With as much processed food as we come across these days, it can sometimes be surprising to remember that specific foods can have great benefits for us. What fruits are good for concentration, for example? At Ripe London we love talking about fruit, so let's get into the best ones that support brain health and can fit into a healthy diet!
The Best Fruits for Healthy Brain Function and Concentration
Blueberries
You might have heard blueberries called superfoods, meaning these delicious little berries have so many health benefits it's hard to believe.
Like other berries with deep colours, blueberries are full of anthocyanins - compounds found in plants that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. It's been found that some of these antioxidants can build up in the brain and improve communication between brain cells. To be able to concentrate, you'll need a healthy brain that can work together to enable cognitive function - and blueberries can do that.
Plus, research suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress is thought to contribute to brain ageing, potentially leading to issues such as Alzheimer's disease. Eating blueberries can not only improve cognitive function, but it can even enhance memory and reduce the chances of cognitive decline later in life. As brain foods go, blueberries are definitely up there!
Tomatoes
Yes, tomatoes count as fruits. And yes, they're great for mental function.
Similar to blueberries, tomatoes have antioxidants that can protect the brain from free radical damage.
Tomato skin is also high in vitamin A - in particular alpha-carotene, which is thought to enhance memory, learning, and attention span. Plus, with their high vitamin C content, tomatoes can boost your motivation to work and improve attention, focus, and overall performance.
Avocados
Healthy blood flow is essential for brain function, so it's equally as important to eat foods rich in essential nutrients for heart health - not just brain health.
Avocados full of unsaturated healthy fats, which lower cholesterol and clean your arteries. These fruits are great if you're looking to improve blood flow, which in turn has brain boosting benefits and can lead to slower mental decline and overall brain health!
Avocados are also high in omega 3 fatty acids, which are one of the most important nutrients to be eaten for brain health. If it's got omega 3 in it, it's a great brain food. We'll be going into more detail about this later, so keep reading to find out why fruits like avocado are essential for brain function.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are so high in vitamin C that you can basically get your entire daily requirement from a single orange!
Decision speed and focus are also positively impacted by vitamin C - as is your protection against anything from depression and anxiety, to schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. So, once again, vitamin C is basically non-negotiable for boosting brain power, memory, and concentration.
Citrus fruits and others, including guava, kiwi, and strawberries, are high in vitamin C and are definitely worth munching on to keep your brain healthy and focused.
Are There Other Healthy Foods for Concentration?
Fruits are great, but are there any other brain boosting foods to improve concentration?
Nuts and Seeds
Eating nuts gives you a major punch of omega 3 fatty acids, as well as essential nutrients like copper, manganese, and zinc, all of which have an essential role in healthy functioning of brain chemicals and brain power.
Another one of the best brain foods out there is pumpkin seeds, which can protect the brain against oxidative stress, improve memory, as well as prevent cognitive decline and brain fog. Pumpkin seeds are also pretty high in magnesium, a nutrient useful for memory and learning (low magnesium levels are associated with migraines and depression).
Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy green vegetables, including the superfood kale, boost memory and other cognitive functions - including mental response times and decision making - thanks to omega 3, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K. Research suggests that leafy greens also slow down cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease development - meaning the brain health benefits of leafy greens are both short and long term!
Green Tea
Green tea can help healthy brain functions, including alertness and focus. This is thanks to the caffeine and L-theanine (an amino acid) content, neither of which naturally occur in the human body. L-theanine is also used by some people as a healthy diet supplement for anxiety and mood, as well as to regulate sleep - all of which can have a knock-on effect on brain function and concentration.
Fatty Fish
Omega 3 fatty acids. You hear it a lot - we've even mentioned them a few times already!
The brain is around 60% fat, and around half of that fat is made up of these omega 3 fatty acids. Essential in building nerve and brain cells, these special healthy fats don't just improve brain function - they are brain function!
So, eating foods that contain omega 3s (like fatty fish, kale, and avocado) suddenly seems a lot more important if you want to boost memory and concentration, right?
Dark Chocolate
We know it’s a bit counter-intuitive to read 'chocolate' and 'health' in the same sentence.
But, dark chocolate is around 70% cocoa. This means it contains plenty of plant-based brain boosting compounds - including flavonoids and antioxidants.
Not only does this make dark chocolate a great snack for brain health, it's actually one of the more special brain boosting foods. This is because dark chocolate might have a prebiotic effect, improving gut microbiome diversity and working through the mostly undiscussed gut-brain connection to boost emotional states.
That's why we like eating sweets and ice cream after a break-up! Dark chocolate helps regulate mood and enhance focus, while also being a sneaky treat at the same time.
Better Concentration and Brain Health: Brain Foods From Ripe London
If you're looking to improve memory and cognitive performance, diets rich in these brain boosting fruits and other brain foods is a great place to start. You can support brain health, improve concentration, and get some tasty snacks and meals planned out - all at the same time!
To get convenient and fresh brain food delivered right to your office or home, Ripe London is here to help. To keep those brain cells healthy, we can get you hand picked fruits and vegetables - from vendors right here in London - delivered straight to you!
Check out our office fruit boxes to improve cognitive function at work today.
