Drinks To Improve Brain Function

An active lifestyle, a Mediterranean diet, regular meditation, and constant learning are good, but not the only, ways to maintain brain health well into old age. Unfortunately, you can notice a weakening of cognitive processes or become a victim of distracted attention at almost any age. Lack of sleep, stress, constant messages from social networks can confuse even a highly trained brain .

In addition to the obvious - get enough sleep, calm down, take a break from the phone - there are other methods of improving productivity and creativity. For example, feeding the brain with its favorite treats. We are not talking about nootropic drugs that artificially stimulate the work of neurons. Let's remember simple natural drinks that can help maintain an optimal state of mind, and at the same time, the whole body.

Green tea

In the treatise "The Classical Art of Tea" it is said that the most popular drink in China was tasted quite by accident. One day, the flowers of the tea plant fell into the cup of Emperor Shen Hong, which colored the liquid and gave it an incomparable aroma. The emperor could not resist, tried the drink and immediately liked it. Since then, tea has been specially brewed and used as a soothing and strengthening agent. The tea ceremony itself was equated to meditation.

And the point here is not the placebo effect. Modern science, with the help of more than one study, has proven the great benefit of regular consumption of green tea. The fact is that the content of catechins - antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative stress and have an immunostimulating effect, in green tea is much higher than in any other drink .

Catechins are also useful for brain function . They: reduce the formation of the stress hormone cortisol, reduce anxiety and depression, increase the volume of working memory and attention, improve the work of other cognitive functions, thereby reducing the risk of dementia in old age.

Fruit and berry compote

For the countries of Eastern Europe and Ukraine, this drink is considered traditional. The drink , also known as uzvar, began to be prepared around the 13th century, and its recipe was almost no different from the modern one.

Neuropsychologists are convinced that compote can quickly recharge the brain and give it strength for new achievements. Experts consider apples, raspberries and black currants to be ideal candidates for making the drink . Apples contain the flavonoid quercetin and dihydroxybenzoic acid, which stimulate the formation of new neurons, potentially improving memory and other cognitive abilities. Raspberries, like other summer berries, contain a lot of fructose - fuel necessary for the brain . And the rich vitamin and mineral composition of black currant is able to protect the brain from the destruction of intercellular membranes.

Green juices and smoothies

If you have a garden, do not forget to allocate enough space for green vegetables and herbs: parsley, celery, spinach, arugula. These plants do not need a lot of attention, but they have significant benefits. After all, these products can be used to prepare a very useful cocktail for the brain , and for the whole body in general.

The rich vitamin composition and refreshing taste are already a good reason to add a green smoothie to your menu. However, there is another reason - chlorophyll. This pigment, as we remember from school biology lessons, gives plants a green color. It is also useful for humans: it saturates the blood with oxygen and reduces the level of inflammation.

Scientists from the Institute of Neurosciences of the State of Pennsylvania emphasize that it is useful not only for general health, but also for the work of the brain in particular. Thanks to active feeding of brain cells with oxygen, a person copes with cognitive tasks faster and easier and concentrates better at work. That is, fresh juices and green smoothies can become a worthy alternative to morning coffee. In addition, the human body better absorbs micronutrients from the smoothie than from the greens themselves. And if the taste of the drink seems not bright and sweet enough, add a handful of your favorite berries to the blender.

Beet juice

Scientists from the University of Wake Forest (North Carolina) in 2016 found that consuming beet juice twice a day reduces the risks of premature aging of brain cells and promotes its greater neuroplasticity. In elderly study participants, an improvement in the functions of those parts of the brain responsible for leg and arm movements, as well as memory, was observed.

The fact is that beetroot contributes to the production of nitric oxide, which is responsible for the elasticity of blood vessels and the delivery of nutrients to brain cells . After all, the sweet root crop can be safely used for the prevention of degenerative processes, as well as breathing practices and sports.