Smart Eating Is Best Brain Food

Instead of overdosing on coffee or jittery energy drinks, here are some fresh foods to help keep your brain in top shape.

• Spinach and other leafy greens: Green leafy veggies -- spinach, kale, arugula, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard -- are packed with vitamins A, C, calcium, iron and many disease-battling phytochemicals. According to a recent study, men and women who chow down on three servings of these vegetables daily show better long-term mental acuity than those with a single serving or less (a serving is 1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked). Their healthier brains functioned as well as someone five years younger. 
• Eggs: Eggs are a top source for good-for-you protein, and their yolks contain some iron and heart-friendly omega-3 fats. They also sport two powerful antioxidants: lutein, which benefits eyesight, and choline, which plays an important role in your brain's development, nerve transmission and memory. 
• Salmon: There aren't too many things wrong with salmon. It's tasty, low in mercury, often a sustainable choice and high in protein and omega- 3 fats. Those fats, especially "DHA" (the kind found in fish), are vital for boosting brain development, improving function and decreasing inflammation.

Originally published by Food Network Kitchens