What to eat to stay focused

If you rely on copious amounts of coffee or sugar to stay awake and focused during work, it may be worth reassessing your diet. The food we eat fuels our brain, so it is important that we’re fuelling correctly.

The following foods have been proven to help naturally increase brain power while lifting your mood.

Oily fish

To boost concentration the nerve fibres that send messages between brain cells need insulation from a fatty substance called myelin. The fatty acids (including omega-3) found in oily fish help to build this substance, making it a key ‘brain food’.

Try: a tuna salad for lunch or a fish oil supplement.

Pumpkin seeds

Another great source of omega-3 fatty acids, pumpkin seeds are also full of zinc which helps to boost concentration.

Try: a handful of pumpkin seeds mid-morning.

Spinach

Spinach is rich in potassium, and potassium helps to increase the speed of signals sent between neurons to make the brain more responsive.

Try: adding some raw leaves to a salad or including it in a smoothie.

Blueberries

Helping to combat memory loss, blueberries contain antioxidative and anti-inflammatory compounds shown to have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

Try: snacking on blueberries during the mid-afternoon slump.

Green tea

Green tea has less caffeine than coffee but still acts as a mild stimulant to perk you up while providing your body with health-boosting antioxidants.

Try: replacing your morning coffee with green tea.

Walnuts

Packed with neuroprotective compounds like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and polyphenols – walnuts can help to improve your inferential reasoning skills.

Try: adding a handful of walnuts to your salad at lunch or morning porridge.

Eggs

Eggs contain phenylalanine, a molecule that helps the body produce the mood-boosting chemical dopamine. This chemical will help you feel more energised and enthusiastic.

Try: waking up a bit earlier and cooking eggs for breakfast.