One of the first steps you should take if you want to keep your brain sharp and your mood elevated is to prioritize a healthy diet that incorporates all the nutrients you need to thrive overall.
And while ensuring you’re getting enough protein, fiber, and carbs in your diet is always crucial, there’s one component you may be overlooking that could take your brain health to the next level: spices!
As it turns out, anti-inflammatory spices can do wonders for your head. In fact, there’s one in particular health experts say you should consider eating more if you’re looking to improve your memory and mood.
According to Joanna Wen, Health Coach and Founder of Spices & Greens, cinnamon is one of the best options out there thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and other benefits.
Cinnamon is great for so many reasons. It’s delicious, works great in sweet treats without the health consequences of sugar, and it may even be able to boost your metabolism. And according to Wen, there’s one more reason you should consider sprinkling this tasty spice on your food regularly: it offers brain-boosting benefits, from memory to mood and more.
Cinnamon is a widely-available spice with a wide range of brain-boosting benefits,” she confirms. “Consuming cinnamon on a regular basis can help boost memory, mental alertness, and feelings of well-being by creating changes to brain chemistry.”
Cinnamon contains an organic compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for its great flavour. It also helps reduce inflammation levels in the body and regulate stress hormones.
Keeping inflammation at bay can do wonders for your brain health, as inflammation in the brain can lead to and exacerbate issues like depression, memory loss, and more. For this reason, the anti-inflammatory effects of cinnamon, along with the stress hormone regulation it offers, makes it a great option for keeping your overall mental and cognitive health in tip-top shape.
Cinnamon is so easy to incorporate into your daily diet. It can be easily added to coffee and other drinks or simply sprinkled on yogurt or oatmeal bowls.
It can also be incorporated into various recipes such as smoothies and pancakes or salads as a condiment. The possibilities are endless!
