If you are becoming forgetful, or simply want to keep your brain cells in tip-top shape, you can add a selection of brain-boosting foods to your diet. A variety of foods will sharpen concentration and thinking skills; however, it should be noted that memory decline is a normal part of the aging process, and eating brain-boosting foods will not cure diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Eggs and Milk
Consume eggs and milk products---both rich sources of choline. Enjoy an egg salad sandwich, deviled eggs or a cold glass of chocolate milk for your daily choline boost. Choline is also found in peanuts and liver. Choline is the building block of acetylcholine---the main chemical in the brain which promotes memory. Eating choline-rich product may not be enough, however, according to familyeducation.com. Vitamins such as B5, B12 and C are also needed for acetylcholine production. Still, a Duke University Medical study found that giving high doses of choline to pregnant rats gave their offspring "super brains" with superior memory and learning abilities. Though it is not known if the same results occur with humans, there is a likelihood of a connection.
Purple Fruits and Vegetables
Consuming purple or blue-colored fruits and vegetables has potential benefits to the brain, according to Dr. James Joseph, director of the Neuroscience Lab at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. Include blueberries, Concord grapes and cranberries in your diet. Blueberries contain anthocyanins and flavanols. How blueberries improve memory is not fully understood, but researches do understand that the chemicals in blueberries successfully cross the blood-brain barrier after intake. This barrier crossing is important, as the brain cannot use nutrients that do not cross the blood-brain barrier.
Folic Acid
Eating foods rich in folic acid may help sharpen memory and concentration levels. According to two studies, one at Tufts University and another in Australia, memory improved when patients ate diets high in folic acid. Fortified whole-grain cereals and oranges are breakfast foods high in folic acid. Additional foods include spinach, soy beans, lentils, green peas and artichokes.
