SMART FOODS FOR SMARTER BRAINS

Every parent wish their kids to be smarter, very intelligent or in one word mini Einstein’s. The intelligence of the kid depends mainly on hereditary factors and environmental factors, but there are other factors too which influence the brain development. One of the most important factor among the other is the food, the mother consumes when she is pregnant and the kids eat in their early ages.

Our grandmothers always knew the importance of eating right food to stimulate the development of neurons. They always insisted the mothers to be and the young kids to consume certain herbs. The tradition is still continuing even though the young generation less likely to follow them.

The powerful and most important foods which are tasty as well are listed below.

Brahmi and Gotukola :

Brahmi and Gotukola are confused to be the same most of the times. Even though they possess similar medical benefits, they are different herbs. Brahmi is called as Bacopa monnieri in latin and Gotukola as Centella asiatica. In south India usually Gotukola is referred as brahmi.

Brahmi is most widely used in avurvedic medicines, has a reputation for being helpful in memory and reduce the stress. Elders advice that gotu kola should not be consumed during night.

Some of the important benefits of brahmi are

Supports brain, improves liver health, helps in neonatal hypoglycemia, fights systemic redness and swelling, controls blood pressure, acts as anti-oxidant. Gotu kola also helps in long term memory and healing wounds, varicose veins, skin disorders, blood flow problems.

Figure 1gotukola

Figure 1brahmi

Here I present a quick recipe of Gotukola

Receipe - pluck fresh Gotukola plants, wash them thoroughly before use. Dry roast it in a wok with spoon of ghee for 2 to 3 minutes. Grind the roasted leaves with a spoon of grated coconut and 2 to 3 black peppers. Add little curd to the ground mixture and bring it to the required consistency by adding little water. Chutney can also be prepared in the same way without adding curd.

Calamus: commonly known in India with the names like Baje, vacha, vasambu etc. It is adviced to give in very small portions to young kids for getting good memory, right pronunciation. Kids are adviced to lick the paste made from this during exams, which helps them to remember the things they have studied and reduce the nervousness. It also helps in digestion and combat cold.

Shankapushpi : this can be commonly seen everywhere in India, which could boost your brain power and increase memory. This is also used as a medicine to cure fever. The plant is reported to be a prominent memory improving drug. It is used as a psychostimulant and tranquilizer. It is reported to reduce mental tension. The ethanolic extract of the plant reduces total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and nonesterfied fatty-acid. Usually this is consumed in the powdered format or as kadha to improve the memory.

Dark green vegetables : Dark green vegetables are full of antioxidants and carotenoids, which boosts the brain power, and help protect the brain. Leafy green vegetables are also full of B-vitamins, which are “proven to help your memory, focus, and overall brain health and power”. The folic acid in them improves the mental clarity. 

Nuts: Nuts are a great snack which are delicious to eat as well as boosts your memory and brain power and full of proteins. They are also good at deducing the cholesterol and reduce inflammation. The antioxidants in walnuts may help counteract age-related cognitive decline and even reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's.