10 Brain-Boosting Foods For Fall

Getting back into the swing of things after summer break isn’t easy, but luckily the fall season can help to give you what you and your student need to work through it. No, we’re not talking about sweater weather or hayrides, but the seasonal fall foods that have quite a bit of brain-boosting power if you know where to look.

Brain-boosting foods for fall are in abundance during this seasonal harvest. Here are some seasonal fall foods you should add to your list because they’re good for your brain and memory – as well as the rest of your body!

Which Foods Boost Brain Power?
When it comes to brain function, it’s all about the specific nutrients contained within foods. If you’re looking to boost your mood, improve concentration, and sharpen your mind’s overall function, there are certain nutrients you must include in your diet. These nutrients include:

• Omega-3 fatty acids – If you want to enhance your brainpower and promote a healthy, optimally functioning brain, you need omega-3 fatty acids. This nutrient helps you to learn and remember and also assists with the processing of information.
• Vitamin K – Your brain needs vitamin K for optimal cognitive function. This vitamin is essential when it comes to blood clotting and building strong bones, too.
• Zinc – You need zinc for a variety of reasons, one of which is brain function – specifically, thinking and memory.
• Vitamin B – The entire B vitamin family deserves a shout-out on this list because they’re essential to brain function. B vitamins help to stabilize your mood and improve your memory, as well as giving you vital energy.
• Vitamin E – You need vitamin E to help reduce any cognitive decline you may experience with age and improve your memory as the years pass by.
• Lycopene – This antioxidant has been found to protect against ailments that impact the brain, such as dementia.

Fall Foods List
So, what fall foods should be on your list so you can take advantage of all that brain-boosting power? Try incorporating a few of these foods into your recipes this season:

1. Blueberries – High in antioxidants, blueberries help to improve the communication between cells in the brain and improve memory in both kids and adults.
2. Apples – Autumn is apple season! Make sure to have your share of this fall fruit to help deliver antioxidants that protect the cells in your brain.
3. Artichokes – High in vitamin K, artichokes are great for regulating calcium levels and fighting off issues later in life like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Brussels sprouts – Oily fish may be advertised as a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, but Brussels sprouts also happen to be high in this nutrient (and really good for you overall).
5. Parsnips – Parsnips are another fall vegetable high in important vitamins that help your body and brain communicate more effectively and stay healthy.
6. Sweet potatoes – Studies have found that sweet potatoes help to improve brain function, likely due to all their antioxidants, which are good for your overall health as well as your brain health.
7. Butternut squash – Squash of all varieties can be found in the fall, and they’re a great source of Vitamin E, which can help to protect your brain from damage related to aging.
8. Pomegranates – This fruit comes fully into season in October, so grab a few in order to add some important antioxidants to your diet that help protect your brain and improve your memory.
9. Garlic – When in doubt about a meal, add some garlic! Garlic is at its peak in late summer and fall. It’s been shown to help boost memory and keep the brain working optimally. (It’s helpful in the fight against Halloween vampires, too.)
10. Spinach – Spinach is brain food. It’s full of vitamin K, vitamin E, iron, calcium, and folate that helps to keep your body and brain healthy. Plus, in most places, it comes into season starting in the fall and lasting all the way through winter.

What Else Can You Do To Boost Brain Health?
Boosting your brain function and health through diet is a great idea, but there are also a few things you can do outside of mealtimes to help. In conjunction with a healthy diet full of brain-boosting fall foods, you should also:

• Get enough sleep – Your brain uses the time you’re asleep to do a lot of work, such as consolidating memories. Getting enough sleep can help to improve memory and boost brain health.
• Exercise – Regular physical activity can also protect your brain from the effects of aging, since it increases blood flow. This helps to reverse some of the natural processes that occur when you age and keeps all your brain cells connected.
• Exercise your brain – Your brain is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it will be! Give your mind a workout with activities such as puzzles, playing cards, Sudoku, and reading.
• Stay social – Being socially active is good for your brain! It helps to boost your mood and create connections in the brain to keep it going strong.

The brain is an amazing organ, so take care of it by giving it what it needs to stay healthy. With all the beautiful foods coming into season this fall, you won’t have any trouble finding delicious ways to do just that!

Featured image by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash