9. Mediterranean-Inspired Savory Yogurt Jar
Bolster your breakfast and your brain with beans. Plant-based foods like legumes are the cornerstones of the Mediterranean diet, which has been associated with a lower risk for memory difficulties among older adults.
Older adults who followed the Mediterranean diet were observed to have better overall mental function compared to those who didn’t, per the results in the April 2017 issue of Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Those eating a Mediterranean-style diet also showed lower risks for cognitive impairment later in life.
Bonus: The brain-supporting garbanzo beans in this recipe also contain B vitamins, which are particularly important for healthy brain function, a February 2017 study in Nutrients says.
10. Almond and Yogurt Cereal
When it comes to foods that protect your brain, almonds are all-stars. That’s because they have loads of free-radical fighting vitamin E, an antioxidant that shields cells from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Your brain is super susceptible to oxidative stress, especially as you age. As an antioxidant, vitamin E is associated with protecting your brain against neurodegenerative diseases.
Vitamin E may promote healthy brain function and has been linked to slowing cognitive decline, according to a December 2014 review in Nutrients.
Since one ounce of almonds offers 34 percent of your daily value of vitamin E, you can feel good about sprinkling a handful of almonds on your morning cup of yogurt.