Keep Your Mind Nimble with These 5 Foods

Not a fan of crossword puzzles? Can't get the hang of sudoku? Don't worry. There's another way you can sharpen your brain: Revise your grocery list.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, RealAge expert and host of a new national TV show -- The Dr. Oz Show -- recommends adding five important foods to your supermarket tab to help spark a brain boost.

Key Nutritional Knockouts
Eat 'em every day for better brain functioning and overall health.

• Blueberries: Compounds in the bright berries may help shield against harmful processes tied to Alzheimer's disease and premature brain aging.
• Eggs: This breakfast favorite is loaded with selenium -- a mineral that could help make your brain years younger.
• Mustard: What makes mustard so amazing? Turmeric. Getting just 17 milligrams of it a day -- about a teaspoon of mustard -- can help activate genes that control the cleanup of cellular waste in your brain.
• Salmon: This pink fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, including the type thought to have the most antiaging effects on the brain. A DHA supplement is another way to get your omega-3s.
• Kale: Getting at least three servings a day of dark, leafy greens high in carotenoids and flavonoids can slow mental decline associated with aging.

Another way to look smart? Get health tips from Dr. Oz every day. Just tune in to his new television show -- The Dr. Oz Show -- for a daily dose of fun and factual health information. Find out which local channels carry his show.

Selenium level and cognitive function in rural elderly Chinese. Gao, S. et al., American Journal of Epidemiology 2007 Apr 15;165(8):955-965.