Add these ingredients to your favourite meals and experience an energy-filled, more productive day!
Do you find it hard to keep awake during meetings? Are you having problems concentrating on work? Do you often feel sluggish or sleepy while doing your tasks? It's time to change your meals. The food you take has an impact on your productivity; not everything you put in your stomach helps in bringing out your best.
When it comes to focus, there are certain types of meals that can help you get back on your feet. According to Reader's Digest, the human brain requires fuel to function properly, and the best way to do that is to eat foods packed with complex carbohydrates and the all-essential choline.
“Choline is essential for our brain's neurotransmitters,” reveals registered dietitian Elisa Bremner of the Pleasantville Collage School. What food is rich in choline? Eggs. There's a reason why those immaculate Eggs Benedict or sunny side-ups are breakfast staples. Egg yolks are a concentrated source of choline, which helps the brain receive the right signals to the rest of the body, prompting a feeling of optimism and well-being. Eggs have earned their right to be a part of one's comfort food list, and to boost your productivity, crack one and fry it, scramble it, or put it on your toast.
Another superfood that could help you concentrate? Salmon. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, this superfood can help you ward off feelings of negativity while improving your memory and mental performance.
Rushing to work? Grab a yogurt. This food is good for the gut and is rich with good bacteria that helps regulate good mood. Regular digestion of yogurt helps improve a woman's brain function.
If you're craving for fruits, you might want to grab a cup of blueberries. Many studies have found that this brainfood can help enhance memory, thanks to its polyphenols (that give blueberries its distinct colour). It is also rich in antioxidants, which is also important to your overall health.
Some millennials may have negative opinions about avocados, especially avocado toasts, but this creamy fruit is packed with tyrosine, an amino-acid that boosts the brain's dopamine. There's a reason why you feel happy after eating one! Alongside that, avocados' monounsaturated fats help the nerves in the brain.
Add a dash of walnuts to your daily snacking and see a difference in your concentration. Walnuts are high in protein, fibre, and helps facilitate better memory. Perhaps that’s why they look like little brains!
If you think chocolate is bad for you, think again. The dark chocolate variant will keep your sweet tooth satisfied plus giving you extra focus. Why? Its caffeine content boosts your energy while relaxing your stressful nerves with its magnesium content. Don't the entire bar, though! A quarter will suffice.
Loved matcha? Your favourite green tea is actually packed with natural energy boosters. It contains polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant, which wards off toxins from your body while giving you a refreshing feeling.
You might not be a fan of broccoli, but here's a reason to love this green veggie. Broccoli is rich in sulforophane, which is linked to healthy growth of stem cells in the brain. To improve your brain's cognitive function, why not make yourself a broccoli-and-cheese pairing for lunch and enjoy its benefits?
Last but not the least, brown rice. According to Inc., this magnesium-rich food is a great productivity booster and a stress reliever. Unlike white rice, it comes with more essential vitamins that aid your body to work more efficiently.
When you’re feeling out-of-focus, know what to eat. Use these superfoods to stay healthy, happy and full, even at work.
