Nutritionist and Founder of Vite Naturals, Rob Thorp reveals 7 ways you can can get smarter without hitting the books
Your diet has a huge impact on your overall wellbeing and can also have an impact on your cognitive health and brainpower.
If you are looking for a long-term and sustainable way to get smarter without hitting the books, focusing on your diet and what you’re fuelling your body with can help.
Opting for a balanced diet, packed with nutrients and antioxidants, whilst avoiding processed and sugary foods can go a long way in helping you to improve your cognitive function.
To explain more, Rob Thorp, Nutritionist and Founder of Vite Naturals, a new plant-based functional nutrition brand outlines how you can get smarter via your diet…
#1 Think straight with ginseng
In Chinese medicine, Ginseng is hailed as an all-healing herb, and has been recorded to help with cognitive function, memory, energy levels, and mood – perfect for supplementing busy lives.
It has also been used to great effect in studies to help patients suffering with Alzheimer’s and ADHD.
#2 Add a little zinc
Zinc is a vital nutrient for brain health and many who experience mental health problems are found to be deficient in zinc.
An easy way to up your zinc intake and boosts your brain power is by consuming foods like pumpkin seeds, cashews, almonds, and spinach.
#3 Up your fish intake
From salmon to sardines, mackerel to trout, the healthy fats found in oily fish are widely recognised for being some of the best brain foods around.
The fats in oily fish contain the highest concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids, proven to have a positive difference on brain health and productivity.
The compounds found in Omega 3’s have also been proven to aid the transmission of chemical signals from cell to cell, keeping us more alert and focused.
The fats in oily fish contain the highest concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids
For those looking for a more sustainable way to up their omegas, try Vite Brain, a new range of plant-based supplements and delicious snack bars.
Including a unique eight ingredient Nootropic and Omega formulation, which has been designed to provide your brain with everything it needs for peak performance, a daily dose can help you to feel sharper, think faster and focus longer.
#4 Catch those Zzz’s
Getting enough sleep is essential to support cognitive function. When you sleep, your brain consolidates the memories you have created throughout the day.
It also enhances your brain’s ability to learn new information when you wake up.
#5 Load up on ‘super’ nutrient magnesium
Magnesium is a super nutrient, which is used in almost every process in the body. Neurotransmitters in the brain use magnesium to stimulate and regulate electrical activity.
This super nutrient can also help to protect brain cells from the damage caused by poor diet and external toxins.
Magnesium is a super nutrient, which is used in almost every process in the body
Despite the fact that magnesium is found in every day foods such as brown rice, leafy green vegetables, beans, avocados, almonds and even dark chocolate, it turns out, a staggering 70 per cent of us have low levels.
That’s according to one study that tested 8000 participants’ hair samples between August 2014 and January 2016, carried out by the testing company Mineral Check.
#6 Stock up on B vitamins
B vitamins are widely underrated in the food world, with foods such as legumes, green vegetables, wholegrain bread and even Marmite containing it.
Not only do they help power your brain, they also help to form red blood cells and break down chemicals, whilst helping conditions like anxiety and depression, consequently boosting mental clarity.
#7 Get chatting
It is human nature to need to socialise with other people, but did you know it can also increase mental wellbeing?
Socialization stimulates the mind and cognitive ability, so next time you’re out with your friends…remember you’re really boosting your cognitive function by chatting away.
Nutritionist and Founder of Vite Naturals, Rob Thorp
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