5 Quick & Easy Brain Boosting Snack Ideas

November 2, 2016

5 Quick & Easy Brain Boosting Snack Ideas | @2inspiredaily

There are a number of factors that increase or decrease your mental capacity as the day goes on. Too little or too much sleep, stress, lack of exercise – the list could go on and on. However, sometimes you may just need a little boost to give you that extra mental edge. That’s where the perfect snack can make all the difference. A sharper, more focused brain can help you access a higher level of creativity and inspiration, as well as make tasks easier to complete. Not a bad side benefit of a delicious snack!

To help keep give your brain a quick nutrient boost, consider one of these snack ideas:

Chocolate

Just in case you needed an excuse to eat chocolate, you can tell everyone, “I need it for work!” The cocoa in chocolate contains large amounts of flavanols, which have been shown to enhance the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain. This effect may help boost your short-term cognitive abilities, though overdoing it may lead to a sugar crash later in the day. The lesson here is definitely “everything in moderation.”

Water

Staying hydrated may seem like the biggest cliche there is, even outside of the idea of boosting creativity, but the reality is that it’s a very important factor. When your body is dehydrated even slightly, your mental capacities are almost immediately impaired. Fortunately, being properly hydrated improves your mental flexibility, up to 14% according to a UK study. Try to drink water regularly so you’re never in any danger of dehydration, but if you’re hitting a wall, try taking a break and drinking a glass.

Walnuts

There may be a reason walnuts resemble the brain. Not only are walnuts an excellent snack food, as it turns out, they’re a great food for creatives as well! According to a study that was published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts give them the ability to improve memory and boost all-around brain function.

Pumpkin Seeds

Another great snack food with some big time brain benefits is pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds contain high amounts of zinc, Omega 3 and 6 , which plays a part in enhancing memory and critical thinking, as well as general cognition. They are also high in magnesium, which has a calming effect on the brain. Better brain functioning while staying calm? Sounds like a win-win snack option!

Blueberries

Filled with antioxidants, blueberries offer more than just protection from free radicals. Studies have shown that a diet rich with blueberries can significantly improve learning capacity and memory function. They have even been shown to reduce the effects of age-related memory conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. And for an extra boost, they are high in vitamin C and fiber.

The best way to eat all of these snacks? Consider making a super brain boosting trail mix!