The importance of a good breakfast cannot be stated enough. It's important to eat things that will give you not only a boost in physical energy, but brain energy too. Especially when it comes to your first meal of the day. And that’s where seven key brain-boosting nutrients come to play. Here is a snap shot of each and what foods you should consider rotating into your daily breakfast.
L-Theanine
The amino acid L-Theanine is a substance that helps the body release the neurotransmitters dopamine and GABA, which helps with calmness and anxiety. This amino acid provides an exceptionally rare benefit: It calms the mind without having any sedating effects. When paired with your morning coffee this can be a powerful combination! The caffeine in coffee will stimulate your mind, while the L-Theanine harnesses that energy to provide a sense of calm extreme focus without the jitters.
From a food perspective, your best options here are walnuts, bananas, spinach, broccoli and lentils.
Alpha GPC
The long form of this is alpha glycerophosphocholine. Don’t worry, that won’t be on your quiz at the end of the week. Alpha GPC is a nutrient found naturally in the brain although it’s hard to find in large quantities in foods. But that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent.
Organ meats are some of the richest food sources, but you might vomit a little in the back of your throat, thinking about eating that for breakfast. So a much better option would be wheat germ and dairy products. Having a cup of yogurt with wheat germ mixed in is an easy way to incorporate it.
Vitamin B12
The family of B vitamins are known as energy releasers because they assist in breaking down carbs, protein and fat for energy. Vitamin B12 is specifically known as cyanocobalamin. Aside from its role as an energy producer, it also has a positive effect on the nervous system.
You can find B12 in meats and dairy products. But it can also be found in eggs, yogurt, fortified cereals and nutritional yeast, which all make good breakfast options.
Vitamin B6
Another B-vitamin, B6, is good for cognitive function and mood regulation. It is known scientifically as pyridoxine and you can find it in foods like whole grains, bananas, cereals and soy beans.
Vitamin D3
Cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3 for short, is a very important vitamin for calcium absorption. By pairing them together, you will help strengthen your bones. Additionally, keeping your D3 levels topped off will reduce the risk of depression.
You can get D3 naturally from sunlight. But if it is winter or you live in a dark climate, that’s not always so easy. In this case, you can look to foods like salmon, cod liver oil, eggs, sardines and beef liver.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is most well-known for its positive effects on blood sugar regulation. But did you know that it also helps with the brain too? It contains two compounds called proanthocyanidins and cinnamaldehyde that help reduce the effects of brain cell degradation over time.
It’s easy to incorporate cinnamon into your diet. All you have to do is sprinkle some into your food or smoothie.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a root that helps with gut health, immunity and inflammation. As for the last benefit, this also translates to the brain. Plus, compounds found in turmeric are beneficial for boosting stem cells in the brain, which can help slow down the aging process associated.
You can get fresh turmeric root and grind it up and use it just like cinnamon in the same applications.
All 7 nutrients are in every cup of SmartJava coffee
With all the attention people put on their bodies, you should never neglect your mind as well. You should try to pack all of these nutrients into your first meal of the day. The easiest way to do this is through one cup of SmartJava organic coffee. Every cup of SmartJava delivers all of these nutrients and their benefits to ensure you start your day right.
Enjoy SmartJava coffee each morning to keep your mind sharp, your mood high and your concentration levels of the charts.