Going on a diet can be tough work, not only because maintaining it is the most brutal test of willpower known to mankind, but also because we do not know how the foods we eat will impact our brains. Here are a few inclusions worth noting:
1. Honey and more
Excess sugar intake is linked not only to obesity and heart disease but deprecated cognitive skills and decreased self-control. A lot of times you cannot help but crave a sugary snack after a meal, or when you might be hungry. Replace refined sugars with alternatives like sugar-free, honey and jaggery.
2. Protein Foods
Proteins are a ‘must’ for body and brain building. Eating your daily protein builds muscle and reduces the chances of Alzheimer’s. Reaping the benefits of proteins, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian ones, comes down to its preparation: use as much garnishing as you want, but with minimal roasting/heating.
3. The power of coconut and olive
Olive oil and coconut oil are infinitely better replacements for regular seed oil. They protect the brain against cognitive decline and the body against cholesterol and heart disease.
4. Say yes to ‘brown’
Rice and white bread are staples in almost all parts of the world and are mostly empty carbs. Decreasing carb intake can boost your brain activity through the use of ketones.
Instead of rice, you can use brown rice or quinoa, and instead of white bread, you can use whole wheat bread or brown bread. In fact, you can replace traditional pasta with the wheat variety.
5. Cashew milk
If you are trying to make a healthy sandwich with the ingredients above, you might run into the problem of using premade, processed sauces. These, not only contain refined sugar but also don’t have any nutritive value to them. Instead, make your own condiments using homemade cashew milk as the base. Not only does it make for a variety of different kinds of sauces with a single base, but also retains the nutritive properties of cashews.
6. Green tea
You might know from the popularity of Japanese Matcha green tea, how beneficial green tea can be for the body. They contain antioxidants that encourage weight loss, help you achieve calm energy as opposed to the rush and crash of coffee, and it contains catechins that are amazing for the brain.
7. Fruits are your friend
Blueberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, you name a berry and it probably has benefits ranging from reducing inflammation to helping improve communication between brain cells, consequently reducing chances of neurodegenerative diseases too.
8. Spinach can help
Spinach contains folate and vitamin b12 that are said to protect the brain from dementia.
9. Essential fatty acids
Essential fatty acids are required for the brain to function. They naturally occur in fish, soya beans, walnuts and pumpkin seeds, which also happen to be good sources of protein.
10. Dark chocolate
This might sound like it isn’t real, but miracles do exist, and yes: dark chocolate is a healthy snack that can not only burn carbs but also has antioxidants that help maintain brain function like memory and learning. You will not find these benefits with regular dark chocolates that contain a surplus of refined sugar.
Signing off
So, that’s the food chart that will surely lead you to a path of health and wellbeing.
