It wouldn't be wrong if we say that our attention span is decreasing by the day. It's getting hard for us to focus on things. It happens to us all the time that we are working on one thing and thinking about another which decreases our overall productivity. Sometimes we can't remember what tasks were given to us in the previous office meeting. Young students are also having problems concentrating while studying.
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Many different factors play their role in affecting our focus and concentration:
1. Unhealthy diet:
Our brain consumes about 20% of the overall energy and we use about 320 calories in a day just to think. So our brain needs to have healthy and proper food for concentration and its proper functionality. As a car needs a good quality fuel for its proper functionality our brain needs the same.
Our brain cells need to be well-nourished and hydrated to function properly. The brain can not function properly if we are hungry or we are not taking every nutrient that our brain needs. Studies have shown that there are some foods which we can take to improve our focus and concentration. Later on, in this article, we will discuss a list of foods that help you focus and concentrate.
2. Excessive use of social media:
Excessive use of social media is also the main factor in affecting our focus and decreasing our attention span. When we are using social media excessively and multitasking on different devices it affects our ability to focus on one thing properly.
3. Unhealthy routine:
If you are not getting a proper sleep daily and do not have a fixed time at which you sleep it can affect your ability to concentrate and it can also make you lazy and less energetic during the day. Experts recommend at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily. You should also make time for exercise or a morning walk daily. A study suggests that daily exercise can help increase your concentration and focus in just four weeks.
Another research suggests just a year of aerobic physical activity can help you cure and even reverse memory loss.
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9 best foods of concentration
As we have discussed, having a healthy diet can help your brain focus and concentrate on your daily tasks. On the other hand, an unhealthy diet can make you lazy, lethargic, and unproductive. I will share the 9 best foods for concentration that will help you regain your focus.
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Fish
Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids which are required by our brain to function normally and effectively.
Some studies have also shown that long-term consumption of docosahexaenoic acid (which is found in fish) can improve memory and learning abilities and also reduce the rates of cognitive decline.
2. Blueberries
Blueberries are a nutrient-rich food that is low in calories. They are known to have several health benefits and some studies have suggested that they increase blood flow to the brain which improves your memory and attention which is required to complete daily tasks.
You can take blueberries in the form of smoothies, with yogurt, with your fruit salad, or add them to your pancakes whichever way you like it.
3. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate can be great food for concentration as it has many benefits to our mental health. Dark chocolate helps in the production of feel-good hormones (endorphins) which can have a good impact on our daily mood.
Flavonoids which are found in dark chocolate can improve the blood flow to the brain which can improve our memory and focus. Dark chocolate also contains caffeine which is also known as a brain booster.
4. Nuts
Nuts can have a lot of health benefits on your brain. Walnut contains high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) which is a key component in boosting your brain function and it also prevents cognitive decline which is caused by age.
Almonds and Hazelnuts contain vitamin E which is also known to reduce age-related cognitive decline.
And there is also a study that says nuts can act as a preventive agent against diseases like Alzheimer’s.
5. Coffee
In America, almost 50% of people drink coffee every day. Coffee contains caffeine which is also known as a ‘brain booster’. Caffeine can give you a buzz which can help you concentrate on your work. It might be temporary but it definitely can help.
In 2017, a study on 676 elderly men suggested that the men who drank coffee had less cognitive decline than those who didn’t.
6. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a rich source of antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene. Which are responsible for the prevention of brain cells from free radical damage. They also contain vitamins A and C.
You can take tomatoes in many ways like in your salad, making a sauce of tomatoes, grilling them, or making their jam. But keep in mind that most of its nutrients are in its skin.
7. Orange juice
Orange is not only delicious but an excellent source of vitamin C and glucose. A glass of orange juice contains enough glucose that it can give you an instant boost of thinking and mental ability.
The vitamin C present in the orange can protect you against age-related cognitive decline. And the antioxidants trap the free radicals which can damage our brain cells.
8. Leafy Green vegetables
A launch of leafy green vegetable salad can help you stay focused your whole day. These leafy vegetables contain lutein, vitamin K, nitrate, and folate which are associated with cognitive health. And can help in slowing down cognitive decline.
You can have them as green salads, toss them in an omelet or grill them, or whatever way you like.
9. Whole grains
Whole grains are a source of complex carbohydrates which is a great source of energy for our brain. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest than simple carbohydrates so, they can supply energy to your brain longer and help you stay focused the whole day.
They also help in protecting the brain cells against damage from free radicals which are released from pollution and stress.
Conclusion:
Just like you can’t have a ripped body by going to the gym for a week, you can improve your focus by eating these foods for concentration once or twice. What you need to do is to stick with a healthy routine in which you follow a healthy diet plan, do some exercise, and maintain your daily sleep of 7 to 8 hours.
However, our lives have become so fast that it’s nearly impossible to take care of our diet with such busy routines. That’s why taking supplements are a great option as they can help you take all the nutrients that are needed to function properly without having to spend hours on preparation.
Since you are looking for something to improve your focus and concentration, NEURO PLUS can be a great option because it has all ingredients which are needed by our brain to perform well. It can help you with Concentration, Clarity, Boosting your memory & enhancing your mood.