You are what you eat. “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” From well-worn clichés to Hippocrates’s 2,500-year-old advice, we seem to know almost innately that what we feed ourselves has a real impact on how we function, feel, and thrive. So much of what our body needs to be at its best is found in the whole, nutrient-rich foods found in nature. And it’s not just a hunch we have—tests over the last decade or so demonstrate the important role our diets play in our health and cognitive function. Our passion is neuromuscular performance, so we wondered what foods help specifically with cognition or neurological function. Here are six foods we found that reportedly do just that:
- Folic Acid – An essential in pre-natal vitamins and fortified baked-goods, folic acid has been shown to reduce cognitive decline in folks 50-70 years old.
- Berries – Long famous for their antioxidant powers, berries are great for the brain, especially the synapses and fatty coatings in the brain. As energy is consumed by the brain, oxidizing materials are produced, underscoring the benefits of antioxidants in the diet to augment antioxidant cells naturally provide.
- Fish – The oily swimmers, especially. Salmon, for instance, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The benefits here are numerous. Study findings range from improved/superior cognitive function to decreased incidents of clinical depression.
- Broccoli – The oft-reviled mascot of the veggie world, broccoli is a nutrient-packed food. Specifically, broccoli is packed with vitamin K, shown to improve cognitive function, along with compounds called glucosinolates that have anti-inflammatory, cyto-protective, and antioxidant effects that help maintain proper brain and memory function.
- Whole grains – The brain, like every tissue in your body, requires energy to function properly. Breads, cereals, and pastas up the carbohydrates that brain cells (neurons) rely on for energy and proper function.
- Eggs – We hear about the egg’s cholesterol and protein content. But what else is cooped up in that shell? Well, that protein is helpful enough for the brain, but how ‘bout that choline? Choline is a nutrient essential to maintaining cell membranes and manufacture of neurotransmitters. Bring on the omelet!
Brain health isn’t only about what goes in; it’s also about movement! Exercise is that other key ingredient to cognitive health. See more about that here. Our product is built around the relationship between the brain and the body in motion. We’re committed to keeping bodies in motion by stopping muscle cramps before they start with our proprietary blend of natural, organic ingredients. Want to know more? Place an order here. Want to keep up with the timely, exciting information here at HOTSHOT? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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