It is well known that diet plays a huge role in our overall health and wellbeing.
However, what we eat can have specific benefits, as well as damaging effects, on certain parts of the body.
An expert explained how diet can directly affect brain health – as well as what to eat and what to avoid.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Doctor Eric Berg, shared the “number one best food” for the brain.
“We’re talking about the food that improves memory concentration, focus, thinking, problem solving, learning, mood disorders, brain inflammation,” he explained.
“So I did a deep dive into this topic looking at all the key nutrients that the brain needs.”
He concluded that the best food for brain health is wild caught salmon, due to its omega-3 content.
Dr Berg said: “The brain is mostly fat, it’s 60 percent fat, and 20 percent of that fat is made up of something called DHA.
“That is the omega-3 fatty acid that builds the structure of a lot of your brain.
“So salmon is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, not just DHA, but another one called EPA, which is involved in the next benefit – lowered inflammation.”
These fatty acids can not just directly improve your memory and learning but your mood as well, Dr Berg said.
He continued: “These omega-3s are really amazing because they can directly improve memory learning, cognitive function like focus, as well as your mood.
“So, if someone has depression or anxiety, one of the things they use is pretty successful and well researched is by using fish oils high in omega-3 fatty acids.
“And because there’s a lot of protein in salmon, you get all the building blocks for neurotransmitters for the brain.”
However, he warned that farmed salmon does not carry the same benefits.
“If it’s not wild caught it is farm raised and they have to use certain dyes to turn it from grey to pink.
“That pink pigment is a phytonutrient called astaxanthin.
“And this is a powerful antioxidant to help protect the neurones against the damage from omega-6 fatty acids, refined carbohydrates and sugars.”
He recommended pairing salmon with the following foods for their brain-boosting properties:
- Kale
- Nutritional yeast
- Olive oil.
There are also foods to avoid if you wish to keep your brain healthy, Dr Berg warned.
He advised against eating foods that contain omega-6 acids such as sunflower and corn oils, sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, pastries and cakes for this reason.