The brain is without a doubt one of the most important parts of your body. Healthline's Kerri-Ann Jennings says that it is your body's control center and helps with many things, like keeping your heart beating and your lungs breathing and giving you the ability to move, feel, and think. But just like any other organ in the body, the brain can start to have trouble working as it should, mostly because of getting older.
Age-related mental decline is one of the most common things that happens to the brain as people age. Most people who get it start to show signs of it when they are in their late 40s, which is a scary thought. Some signs of age-related mental decline are forgetting things more often, missing important appointments or social events, losing your train of thought, and having trouble getting around places you know well.
Due to the effects of age-related mental decline and the fact that it can start relatively early in some people, it is important to find ways to protect your brain and keep your memory strong. Your food choices can help a lot in this way, which is good news. With that in mind, this article will talk about the foods you should eat regularly after you turn 40 to keep your memory sharp and stop mental decline that comes with age. Here's a look at the foods:
1. Fish with fat
Omega-3 fatty acids make up about 30% of your brain and are found in fatty fish like salmon, trout, tuna, herring, and sardines. Healthline says that your brain uses omega-3s to make brain and nerve cells, and these fats are important for learning and remembering. Omega-3 fatty acids can also slow the mental decline that comes with age and protect against Alzheimer's disease.
2. Caffè
The caffeine and antioxidants in coffee are two of the main things that make it one of the healthiest drinks you can drink. Better brain health is also linked to these two things. For instance, its high caffeine content is known to help you feel more awake, improve your mood, and focus better. It is also linked to a lower risk of neurological diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's when it is taken regularly.
3. Blueberries
Blueberries and many other dark-colored berries are great for keeping your memory sharp. This is because they have a lot of anthocyanins, which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant chemicals that help keep cells healthy. Their antioxidant effect helps protect your brain from oxidative stress and inflammation, two things that can lead to your brain getting older and your cognitive abilities getting worse as you get older. Their antioxidants also help children and older people remember things and think more clearly.
4. Turmeric
Curcumin is the name of the active ingredient in turmeric. Healthline says that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier, which means it can go straight into the brain and help the cells there. Its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects have also been shown to improve memory, ease depression, and help new brain cells grow, which may help slow down the mental decline that comes with getting older. Because of this, you should think about adding more turmeric to your diet.
5. A dark chocolate
A Healthline article says that dark chocolate and cocoa powder have a lot of compounds that are good for the brain, such as flavonoids, caffeine, and antioxidants. Their flavonoid content is known to collect in parts of the brain that deal with learning and memory. This may help you keep a good memory and slow down the mental decline that comes with getting older. Some of the compounds in chocolate are also thought to make people feel better, which is a real benefit.
6. Nuts
Nuts like walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, and cashews are all good for your health. They can help keep your brain and other organs in good shape. Studies have shown that eating nuts on a regular basis can make it much less likely that your mind will get worse as you get older. Its high intake was also found to help older people remember things better. Nuts are good for your brain health because they have a lot of healthy fats, antioxidants, and vitamin E in them.
7. Oranges
Oranges are very healthy, and they are one of the best ways to get vitamin C. Healthline says that a medium-sized orange can give you almost all of the vitamin C you need in a day. It has a lot of vitamin C, which helps prevent mental decline. Studies show that having more vitamin C in the blood can also help improve memory. It can also help fight off free radicals, which can damage brain cells. This keeps your brain healthy as you age and protects you from things like major depressive disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
8. Eggs
Eggs are great for the brain because they have many nutrients, like vitamins B6 and B12, folate, and choline, which help the brain. Choline, which is found in egg yolks, helps control mood and memory, which can help the brain work better. It also has a lot of B vitamins, which can help slow down the mental decline of older people by lowering their homocysteine levels.
Content created and supplied by: Oyinkem (via Opera News )
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