If you have read several of our articles by now, you have noticed our constant emphasis on the connection between what you eat and your mental health. Your brain just like any other body organ requires the right type and quantity of nutrients to function optimally.
You are probably familiar with the solid foods that are known to stimulate the mind such as fish, lamb, eggs, legumes, nuts and whole grains. That is not the only way to make sure your brain is well nourished. Drinks can serve the purpose too and complement solid meals.
What Drinks Stimulates the Brain
There are a diverse set of drinks that can be used to stimulate the mind. These include:
Citrus Juices and Berry Juices
Citrus fruits and berries are beneficial to brain health. We are talking oranges, lemons, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, mulberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and more.
It follows that their juices similarly have a positive impact on your mind.
The nature and proportion of active neuro-friendly compounds and minerals vary from fruit to fruit though they would include vitamin C, anthocyanin, quercetin and/or catechin. These help protect brain cells, prevent cognitive deterioration, improve memory, block anxiety and enhance overall brain health.
Coffee
Coffee contains caffeine, the most widely consumed stimulant in the world. Caffeine has long been known to aid concentration, mood and ward off sleep. It has antioxidants that improve the brain’s processing capability and decelerate mind decline.
Caffeine blunts the action of the sleep-inducing brain chemical adenosine.
By doing so, it boosts cognitive function and elevates alertness even in strenuous circumstances. Caffeine is found in black tea, green tea and cocoa as well though in smaller amounts than coffee. It also occurs in guarana seeds, a popular ingredient in energy drinks. Guarana has four times more caffeine than coffee.
Coffee has chlorogenic acid as well that has a positive effect on brain function too.Green Tea
Like coffee, green tea contains caffeine. But it also has l-theanine, an amino acid that improves neurotransmitter effectiveness, boosts mood and suppresses anxiety.
Green tea has polyphenols and antioxidants that slow down cognitive impairment, enhance brain performance and sharpen attention.
Hot Dark Chocolate
Made from cocoa (or cacao), dark chocolate has 70 percent or more cocoa which is a much higher concentration than the 10 to 50 percent of milk chocolate.
It is rich in flavonoids, iron and caffeine. These nutrients are vital for neuron growth, neuron protection, neural plasticity, cognitive performance, memory, brain blood flow, neurotransmitter synthesis and support for pathways regulating mood.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a fermented drink that results from combining milk with bacteria and yeast.
These helpful microorganisms do not just boost gut function but also contribute to better mental health by slowing brain aging and expanding memory.
Soybean
Soybean contains polyphenols, a class of antioxidants.
Polyphenols have been shown to have a neuroprotective effect, decelerate brain aging and enhance cognitive ability.
Other
Other drinks include green smoothies, red wine and herbal teas.
Does Lemon Water Help with Brain Fog?
Lemon water is mostly loved for its ability to add flavor to food or drink as well as accelerate weight loss. Some people go as far as taking lemon water for breakfast instead of tea or coffee. However, lemon water has important benefits for cognitive health and the elimination of brain fog.
As a citrus fruit, lemons are rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that we have seen in the juices subsection above has multiple benefits for cognition. Lemon water contains other micronutrients helpful for mind function such as folate, potassium, vitamin B5 and iron.
The brain benefit of lemon water is as much about the water as it is about the lemon juice it contains. Lemon water is in essence flavored water. You need water to hydrate. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of brain fog. So the more lemon water you take, the water you take and the lower the chances of brain fog. The better hydrated you are, the better your concentration.Can Vitamin D Help with Concentration?
Vitamin D does not directly improve concentration. However, it has been shown to aid in neurodevelopment, mood regulation and lower the likelihood of depression. The greater your cognitive performance and enthusiasm for life, the greater your ability to focus on a task.
Wrapping Up
The drinks we have covered here may have proven benefits for brain stimulation, memory and general mental health. Beyond just getting your diet right however, brain stimulation comes down to healthy lifestyle habits.
So do not forget about the role of good sleep, regular exercise, reduction in alcohol consumption and engaging in meditation, mindfulness and other stress-reducing mental activity. These are vital for sustainable, long-term brain health.