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Believe it or not, the foods that you eat can contribute massively to how your brain functions and staying "woke" in your later years. Particular lifestyle choices such as proper sleep, regular exercise and eating well can all be beneficial towards having quality brain function. It’s just about being consistent and keeping in mind foods that can better your memory.

Here are five foods that can help improve your overall brain function:

1. Nuts

Studies have suggested that the intake of foods with high levels of vitamin E are beneficial for improving cognitive function. One food that contains levels of Vitamin E is nuts and almonds. What’s great about these foods is that they’re able to be eaten as a snack or crushed in meals to add a bit of a harsh flavor.

2. Broccoli

Some people aren’t a great fan of their greens, but they’re extremely beneficial for your health. In particular, broccoli is considered a superfood in the green family containing plenty of antioxidants and vitamin K, which is known to improve cognitive function. Antioxidants are essential in eliminating the threat of free-radicals in the body, which makes it a useful ingredient in your meals.

3. Foods with Essential Fatty Acids

Did you know that the brain is the fattiest organ in the human body? It actually contains 60% of fat, which means it needs to be supplied with plenty of essential fatty acid to repair and build neurons that are associated with memory. There are plenty of foods available that can be included in your diet easily to gain the essential fatty acids that you need. These include eggs, salmon, sardines and high strength fish oil.

4. Green and Black Tea

Replace your early morning coffee fix with green or black tea and see great effects to your brain power. Green and black tea have been studied and been found to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine which is a crucial element for memory and a product that’s known to be lacking in Alzheimer’s patients.

Both teas are used as a way to help combat the illness, but green tea is known to have a more lasting effect compared to black tea, which tends to only have an impact for the day.

5. Dark Chocolate

If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, why not try including a bit of dark chocolate into your diet? It’s a great source of flavonol antioxidants and which helps to increase blood flow around the body, particularly to the brain, and it can prevent the brain cells from ageing in your body. If possible, aim to eat chocolate that has 70% cocoa in it, as the darker the chocolate is, the better. It can be used as a great dessert alternative to meals that have high sugar content which can only provide you with a limited energy boost.

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