No matter what type of career you have, you need a certain amount of creativity to get through your daily tasks. Creativity is an essential part of my work as a freelance writer—but regardless of whether you work as an accountant, an administrative assistant, or a CEO, the ability to think on your feet always comes in handy.
Try the following super-foods to increase mental clarity and keep your brain running at full speed all day.
Carbohydrates
Why it works: Healthy carbs are the stalwart foundation of energy—they break down slower in the body, providing you with hours of fuel for your brain. The important thing to remember is to avoid carbohydrates that come from sugar or refined, processed foods like white bread. The best carbs are found in fibre and whole grains.
Try eating: Whole grain bread or bagels, dry whole-grain cereal (mix with dried fruits for a trail mix-type snack, or stir into yogurt), rice cakes, whole-wheat crackers, baked pretzels or tortillas, air-popped popcorn, low-fat muffins
Omega-3
Why it works: Omega-3 fatty acid encourages neurotransmitter development—helping you build and strengthen brain tissue. Some researchers have found that Omega-3 may help prevent Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders.
Try eating: Salmon or tuna, walnuts, toasted flax seed (tastes great sprinkled over yogurt), wild rice, edamame (green soybeans)
Brightly coloured foods
Why it works: Colours can have a powerful effect on your brain. Many businesses use the principles of colour to encourage a certain mood—such as red for power and authority, or black for sophistication. The best colours for creativity are yellows, oranges, and blues. Coincidentally, most foods with these colours can boost clarity and memory.
Try eating: Carrots, squash or pumpkin, yellow peppers, bananas, blueberries, oranges
Nuts & berries
Why it works: Nuts and berries are packed with vitamins and nutrients that give your brain a boost—Omega-3s, vitamins A, E, C, and B6, magnesium, zinc, and antioxidants, to name a few. They’re also a great source of energy.
Try eating: Walnuts, almonds, cashews, strawberries, blackberries, sunflower seeds—or make a trail mix you can munch on throughout the day.
Dark chocolate
Why it works: In what might be the best news for a creativity-boosting diet, dark chocolate does a lot for your mental agility. It contains powerful antioxidants, and flavonols that promote blood flow to the brain—improving your memory, concentration, problem solving skills, reaction times, and attention span. Just keep in mind that milk chocolate doesn’t have the same effects. You need at least 70% cocoa to benefit from chocolate.
Try eating: Dark chocolate bars, dark chocolate cocoa, anything that you can add chips made from dark chocolate (trail mix, muffins, yogurt).
Author Bio:
Melissa Rudy is a full-time freelance copywriter with Words by Melissa in Cincinnati, Ohio. She and her team specialise in web page content, articles, product descriptions, brochures, postcards, press releases, and other marketing collateral. Melissa previously held roles as an E-Commerce Content Manager and Technical Writer.
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