Think Fast: Snack on This
For speedier afternoon thinking, which snack should you choose -- a ripe banana or a chunk of cheddar cheese?
Go for the banana. Why? High-carb/low-fat foods test better than low-carb/high-fat diets when it comes to giving you a mental edge.
Combo Effect
Both low-carb/high-fat and high-carb/low-fat diets appear to perk up people's moods, but when it comes to things like brain processing speeds, high-carb/low-fat foods beat others to the punch. Makes sense. Carbs are a critical source of the type of energy that brains need to perform. Fat, on the other hand (especially saturated fat), seems to bog down the mind.
Go Bananas
Need more reasons to eat bananas? Besides making your wits quicker, they'll also:
- Provide you with a healthy dose of vitamin B6, a nutrient credited with helping fend off Parkinson's disease (Learn more about B6 and Parkinson's.)
- Reduce your risk of kidney cancer (Here's the 411 on this benefit.)
- Help keep your blood pressure steady because they're full of potassium (Find out how much potassium you need each day.)
RealAge Benefit:
Eating a diverse diet that includes 4 servings of fruit per day can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.
Low- and high-carbohydrate weight-loss diets have similar effects on mood but not cognitive performance. Halyburton, A. K., Brinkworth, G. D., Wilson, C. J., Noakes, M., Buckley, J. D., Keogh, J. B., Clifton, P. M., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 Sep;86(3):580-587.
