Studies offer insight on foods that give the brain a boost

Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Studies offer insight on foods that give the brain a boost
Studies look at a host of plant foods that boost memory, help fight depression, increase sleep ability and protect against Alzheimer's.

The average adult forgets three things a day. What do you struggle to remember?

What you put in your body could help improve your memory.

In a study out of Temple University, mice that ate a diet rich in olive oil performed better on memory tests after nine months. They also had lower levels of amyloid plaques, a marker of Alzheimer's, in their brains.

Another food to consider: bone broth. This stock is loaded with collagen, a building block for the brain. It also contains glycine, which has been shown to improve sleep and memory.

Spinach and beets have high levels of nitrates, which help increase blood flow to the brain and improve mental performance.

Georgetown University researchers found a compound in red wine may help slow Alzheimer's. People who were given resveratrol for a year saw a 50 percent reduction in amounts of a molecule that's harmful to the brain at high levels.

The spice turmeric contains an ingredient called curcumin, which can boost the process that creates new brain cells.

In an Italian study, women who ate cocoa or dark chocolate after a night of sleep deprivation were able to offset the cognitive impairment that usually occurs. So if you want a healthy brain, eat up!