Brain-boosting beverages help improve memory, slow down cognitive decline, protect against neurodegenerative diseases, and simply make us more alert. In fact, certain nutrients like polyphenols, antioxidants, and amino acids can protect your brain by improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and protecting brain cells from damage, according to Health.com.
From green tea to orange juice, let’s take a look at the best beverages for brain health.
Green Tea
Green tea has been known to reduce anxiety and improve memory and attention, thanks to the presence of L-theanine and caffeine. This combination can also improve performance when it comes to multi-tasking alertness.
Kombucha
This is a fermented beverage made from black or green tea, with a sweet and tangy taste. It contains polyphenols chock full of amino acids, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. Thanks to its probiotic content, brain function may be improved, including cognition, memory, mood, emotion, and decision-making abilities.
Orange Juice
Orange juice contains lots of nutrients and phytonutrients that can improve cognitive health, from vitamin C and thiamin to vitamin B6 and flavonoids. One study shows that drinking two cups of artificially-sweetened beverages a day could increase the risk of dementia, while consuming one cup a day of natural juice such as 100 percent orange juice can actually lower the risk of dementia.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice contains many antioxidants, such as polyphenols, which have protective qualities for the brain. One study of older adults with memory loss found that after a month of drinking pomegranate juice, participants greatly improved in verbal and visual-memory performance.
Dairy Milk
Dairy milk supports focus and memory thanks to nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamins B12 and D, selenium, and zinc. Vitamin D found in milk protects brain cells from damage while regulating the brain's chemical processes. In addition, the B vitamins in milk provide 50 percent of the daily value for Vitamin B12, which protects nerve cells and helps with motor function and cognition. And lastly, the calcium found in dairy milk plays an important role in how brain cells not only communicate but how they create new connections as well – vital for memory formation and learning.
Coffee
Coffee does a lot more than just give you energy to get through the day. The caffeine it contains also blocks adenosine receptors in the brain which can lead to increased brain activity. As a result, your stamina, mental alertness, and mood can all be enhanced. It’s thought that coffee can also guard against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease while reducing depression symptoms.
Grape Juice
Grape juice is high in flavonoids that are believed to enhance cognitive function. Specifically, it helps to decrease inflammation in the brain that could otherwise result in cognitive decline. In addition, grape juice can help to create new brain cells while strengthening the connections between them.
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