Six Raw Superfoods That are Good for the Brain

Super foods are considered to be superior to ordinary foods because of their high nutritional content and low fat content. These five super foods have numerous phytonutrients and special compounds that nourish the brain.

1. Walnuts

Walnuts are full of heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory components and provide an excellent source of alpha linoleic acid.  This acid helps promote blood flow, which in turn helps promote the expedient delivery of oxygen to the brain. This sustains brain function, including cognitive function.

Walnuts can be enjoyed as a snack, in breads or even ground up and added to smoothies.  Walnut oil can be used as a salad dressing.

2. Wheat Germ

Wheat germ is a rich vegetarian source of choline that helps the brain produce acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter that boosts memory.  Wheat germ also has B vitamins and plenty of fibre, which is good for balancing blood sugar.

Wheat germ can be added raw to cereals and sprinkled on salad. You can also whirl it into a smoothie in a blender.

3.   Goji Berries

The high antioxidant content in Goji berries supports brain function. Compounds in Goji berries fight narrowing of the arteries and supply the body with generous amounts of choline, which is an essential nutrient that combats Alzheimer’s disease.

No special preparation is needed to eat either the dried or the raw form of the berry.  The reason they are sold mostly dried is because the raw berry is very delicate and sometimes does not survive shipping.

The raw berries may be sold on branches or with stems to preserve their freshness in which case it is suggested you separate the fruit from the stem before consuming.

4. Soursop

Soursop is a large green fruit with a creamy, fleshy white interior. It is a native of Central and South America and tastes like a hybrid of banana, strawberry, orange and pineapple.

Soursop is a powerhouse of nutrition. It is full of B vitamins, vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, protein and healthy fats and carbohydrates. It has all the fuel that your brain needs to run smoothly.

Soursop promotes a general feeling of well-being by boosting your energy and improving your outlook on life. The fruit is also, anti-bacterial, antifungal. It is a known anti-depressant and also has sedative properties that can help put you to sleep.

This is an exotic super fruit that is mostly found in Asian markets. It is eaten sliced in chunks.  Do not eat the seeds. It mixes quite well in a smoothie, especially if you make it an icy one.

5. Blackberries

Blackberries contain proanthocyanins that once ingested, gather in the striatum part of the brain that governs spatial memory.  They also contain ellagatannis that once ingested, rest in the hippocampus, which is the brain’s memory control center.  The generous amounts of C, E and beta-carotene also help disarm cell-damaging free radicals that might circulating in the system.

Blackberries are best eaten raw. Eat a cup a day to receive the most benefits.

6.   Cherries

Cherries contain C0x2 inhibitors, which is exactly what you also find in many powerful pain-killing medications such as Vioxx and Celebrex. They also contain polyphenols that also clarify the blood so that it is not choked with cholesterol or toxins.

Cherries are best eaten raw. Eat a cup of cherries a day for best results.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41)440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Micheal Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.