What To Eat To Keep Your Mind Focused Through The Day

It’s a cold hard fact that most of us spend about a third of our life working. When working, it’s ideal to stay focused with as little stress as possible so that you can complete your task in a timely and efficient manner and keep your body healthy in the long run too. Unfortunately, many distractions can pull you away from your work, and it can be difficult to stay concentrated. Not to mention, if you’re not getting enough nutrients, you may find yourself feeling sluggish and just plain unable to focus. That’s why it is good to focus on your diet and make sure you’re eating foods that will help you concentrate on your projects. Here are a few examples of what to eat to help you stay focused: Dark Chocolate You may be surprised to learn that chocolate in moderation can help you focus. Obviously it is not healthy to base your nutrition around chocolate, but the fact is that chocolate contains caffeine, which can improve cognitive function and alertness. However, the type of chocolate matters. Most sweet commercial chocolates also contain added ingredients like sugar, artificial vanilla flavoring and lecithin. It is far better to choose dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa, since this type has the highest concentration of nutrients. As seen at www.santabarbarachocolate.com, you can even find organic or lactose-free dark chocolate. So, even if you have dietary restrictions, you can still enjoy the benefits of chocolate. Just be sure to limit your intake, healthy eating habits with plenty of vegetables are key for the long run. But a square or two of dark chocolate a day is usually fine. Eat Protein For Breakfast Starting your day with a protein-rich breakfast is a great way to help you stay alert throughout the day. Protein provides your body with sustained energy, as opposed to the hit-and-crash effect of the sugar high you get from eating sweetened granola and other breakfast foods rich in sugar. Eggs, yogurt, salmon, and nuts are all excellent sources of protein and are easily incorporated into a variety of breakfast options. You may also consider adding protein powder as a supplement to your breakfast smoothie or oatmeal. Also, if you are following a vegan or vegetarian diet, you should be extra careful to get enough protein at every meal, since it is more difficult to get enough protein from plant-based sources. Incorporate Healthy Fats Into Your Diet Healthy fats are important for maintaining brain function and concentration. Fat provides your body with energy and helps you absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. Some good sources of healthy fats include avocados, olive oil, nut butters, nuts and seeds but you can also get healthy fats by taking a fish oil supplement. In the long run, everybody benefits from replacing unhealthy fats with the healthy ones, at least in part. Fats that are considered unhealthy are the trans fats and saturated fats. The only catch comes for those who are trying to lose weight. Fatty foods like nuts are calorie-dense because fat has more calories than protein or carbs. So even though nuts and seeds are healthy, you will want to limit your portion sizes. Eat Plenty of Leafy Greens Leafy greens are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and magnesium. These nutrients are essential for maintaining healthy brain function. Dark leafy greens like spinach and kale are especially beneficial for concentration. You can easily incorporate leafy greens into your diet by adding them to smoothies, salads, soups, or pasta dishes. If you find it difficult to get enough leafy greens in your diet, you may want to consider taking a multivitamin that contains iron and other essential nutrients. Just be sure to consult with a doctor or registered dietitian before starting any new supplement. Blueberries Blueberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, which are important for maintaining brain health. Blueberries have also been shown to improve memory and cognitive function. You can easily add blueberries to your diet by eating them as a snack, adding them to yogurt or cereal, or baking them into muffins or pies. If you find fresh blueberries to be too expensive, you can also buy them frozen. Just keep in mind you will need to eat more frozen blueberries to get the same nutrient benefits as fresh ones. Also, be sure to check the label to make sure there are no added sugars. Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium, which is necessary for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium has been shown to improve focus and concentration. Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of iron, zinc, and copper. You can easily add pumpkin seeds to your diet by eating them as a snack, adding them to yogurt or cereal, or sprinkling them on salad. If you have trouble digesting pumpkin seeds, you may want to try soaking them in water overnight before eating them. This will help to break down some of the tough outer shells. However, you should still limit your intake to a handful of pumpkin seeds per day, as they are high in calories. Eating a healthy diet is important for maintaining brain function and cognitive abilities. So, If you want to improve your concentration and focus, you should consider adding these foods to your diet. Make sure to include plenty of leafy greens, healthy fats, and dark chocolate in your daily routine. And, don’t forget about pumpkin seeds – they make a great snack that can help improve your concentration. With a little planning, you can easily incorporate these foods into your diet and start reaping the benefits of improved cognitive function.