A Harvard brain specialist consumes these 10 grocery foods to remain ‘sharp and focused’– at any age

I never ever go grocery shopping when I’m starving. People who do are more lured to purchase unhealthy convenience treats and packaged items, instead of entire, healthy and rewarding alternatives.

I’m really deliberate about what I put in my body. So as a dietary psychiatrist and author of “This Is Your Brain on Food,” individuals typically ask me what they need to constantly equip their cooking area with to keep their brains sharp and focused– at any age.

To make my grocery list simple to keep in mind, I developed the acronym BRAIN FOODS:

• B: Berries and beans
• R: Rainbow colors of vegetables and fruits
• A: Antioxidants
• I: Include lean proteins and plant-based proteins
• N: Nuts
• F: Fiber- abundant foods and fermented foods
• O: Oils
• O: Omega- abundant foods
• D: Dairy
• S: Spices

Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are all exceptional berry options.

Make sure to consume ripe berries quickly, because they do not last long (even in the refrigerator). At times of the year when fresh, ripe berries aren’t offered, frozen berries are fine as long as they don’t have added sugar or other additives.

Beans, legumes and lentils are also healthy and inexpensive sources of nutrients and vitamins. They’re also easy to prepare and can be a side dish or an appetizer.

From red cabbage to radicchio to green and yellow bell peppers, buying vibrantly colored veggies will help expand your palate and maximize the range of nutrients that are beneficial to your brain. 

The same applies to fruits. Apples, pineapples, kiwis and citrus all come in a wide variety of colors. Just be careful not to overdo it with sweet fruits like grapes and mangoes.

The most important color of all is green. My favorites are arugula, romaine, Bibb lettuce, endive and bok choy.

Dark chocolate is a great source of antioxidants, as long as you stick to the extra dark stuff that doesn’t have added sugar.

Many vitamins are crucial antioxidants, and you can get them from a broad range of dietary sources. If you’re considering taking any sort of multivitamin supplement, I recommend checking with your doctor first.

Well-sourced lean poultry, seafood, pastured eggs and grass-fed beef are good choices to ensure you are getting plenty of protein and the essential amino acids that your brain needs to function well.

For plant-based sources of protein, organic tofu, tempeh, beans and lentils can be enhanced with spices for flavor.

Nuts and seeds have healthy omega fats and oils that will help sharpen your brain. They also have key vitamins and minerals, like selenium in Brazil nuts. Seeds like flax, chia and hemp are perfect options, too

I recommend eating about a quarter-cup or two ounces daily, either as a snack, or added to your salad or vegetable side dish.

Or you can throw some into a homemade granola or trail mix that contains much less sugar and salt than store-bought versions.

Fiber is important for your gut health, can help keep your weight in balance, and decreases inflammation in the entire body. Some high-fiber foods include artichoke hearts, quinoa, edamame, berries and pears.

Fermented foods like kefir, miso, and kimchee are also great for your brain and gut since they’re a natural source of active cultures bacteria, and have been shown to lower inflammation.

While you want to avoid an excess of saturated fats and unhealthy oils like the kinds used for frying, you want to ensure you’re getting enough healthy fats from sources like olive oil, avocados and oily fish.

Even with healthy fats, be aware of portion size and try not to eat too much. All fats are calorie dense.

Important brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna.

Plant-based foods like chia seeds, Brussels sprouts, walnuts and flaxseeds are also rich in omega-3s.

If you eat dairy, yogurts and kefir with probiotic cultures can do wonders for your gut, thanks to all the helpful bacteria and protein they contain. Grass-fed dairy products are better options for your brain, too.

Remember that certain conditions, like ADHD, can be aggravated by dairy, so be aware of how it affects you.

Spices are a no-calorie, guilt-free way to boost flavor in all your foods while adding beneficial brain effects.

Specifically, spices like turmeric, black pepper, saffron, red pepper flakes, oregano, and rosemary should be part of your brain armor.

Dr. Uma Naidoo is a nutritional psychiatrist, brain expert, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of the best-selling book “This Is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensible Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More.” Follow her on Twitter @DrUmaNaidoo.

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