We are all accustomed to the idea of the familiar aches & pains & gradual loss of mobility that comes with aging. Often, we talk about the ways to keep our bodies healthy & nimble for as long as possible. But one of the most devastating effects of aging actually has nothing to do with the body – it has to do with the brain.

One of the most important factors in living a long & healthy life is taking care of your mind. Losing one’s memory, in particular, can result in a decline in both physical & emotional well-being. In addition to forgetting important things like directions, contact information, & scheduled appointments, losing one’s memory can result in a sense of loss of their identity. According to Harvard Health, memories “make up our internal biographies—the stories we tell ourselves about what we’ve done with our lives. They tell us who we’re connected to, who we’ve touched during our lives, and who has touched us.” Losing this sense of self can be emotionally difficult, both for the person suffering memory loss & for their loved ones.

There are some risk factors for memory loss that cannot be changed, some as genetic predisposition. However, engaging in regular physical exercise, eating healthy, & exercising your mind can all improve your cognitive health. There are also a few foods that play an extra important role in keeping your brain as healthy as possible.

To help keep your brain strong & healthy for the years to come, try incorporating these five foods regularly into your diet.

1. Blueberries

Blueberries & other deeply colored berries have anthocyanins, a group of plant compounds that help reduce inflammation & oxidative stress. The antioxidants in blueberries can also help improve communication between brain cells, memory, & other cognitive processes.

2. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate that has a 70% or high cocoa content is full of flavonoids, caffeine & antioxidants, which help assist in learning & memory.

3. Broccoli

Broccoli is full of antioxidants & vitamin K, which helps create the type of fat that is in brain cells. Broccoli can help improve memory & cognition as well as fight inflammation to prevent damage to the brain.

4. Green Tea

The caffeine in green tea boosts brain function, & the amino acids help reduce anxiety. Green tea also has antioxidants that can help reduce the effects of mental decline with age.

5. Salmon

Eating salmon or other fatty fish, or taking a daily fish oil supplement, can help support your brain health. Over half your brain is made of fat, & over half of that fat is made from omega-3 fatty acids, which come from fish! Your brain uses these fatty acids to build brain & nerve cells, & to assist with learning & memory.

Want to learn more about the benefits of different foods? Leave me a comment below about which food topic you want to learn about next!