Sunday, October 24, 2010

5 Foods to Boost Brain Power by CHANG JEONG '13


Many believe high school builds the foundation for a better quality of life.  If that is so, being alert and paying attention will be very rewarding not only to the student but also to their family and friends.  However, like all methods to achieve success, keeping up with the school regimen along with extracurricular activities might prove to be exhausting.  According to Karen Ansel from CookingLight.com, a supplement to that problem, there are 5 great foods that can help boost brain power.
    The first food is blackberries.  Do you know why it is more difficult for older people to learn new things?  As we age, the brain cells gradually inflame and make connections harder to make, thus soaking the brain of new information is harder proportionally to our age.  Luckily, blackberries provide potent antioxidants called polyphenols that encourage new learning and delay such matters.
    The next item is surprisingly—chocolate.  Not only does the sweet treat lower blood pressure when consumed in moderation, chocolate, as researchers have found, keep the mind sharp.  Eating a third of an ounce of chocolate or two Hershey’s kisses may do the trick to give one that little extra boost because cocoa also contain polyphenols which contribute to increased blood flow to the brain.
    Next time you cook use oil use extra virgin olive oil.  Famous for its mono-saturated fats and heart benefits, EVOO, in addition, provide oloecanthal, an effective foe against ADDLs, Alzheimer’s inducing proteins.
    The fourth food, or rather a beverage, is concord grape juice.  In a study at the University of Cincinnati of Medicine taken over three months, 12 older adults stricken with declining memory were given concord grape juice or a placebo drink.  The researchers learned that those who drank juice significantly increased spatial memory and verbal learning skills.
    Finally, spinach. Yes, students.  It is very, very healthy for you.  Spinach is packed with folate, vitamin E, and Vitamin K, which are all proven to prevent dementia, a disease associated with memory loss.  Spinach may not taste good, but if included in a regular diet, it can bring tremendous health benefits.
    In reality, just eating (or drinking) healthy foods will not bring immediate success.  It is persistence and strong-willed determination to achieve whatever the task.  After all, these foods are just an extra little boost to reach that golden goal.

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