We are what we eat. And that’s no exaggeration. What we eat, impacts our mental and emotional states significantly. In fact, regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has proved to enhance various markers of our well-being – happiness, life satisfaction, curiosity, as well as creativity. The British Journal of Health Psychology studied the daily diet of 405 young adults, to arrive at this.
Does food affect our work performance? Absolutely. Here are some easy food accompaniments, that can supercharge your brain:
- Feeling a little blue? Or maybe forgetful? Throw a few walnuts into your diet. They not only look like mini brains, but are also a powerhouse for better brain cell function, and serotonin production – our happiness neurotransmitter.
A cross-sectional study conducted by the David Geffen School of Medicine (University of California), shows that those who ate more walnuts performed better on a series of six cognitive tests. And the results were consistently better no matter the person’s age, gender or ethnicity. What does better cognitive ability mean? Sharper focus, faster memory recall, easier problem solving, and even improved emotional regulation. We sure can use these abilities in our workplace!
- They provide the exact fuel our brain needs for staying alert – glucose. When we’re running low on glucose, we have a tough time staying focused, and our attention drifts. That’s why it’s hard to concentrate on an empty stomach. How many bananas to eat? Just one a day is enough. A single banana holds the daily amount of glucose your body needs.
Not just that. Bananas are also the ‘mood food’. They provide essential amino acids that help produce mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. And better mood = better productivity.
- Be it strawberries, blueberries, or black ones, each of them come packed with powerful ingredients. In a recent study, participants who ate one cup of blueberries every day for two weeks, showed an enhanced generation of brain cells in the hippocampus region (responsible for memory), than the subjects who did not. Layer this impact, with the effect of strawberries – the ability to help our brain neurons send and receive signals faster.
As a rule of thumb, the darker the berry is, the higher antioxidant property it contains, which means it has more productivity-boosting ingredients. Get a generous helping!
The World Health Organization says that the right kind of foods when woven into our regular diet, can increase brainpower, motivation, and overall productivity by up to 20%. Let’s make it happen!
