9 Things You Should Eat For Creativity

We’ve all heard about brain foods, and have probably seen some ad for a great new diet that will raise your IQ tenfold. In reality, all these new diets do is raise the creator’s revenue tenfold from book sales or TV appearances.

You really can’t chew your way to being the next Albert Einstein, no matter what they say. But that doesn’t mean you should give up hope. Studies have shown a strong link between certain foods and improved memory and concentration. Here are just a few:

1.  Fish.  There’s a reason why fish oil is a popular supplement. But why settle for a pill when you can have the real thing? The oils in fish such as sardines, tuna and salmon are the best source of omega-3 fats, which have been shown to promote healthy brain function as well as help your heart, liver and joints. 

2.  Tomatoes.  Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, can help protect against the cell damage which occurs during the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's.

3.  Broccoli.  Not only do the florets look a little like green brains, but they can also help your brain. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, are a great source of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower.

4.  Beets.  Scientists at Wake Forest recently found that the natural nitrates in beets can increase blood flow to the brain, thereby improving mental performance.

5.  Eggs.  Keep forgetting where you left your keys?  Try some eggs— scrambled, sunny-side up or over-easy. Eggs yolk contains choline, a neurotransmitter involved in helping you remember that important meeting next week, or where you dropped those pesky keys. And according to Swiss researchers, dining on protein-rich foods like eggs for breakfast can improve overall cognitive performance.

6.  Spinach.  It isn’t just for sailors. While it helps Popeye stay strong to the finish, it’s also rich in anti-oxidants like lutein, which researchers at Tufts University believe can help protect your brain against cognitive decline.

7.  Lentils.  Adding lentils to salads and soups should be a no brainer. Well, that’s a bit of a misnomer since lentils are brimming with folate, a B vitamin shown to help boost brain power.

8.  Walnuts.  When crunch time comes, crunch up some of these nuts! They’re rich in the anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids your brain needs to function at its best. 

9.  Garlic.  It isn’t just a way to flavor your food and ward off those annoying vampire attacks. It may help stave off some forms of brain cancer, according to research published the medical journal of the American Cancer Society. It seems that glioblastoma cells — a type of malignant tumor cell— don’t like garlic any more than nocturnal blood-suckers.

Healthy body, healthy mind: it may sound like an old cliché, but how you feel physically will have a great effect on how you perform mentally. A healthy diet can make you feel better and contribute to happier— and healthier—thinking.