What you eat can have a big influence on several aspects of your health, from your waistline to your energy levels and beyond. But did you know that there are certain brain foods that boost productivity, enhance memory and help keep you focused?
Proper nutrition and treating micronutrient deficiencies can raise productivity levels by an estimated 20 percent!
Next time you hit that afternoon slump, think about switching up your diet. Incorporating productivity-boosting foods into a well-balanced diet may be the key to staying focused and energized, overcoming that midday lull and getting things done.
What are 8 Foods that boost productivity and why?
- Beets
Beets are packed with productivity-boosting benefits, thanks to their concentrated content of nitrates, which are naturally-occurring compounds that act as vasodilators to increase blood flow.
A high-nitrate diet rich in beetroot juice was able to increase blood flow to certain regions of the brain that are responsible for attention and self-regulation.
- Salmon
Salmon provides a mega dose of omega-3 fatty acids, making it a top food for mental energy and focus. These healthy fats are associated with an extensive list of health benefits, ranging from decreased inflammation to better heart health.
Upping your intake of omega-3 fatty acids from foods like salmon could help enhance memory and improve brain performance.
- Broccoli
There are plenty of reasons to eat your broccoli, from its impressive fibre content to its wealth of important vitamins and minerals. But did you know that broccoli can also help keep you sharp and boost your brain power?
Broccoli is rich in choline, an essential nutrient with powerful benefits when it comes to cognition, brain development and even memory function.
- Green tea
Green tea can have some pretty powerful effects on the brain. It’s been associated with reduced anxiety, better memory and increased attention.
Green tea extract could help protect against chronic fatigue to help you power through your day.
- Eggs
Eggs do give you the edge! Aside from being loaded with cognition-boosting choline, eggs are a good source of protein.
A high-protein breakfast leads to greater reductions in ghrelin, the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger, compared to a high-carb breakfast. This means that you’ll stay fuller for longer, allowing you to focus on the task at hand rather than you’re grumbling stomach.
- Dark chocolate
Great news for chocolate lovers - this delicious sweet treat makes the list of top foods that boost productivity, giving you all the more reason to indulge.
Dark chocolate contains caffeine, which can improve energy levels, concentration and alertness and is a good source of magnesium, an important mineral shown to enhance learning and memory.
- Almonds
This healthy nut packs in a powerful punch when it comes to nutrition. Just a one-ounce serving can knock out 37 percent of your vitamin E needs, a nutrient essential for protecting the brain against aging.
Eating almonds regularly increases levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that improves learning and memory. Higher nut consumption is associated with better attention and cognitive function in older women.
- Sweet potatoes
Full of complex carbohydrates, sweet potatoes are digested slowly to promote a sense of fullness, stabilize blood sugar and provide you with a steady stream of energy to help increase productivity.
An incredibly nutrient-dense food, sweet potatoes are an especially good source of vitamin A and C, shown to play a role in brain function.
What precautions should be taken?
When it comes to healthy eating and work productivity, these powerful foods should be added to a well-balanced and nutritious diet. Munching on a few stalks of broccoli won’t make much of a difference if the rest of your diet is filled with ultra-processed foods and junk.
Make sure you’re adding these foods into a diet rich in protein, fiber and healthy fats.
Diet is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to productivity and there are several other factors that should be considered as well.
Be sure to stick to a consistent sleep schedule, incorporate regular physical activity into your routine and set yourself up for success by staying organized.
Other ways that you can increase productivity include:
- Setting goals,
- Making to-do lists,
- Taking short breaks as needed
- Limiting distractions like cell phones
Coupled with a few servings of productivity-boosting foods, these healthy habits can make a big impact in your productivity at work, home or school.
What is most important to remember?
- Your diet can have a big impact on many aspects of productivity, including your energy levels, concentration, memory and alertness.
- There are a wide variety of foods that boost productivity that can enhance brain power, increase attention and help you stay energized and focused throughout your day.
- For best results, pair your balanced, ‘brain food’-enriched diet enriched with healthy productivity-improving habits.