Beverages That Give Your Brain a Boost

Dehydration can do a number on your brain cells. Drinking the wrong beverage can, too. The good news is that boosting your intake of nutritious, thirst-quenching drinks can boost your ability to think clearly, age better, and fight off diseases that can affect the brain. Next time you're thirsty, reach for one of these five beverages:

Water
. Nothing is better for top-notch hydration than good old-fashioned water. Iced or hot, still or sparkling, it's your body's natural beverage of choice. It's easily absorbed in the stomach and bloodstream and welcomed by every cell in your body. 

Dehydration means your body's water content is running low. People who are dehydrated don't think as clearly or concentrate as well as those who are well-hydrated. Your body pulls water out of any food or drink you ingest but it also pulls chemicals, additives, sugar, fats, and other ingredients. Why not make it easy on your body to hydrate all its cells by giving it lots of water?

Coffee. Go ahead and enjoy your morning cup of java. Studies suggest that people who drink three cups of joe per day are significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than non-coffee drinkers. Avoid high-fat coffee drinks with tons of added sugar and syrups. Black coffee is best, but there's nothing wrong with adding a splash of milk, either.

Tea. Loaded with antioxidants like EGCG and amino acids such as theanine, green, black, and oolong tea are excellent brain boosters. Antioxidants help protect brain cells from injury and theanine is believed to increase attention span. Brew your own or purchase unsweetened or very lightly sweetened tea. Avoid tea drinks that contain large amounts of sugar or corn syrup.

Milk
. Protein, water, carbohydrates, and a little fat-it's all in there when you drink a glass of low fat milk. Milk is easily absorbed by most people and provides a nutrition boost that's almost instantly available to nourish your body and brain. 

Berry Juice. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are antioxidant powerhouses that help prevent brain cell damage. They're sweet enough to act like a treat, but low enough in sugar that they're healthy for you. Pop some in a blender, add ice, and spoon the blended berries into a glass of sparkling water for a refreshing and brain-protecting drink. 

 

Sources:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Black tea
http://www.bidmc.org/YourHealth/HolisticHealth/FunctionalFoods.aspx?ChunkID=104343

Cleveland Clinic
Food For Brain Health
By Michael Roizen, MD, Chief Wellness Officer, Cleveland Clinic
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/Documents/Neurological_Institute/Cleveland-Clinic-Food-for-Brain-Health-Michael-Roizen.pdf