BRAIN FOOD

These seven foods will nourish your body and sharpen your mind.

Any marathon runner, CrossFit devotee, or Spartan Racer can tell you that your mental game is just as important as your physical strength and diet. Fortunately, you can plan out your nutrition to keep your mind sharp, improve your focus, and build muscle all at the same time.

Research has shown that the seven foods listed here have mental benefits, particularly helping with cognition. Adding them to your training diet can help keep your mind focused when your muscles start to fail. Plus, they taste good, have plenty of nutritional benefits, and are easy to incorporate into your everyday routine.

1 SALMON

It’s pretty well-known that eating fatty fish like salmon gives your brain a boost.

“Salmon is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are shown to improve brain health,” says Kristen Smith, M.S., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The USDA’s dietary guidelines suggest eating fish at least twice a week, and many Americans fall short on this recommendation. Besides the cognitive benefits, fish is also a fantastic source of protein, so eating it will help you hit your macros.