Fruit and Brain Power

 

We’ve all had the experience of being hungry and running out of steam. It can be almost impossible to get any work done if you are feeling hungry. If your brain is not receiving its proper nutrition, your ability to concentrate can suffer. Your brain needs the right kind of fuel to keep it going, especially on days that are mentally taxing. Fortunately, fruit can keep your brain sharp throughout the day. It can also prevent mental degeneration.


Fruit is rich in antioxidants. One of the key health benefits antioxidants offer us is protection of our brains. Brain health can be greatly assisted by consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants such as apples, cherries, plums, strawberries and oranges. For example, a plum comes with the added benefit of being high in vitamin A, phosphorous and potassium.


Fruit such as plums, cherries, apples, strawberries and oranges all have high ORAC values. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. The ORAC value of a food tells us how much antioxidant is in a given fruit. Apples, cherries, plums, strawberries and oranges all have very good ORAC values. This means that these types of fruit work hard to protect both your mind and your body.

 

There are other foods that can really boost your brain as well, such as the banana. B vitamins are key in having your brain be able to work with peak efficiency. Bananas have the B vitamins that you need. Bananas contain Thiamin (B12), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Panthothenic Acid (B5), vitamin B6 and Folate (B9). In fact, bananas are very rich sources of vitamin B6 with over twenty-eight percent of one’s daily requirement. Likewise, bananas are also high in vitamin C. As it turns out the simple banana you’ve been eating your whole life is quite the brain food.


While it may be tempting to reach for a donut, chips or an energy drink at work, these products are loaded with chemicals that your body simply does not need. The “brainy choice” is to opt for fruit. Fruit has the ability to keep your brain properly fueled. The antioxidants in fruit will keep your mind and body working healthy for years to come.


So, the smart decision is to select fresh and healthy fruit whenever and wherever possible.

 



Author: Wendy Visontay - Founder of Fruit at Work