9 Perfect Foods to Detoxify Your Brain and Get Your Mental Clarity Back!

Ever feel like you can’t focus on a task at hand?

Constantly forgetting what you were supposed to be doing?

Or just feeling like you’ve lost all mental clarity and can’t put your thoughts into words?

I hate to break it to you, but it looks like you might have brain fog. Brain fog is a term used to describe certain symptoms that affect a person’s ability to think or concentrate.

The good news is that there are ways to combat this bad boy and that is exactly what this article is about. It starts with diet and the famous proverb ‘you are what you eat’.

Brain fog can be eliminated or reduced by the inclusion of certain foods in the diet such as green tea, broccoli, fatty fish, berries, coffee, walnuts, lemons, eggs, garlic, clams, avocados, quinoa, lentils, spinach, turmeric, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, and kale.
Below, we’re going to conduct some crazy scrutinization over how these foods help get rid of brain fog.  In other words, there are foods to detoxify your brain.

Ready for some detox?

Fatty Fish

If you didn’t know already, our brains are made up of nearly 60% fat. Fatty fish is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, the building blocks of Myelin sheath in our brains.

Myelin sheath serves as a coating over neurons.  Find out more about it here.

Our brains use these Omega-3s to form the nerve cells and connections in our brains that have been linked to improved memory and learning.

Next time you’re out for groceries and spot some Alaskan salmon, make sure to grab yourself some! It’s packed with essential Omega-3s and a multitude of vitamins.

Even the American Heart Association recommends you eat fish twice a week!

Broccoli

That infamous Powerpuff girl’s episode (a reference for the ’90s kids, LOL) cemented the belief that it was nothing short of dreadful.

But turns out it’s packed with antioxidants and vitamins our brain so desperately needs to stay fresh!

Vitamin K is abundant in broccoli and helps in the formation of sphingolipids, a fat that acts as a receptor for toxins.

Sulforaphane, another chemical in broccoli acts as an antioxidant, helps detox the brain and protects it from inflammation.

If you dislike the idea of having to engulf broccoli, there are loads of recipes out there that’ll make you change your perspective. Broccoli soup for one is oh-so-delicious. I wasn’t a believer until I tried it.

You could also serve it as a side with some juicy steak.

Berries

Flavonoids are compounds that have profound antioxidant effects and combat free radical damage efficiently.

This protects the brain from inflammation and strengthens the neuron connections. Thus having an overall brain-boosting effect.

A study showed that drinking a mixed berry beverage led to increased cognitive ability. This suggests that berries are also useful in slowing down cognitive decline.

Top off that bowl of oats with some flavonoid-rich berries or blend them up into a smoothie. Better yet just pick them off of a shrub and enjoy them caveman style!

Green Tea

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, providing the consumer a kick of energy and alertness.  Studies say it works by downregulating adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain.

On the other hand, L-theanine has been found to increase serotonin, dopamine, and GABA in the brain. Thus boosting a calm and relaxed state of mind.

It also reduces anxiety and increases overall productivity by reducing stress.

Research has shown that L-theanine upregulates the frequency of alpha waves which enable an individual to de-stress to relax.

We have a great article on L-Theanine, make sure to check it out.

Walnuts

All nuts are great for your brain. But walnuts are A-list celebs, the king of all nuts!

Walnuts are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and we’ve already raved about their benefits. They sharpen memory and protect the brain from damage, making them a great food to detoxify your brain and keep it healthy,

One Omega-3 fatty acid, namely DHA, is found to be significantly high in walnuts. DHA is known to boost cognition and protect the brain against cognitive decline.

So while you’re topping off your oats with those antioxidant-rich berries, don’t forget to add some walnuts in the mix as well.

Acai bowls are also a great way to enjoy a multitude of cognitive benefits.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate, when consumed, releases endorphins in the brain.

Endorphins are linked to creating a feeling of euphoria and relieving pain.

Tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, is also present in dark chocolate.  Serotonin is known for being the neurotransmitter of happiness, and a happy brain is an efficient one!

Flavonoids in dark chocolate have shown to increase blood flow to the brain that leads to greater memory and problem-solving skills.

Studies have shown that flavonoids in chocolate accumulate in areas of the brain responsible for learning and memory.

Dark chocolate even has tonnes of antioxidants that combat free radical damage and improve the overall health of the brain.

Keep in mind that milk chocolate doesn’t contain enough cocoa.

It is only dark chocolate that contains enough cocoa (>60%) to deliver these profound effects.

Lemons

You might have heard of a heap load of benefits about lemons, but have you ever heard about their effects on the brain?

Comes off as a first, doesn’t it?

Lemons contain a high level of potassium that enables more oxygen to be supplied to the brain which has a similar effect to detoxifying your brain.  More oxygen to the brain equals efficient functioning.

And if lemons are coupled with water to make lemon water, this provides the added benefit of hydration and detoxification simultaneously.

It isn’t so bad when life gives you lemons after all.  You can use them to enhance your cognitive abilities!

Garlic

If you happen to be from the lot that despises garlic, maybe reading some of these health benefits might change your mind.

Garlic is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories; both of them work in a coalition to counteract free radical damage throughout the body.

It’s also good for a healthy gastrointestinal tract.

Researchers found a nutrient in garlic that protects the brain against disease and aging.

Foods to Detoxify your Brain and Get Your Mental Clarity Back – Final Thoughts…

If you’re struggling with focus and getting tasks done throughout the day, the inclusion of these foods into your diet will help make your ground.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll acquire Charles Xavier-like feats (X-men reference, LOL), but you will start to notice improvement over time.

Having said that, it is paramount to avoid junk food that’ll slow you down and make you groggy.

If you’re looking to build a healthy relationship with food and understand more about how different foods impact your mind and body you should definitely look into the following book:

Think and Eat Yourself Smart by Dr Caroline Leaf.

This book will really help you get a grip over your eating habits and get you out of those traditional diet plans that don’t even produce viable results.

>> Think and Eat Yourself Smart Book