11 Foods and Drinks that will make you Focus
Food which can be defines as any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth is very important in life.
Food is the fuel that regulates your energy and mood, both of which can significantly affect your focus. Just as you shouldn’t put olive oil into your car to make it run, you shouldn’t put chocolate syrup into your body to make you run.
Food has the incredible ability to affect your mental clarity, mood, memory, and ability to focus, so if you’re looking to boost your focus, one of the places you should start with is what you’re eating.
Below are the 11 foods and drinks that will make you focus:
(1) Coffee + Cinnamon
Sure, it might seem obvious that coffee would perk you up and help you focus, but did you know that two to three daily cups have been linked to both long- and short-term improvements in memory? B
Olster its brain-boosting effects even further by adding a few dashes of cinnamon—a 2009 study found that even just the smell of this spice can lead to increased feelings of alertness and decreased frustration.
(2) Green Tea
This ancient brew contains L-theanine, an amino acid that increases alpha brain waves (similar to what happens when you meditate), which are associated with relaxation and a focused calm—perfect for afternoon sipping when you don’t want the huge caffeine jolt from coffee.
(3) The Right Breakfast
It’s the most important meal of the day, after all. McDaniel’s top picks: fiber-packed oatmeal and protein-packed eggs. They offer up an even stream of energy, compared with more processed, refined picks like corn flakes, bagels, or nutrition bars.
Don’t even think about a donut—you’ll be asleep at your desk by 10 a.m. (Check out these 11 egg recipes like you’ve never had.)
Read Also: 28 Best Energy-Boosting Foods and Drinks
(4) Berries
Not only has eating more darkly pigmented fruits like blueberries been associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, but some studies show that eating them can actually boost concentration and memory up to 5 hours later.
Just thank all those antioxidants, which increase blood flow (and thus, oxygen) to the brain, making mental tasks easier. Try adding them to your morning oatmeal or afternoon salad.
(5) Dark Chocolate or Cocoa Powder
Dark chocolate has been shown to boost blood flow to the brain, and as little as one-third of an ounce per day may help protect against age-related memory loss.
Bonus: Chocolate also stimulates the release of certain feel-good chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. So not only will you plow through those emails like a boss, but you just also might do it with a smile on your face.
(6) Water + Lemon
Some jazzed up water may be all you need—studies show that dehydration can mess with memory and overall brain functioning big-time, while other research has found that the scent of lemon improves performance on tasks that require a great deal of concentration.
(7) Beets
These root veggies are loaded with dietary nitrates that are converted into nitrites in the body, which increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Not a fan of beets’ earthy flavor? Try roasting them to bring out their natural sweetness, or whip up this Blueberry Beet Almond Smoothieto take with you to work.
Read Also: Top 9 Foods and Drinks That Can Be Inflammatory
(8) Peppermint Tea
Even without caffeine, this tasty brew can perk up your brain. Studies have found that the scent of peppermint is associated with reduced anxiety and fatigue, and enhanced motivation and performance.
(9) Leafy green vegetables
Leafy green vegetables are full of antioxidants and carotenoids, which boost your brain power, and help protect your brain. (A good, general tip: the greener a leaf vegetable is, the better.)
Leafy green vegetables are also full of B-vitamins, which are “proven to help your memory, focus, and overall brain health and power”. They also contain folic acid, which improves your mental clarity.
(10) Fatty fish
Fatty/oily fish contains omega-3 fatty acids which “aid memory, mental performance and behavioral function”. People who are deficient in omega-3’s are more likely to have “poor memory, mood swings, depression and fatigue”.
Fish has also been proven to improve your concentration and mood. The main sources of fatty fish are “salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards and kipper”.
(11) Water
If you want to improve your focus, you need to drink enough water. Water “gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes”, and it has been proven to help you “think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity”.
Every single function of your body depends on water, so it is critically important that you get enough of it.
