You can maximize brain function by eating a healthy and balanced
diet rich in complex carbohydrates, which are a primary fuel source for
the brain
Low carb diets may be in, but people must have complex carbohydrates to have good brain function. Without carbohydrates you might not think as clearly and you can be lethargic.
It's important to avoid simple carbohydrates often found in junk food because the glucose gives the brain a short-lived sugar high, often followed by a crash that makes you feel hungry and tired. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, supply the brain with a steady stream of glucose that enhances brain function. Brandeis recommends making each meal balanced by including both proteins and carbohydrates.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Skim Milk and an Apple or Raspberries
The secret to warming up your brain each day is as simple as eating
breakfast. Choose a hot or cold whole-grain cereal like muesli (with no
added sugar) or oatmeal. These provide a good range of vitamins and
minerals as well as soluble fiber to help keep you satiated throughout
the morning.
Have your cereal with skim milk, a nonfat source of protein and
calcium. Add some fruit, like an apple or raspberries, which are one of
the best fresh fruit sources of fiber. This is a great way to fuel your
brain with both carbohydrates and protein.
Lunch: Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread with Tomato
Try to include at least three food groups in your lunchtime meal,
something this sandwich easily accomplishes. Pick a whole wheat bread,
which has more vitamins and minerals like iron and magnesium than
regular white bread. Light meat turkey offers an extremely low-fat meat
protein source that is also rich in B vitamins and selenium.
Adding veggies like lettuce and tomato to your sandwich will give
you an extra dose of carbohydrates as well as vitamins like foliate. To
add even more protein and calcium to your sandwich, choose a low-fat
cheese like cheddar or American.
Dinner: Salmon with Brown Short-Grain Rice and a Garden Salad
Some people make the mistake of just eating a protein and a salad
for dinner at night. Even though vegetables have
carbohydrates, they don't have enough to fuel your brain like brown
rice will.
Salmon is a good source of protein and an exceptional source of
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which help to prevent heart
disease and strokes, and can enhance brain function. If salmon is not
your thing, substitute other fishes like mackerel, bluefish, or
herring, which are also high in omega-3 fatty acids.Brown short-grain rice is an ideal complex carbohydrate food with
some fiber. Whole-wheat pasta is a good alternative to brown rice,
because it's also high in fiber. A mixed vegetable salad filled with
asparagus, bell peppers, and broccoli can round out your meal with
additional vitamins and carbohydrates.