So to help give you a simple and short guide to follow, we’re going to go through foods that are great for giving your body and brain that energy boost you need.
And to make it even simpler, we’ve gone through the top 9 power foods that will give you that extra kick you need.
We’ve noticed that too many people that like taking shortcuts ask the question, what is the most powerful food? As if there is this silver bullet of food that will rule all.
I’m sorry, there isn’t. But there is a better question for you to start with…
What should I eat for power?
A healthy mind starts with a healthy body… A healthy body starts with healthy eating.
Remember when your parents told you to eat your veggies? And you thought they were simply trying to trick you into eating boring foods? Well, it turns out mom and dad were quite on the mark.
Fruits, vegetables, and fish are exactly the type of power foods you need. If you didn’t get a good night’s sleep or you’re just having that lazy afternoon slump on a busy day, you are going to need that energy kick—pronto!
Let’s skip on the energy drinks and check out awesome energy-fueled power foods that’ll make you feel great.
4 great energy power food combinations you can incorporate into your morning routine right now
1. Bananas
I know you are thinking, “really, bananas?” But know this, studies show that bananas can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, help muscles recover faster, and can also fight off depression. Mix them with your shakes, or add them to your cereals. Get creative and go bananas!
2. Quinoa
Packed with more protein than any other grain, quinoa is the perfect mid-day energy boost. It also has many healthy minerals and amino acids, making it a great power food for long-lasting energy. You mix it in your salad or scrambled eggs. You can even use it as a rice replacement.
3. Mixed Nuts
Most nuts are filled with nutrients, proteins, and healthy fats. Almonds, peanut butter, and walnuts are great for fueling your body throughout the day. But don’t go nuts and down a whole bag…all you need is a handful.
4. Eggs
Eggs are considered to be a powerful food both for your body and for your brain. They’re amazingly rich in nutrients and vitamins, including vitamins B6 and B12.
However, the reason they’re on this list is that they have a large amount of choline inside them.
Choline is a very important micronutrient. Our body uses it to create acetylcholine, which plays an important role in the regulation of our memory. Choline in eggs is stored within the yolk.
Increase your energy and get the most out of your day with this easy list. Remember, more energy = more brainpower.
Power Foods for a Brain Boost
Feedback is the breakfast of superheroes.
— Jim Kwik, trainer of Mindvalley’s Superbrain Quest
Your brain just like your body uses energy throughout your day. As a matter of fact, your brain works so hard that it consumes more than 20% of your body’s energy output.
If you like to be sharp, focused, and super alert anytime…you’ll need to give your brain the same nutritional attention as you give the rest of your body.
So, which food is the best for your memory and brainpower?
The 5 best foods to eat for the brain
1. Fatty fish
When it comes to power foods for the brain, fish like salmon or tuna take the cake. They’re both rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are very important for the brain. More than half of our brain mass is made exactly from this type of fat.
By incorporating more fatty fish into your diet, it can aid the brain in learning and memorizing things more efficiently. You also build more resistance to Alzheimer’s disease and are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.
2. Coconut oil + coffee
If you love to start your day with a good old cup of coffee, you’re doing things right. And that’s because the caffeine in coffee gives you an energy rush, especially in the morning when you need to get up and prepare for a long day of work.
But here’s the best part, you can maximize the benefits of caffeine by combining coconut oil to your morning coffee.
Aside from making you more attentive, and sharpening your focus, it helps you maintain a metabolic state in which your body breakdown fat as an energy fuel. This state is known as ketosis.
Maintaining ketosis has been linked to many health benefits like weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and reduced heart disease risk factors.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli may be the least favorite type of vegetable for some of us. However, broccoli is filled with antioxidants and vitamin K, both play a key role in forming a special type of fat called sphingolipids, which can be found within our neurons.
The high concentration of vitamin K and sphingolipids in our neural cells protect our brain from certain cancers and slows down mental decline as we age.
4. Leafy greens
Spinach and kale are powerful brain boosters. They’re packed with antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins and improve your brain’s cognitive function.
Aside from giving you a boost in brainpower, it also contains high levels of potassium and iron that increase your brain’s oxygenation and improve long-term cell health.
It’s also really simple to prepare. Just add a handful of spinach and kale to a cup of OJ and blend away!
5. Pumpkin seeds
Packed with an abundance of valuable nutrients, pumpkin seeds are, in our opinion, on the top of this list. Why? For one they taste great and are easy to add to literally any dinner, salad, lunch, or breakfast. This tiny seed contains magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper, all of which are important for brain health.
A Final Word from Mindvalley
Foods like these are great for energy and to strengthen your brainpower.
It’s important to remember that we can improve our brain and body function, and protect it from aging and disease with a diet that is rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, iron, and other nutrients.
Keep your brain young and healthy by including some of the power foods we talked about in this article. And be sure to add these power foods to your grocery list the next time you go shopping.
