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Home / Lifestyle

Nicky Park: Six snacks to boost your brain

Herald online
18 Aug, 2013 10:30 PM4 mins to read

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Photo / Thinkstock

Photo / Thinkstock

Opinion by

Relentless social media, constant communications, a rumbling belly, casual banter with your colleagues - there are 8756 ways to get distracted from your daily to-do list. Goodness knows I'm prone to all of them.

But don't you love that satisfaction that comes with a productive day in the workplace? Or when the sun goes down on an active Saturday? Rather than smashing your way through half a dozen lattes, or being tempted to ride through the afternoon on a sugar high, here are some foods that will help you stay focused.

Photo/Thinkstock
Photo/Thinkstock

1. Walnuts: These nuts look just like a brain, so it makes sense that they're packed with good stuff for your grey matter. The British Journal of Nutrition reported that eating half a cup of walnuts a day for eight weeks increased reasoning skills by nearly 12 per cent in students. And, according to a report in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease the antioxidants in walnuts could even fight an aging brain.

Eat it: Crunch up a handful and toast them in the oven with a bunch of other oats and seeds, or bake them in to a sugar-free banana loaf.

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Eat it: Blitz up a handful with some almond milk, oats, chia seeds and half a banana for a delicious smoothie.

Photo/Thinkstock
Photo/Thinkstock

Eat it: Find some fresh salmon sushi or sashimi or throw some canned fish on a salad.

Photo/Thinkstock
Photo/Thinkstock

Eat it: Grab yourself a pot, leave green tea bags or fresh leaves to brew for three minutes then share it around.

Photo/Thinkstock
Photo/Thinkstock

Eat it: Steam or stir-fry with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Photo/Thinkstock
Photo/Thinkstock

Eat it: You can throw pumpkin seeds in just about anything - I like them best in omelets and salads. Or toast some in the oven for a crunchy snack.

Follow Life & Style Online on Twitter here. Follow Life & Style Editor Nicky Park on Twitter and Instagram.

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