Wondering what to eat for breakfast? The foods you eat in the morning can play a role in helping you to have more energy and greater mental focus. Here are the best brain boosting foods to eat before 9am.
Brain fog and fuzzy thinking can make you feel like you’re not being productive which can affect both your work and relationships and leave you feeling completely helpless. Diet can definitely play a huge role in helping you to have more energy and greater mental focus so you can slay the day.
Here’s how to get past that morning brain fog with the 10 best morning foods to ignite your brain!
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #1 | AVOCADOS
Avocados are a brain must and are a top choice of brain boosting foods to add to your meals. Not only are they are a great source of healthy fats that are essential for brain health, they also help to boost the nutrient absorption of fat soluble vitamins like vitamins (A, D, E, K). Your hippocampus loves Vitamin A because it helps to produce those feel good neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #2 | EGGS
Hands down your top breakfast food of choice should be eggs. Your brain is counting on you to provide it with choline, a B Vitamin found in eggs. Choline helps your brain manufacture the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is key for memory. So have some eggs before an important meeting or test. A whopping 90% of the American population is deficient in choline. Eating 3 eggs daily will meet women’s minimum requirement. 4 eggs a day for men.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #3 | RAW CACAO POWDER
Yes, you can have chocolate in the morning – you’re welcome. Cacao in its raw form is one of the world’s highest sources of antioxidants that help to boost your mood and energy. It increases your brain processing speed and helps to reduce mental fatigue. It also has magnesium which will help to smooth out your nerves before that big meeting or exam.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #4 | BLUEBERRIES
Blueberries contain two very important compounds that are known to improve brain function and help to clear your brain fog away: anthocyanins and pterostilbene.
These antioxidants go a long way with protecting your brain and have also been shown to improve memory and increase blood flow to the brain.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #5 | WALNUTS
Speaking of walnuts, they’re a rich source of omega-3s that will sharpen your brain and get those juices flowing. It’s no coincidence that walnuts actually look like brain. The compounds in walnuts work together with the anthocyanins in blueberries to sharpen your memory and improve communication between brain cells. So toss some walnuts in your blueberry smoothie.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #6 | FERMENTED FOODS
I’m really started to love this group of foods the more I learn about them. Your gut bacteria work hard and is responsible for the formation of over 30 neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine, and GABA.
Fermented foods such as kimchi, miso, yogurt, and kefir, promote healthy levels of good bacteria in your gut.
If you have low levels of good bacteria, you may be more prone to memory. brain fog and focus problems as well as anxiety and depression. My favourite way to get fermented foods in the morning is with Genuine Health Fermented Protein Powder. I also find that I don’t get the bloat like I do with most other protein powders.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #7 | CHIA SEEDS
Chia seeds are loaded with so many brain boosting nutrients – where shall I start? Chia is the ancient Mayan word for ‘strength’. These little seeds are high in tryptophan which helps your brain to produce mood boosting serotonin. Chia seeds also boast high amounts of Omega-3 fats as well as fiber that will help to keep you full until lunch.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #8 | LEMONS
So, there’s not a lot of nutrients that can cross the blood brain barrier so that your brain benefits but citrus fruits like lemon and grapefruit contain flavonoids that can. These flavonoids get your brain juices flowing and help to form new connections between brain cells. Citrus fruits also have flavonoids that improve blood flow to the brain which enhances mental function. I love to add a squeeze of lemon juice to my mango smoothie in the morning to cut the sweetness and reap the benefits. Warm water with lemon in the morning is a great way to flush your digestive system and rehydrate your body.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #9 | LEAFY GREENS
Look – leafy greens should be the foundation of your diet period. Greens like kale, spinach, swiss chard, and romaine lettuce are rich in antioxidants and B vitamins that are important for brain development.
Kale is especially high in vitamin C and vitamin K which are key nutrients for brain function and memory. As an added benefit, kale is one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids. What I like to do is just chop them up, toss them in a ziplock bag and freeze them. When I make a smoothie in the morning, I just toss them in and freezing them makes them less likely to rot in the fridge.
BRAIN BOOSTING FOOD #10 | COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil contains a unique form of saturated fats known as medium-chain triglycerides. Unlike other types of saturated fats, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) provide energy for your body, rather than being stored as fat.
The fats in coconut oil are not only energy boosting they also help to boost the amount of fat your body burns as well. It’s also great for controlling your appetite.
So, there you have it. Some of the top foods to boost your energy and get your brain pumped up in the morning.