FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It’s that time of year again… September… kids are going back to school, students are heading off to university, and the summer fun at work is over. It’s time to focus on producing your best work to get you those high grades and elevate you towards that promotion! On top of making sure you get enough good quality sleep, staying active, and doing your best to avoid distractions whilst working, I’ve got four food suggestions that can help your concentration and cognition.

Eggs You can scramble them, boil them, poach them, fry them, make them into an omelette… eggs are an extremely versatile food that are made up of some eggcellent constituents that can support your cognitive functioning. Eggs contain serine which is an amino acid found in the brain, and choline which functions in a similar way to B vitamins. These nutrients appear to support cognition, can reduce anxiety and improve mental attention and working memory!

Blueberries Blueberries have become a staple of almost every Instagram smoothie and pancake recipe, and it appears they might be there for a good reason when it comes to our brain function! They have been shown to reduce cognitive decline, improve memory and enhance feelings of wellbeing. This appears to be due to their high antioxidant and anthocyanin content. Approximately two handfuls, or four heaped tablespoons, will give you one of your five-a- day which is guaranteed to not leave you feeling blue!

Oily Fish Oily fish is a food that a lot of us don’t consume enough of in our diets, when we are in fact recommended to consume one portion per week! There are so many important health benefits associated with doing so! Types of oily fish include salmon, mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and pilchards, so you have plenty of choice. But if you really can’t stand the fishy flavour you can get a lot of the benefits from our Triple Strength Omega 3-6-9 capsules instead. It appears to be the omega-3 fatty acid DHA which has the primary role in supporting cognitive functioning. Consuming oily fish can reduce cognitive decline and anxiety, while improving memory and feelings of wellbeing.

Caffeine Most of you will have heard this one and probably already consume it on a daily basis just to get you out of bed in the morning regardless of any health benefits! But for the few of you reading this that don’t consume caffeine but would like to know the potential benefits of doing so, or for those of you that want to feel even more justified about your morning cuppa, there is evidence of the cognitive benefits of caffeine! It can improve feelings of wellbeing, increase wakefulness and memory function, whilst also reducing fatigue. The main action of caffeine to achieve this function appears to be the inhibition of adenosine receptor functioning in the brain, which otherwise causes relaxation and sedation. If like myself you’re not a fan of coffee there are other sources, including capsules and powders such as our Fat Metaboliser Capsules and Pre-Workout Blend. Ensure not to exceed 400mg of caffeine per day or 200mg in one serving.

Concentration, memory and cognition are so important, particularly in today’s fast-paced world where life is a full-time hustle, so it’s vital to do all that you can to stay in peak mental condition. Making these few dietary additions could contribute to a healthier, better functioning you. Push for that promotion, get those grades and produce your best!

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