One of the most asked questions I get is what foods improve brain function. Should I buy Magic Brain Supplements or get my kale imported from ancient Babylonia?
The glib answer is: eat whatever you want.
The real answer is to eat whatever makes you healthy.
The Brain’s Problem
The brain’s real problem is that it depends on the rest of the body to provide its nourishment. If you’re not healthy, its not healthy. The brain will try to compensate the best it can but what the brain really needs is a healthy body to live in.
The best way to not get dementia is to choose parents with good genetics and don’t get sick. Unfortunately, we aren’t really in charge of either of those items. We’re stuck with the genetics we got. And we can’t prevent diseases.
A Plan
The closest we can come to an action plan is to do our best to stay healthy. Check with your doctor, and if appropriate take antioxidants, maybe some fish oil, eat your veggies and exercise.
You’ll find people who advocate coconut oil of ginkgo biloba. Although there is no evidence these substances will hurt you, there is no evidence that will help you. If you have vascular issues, ginkgo biolba may improve blood flow to the brain but be sure to ask your doctor.
Coconut oil has MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) which can break down into ketones. But your brain works best on glucose. So check with your doctor.
No one, except your stomach, will be upset if you eat more leafy green vegetables. And no one but your muscles will complain about doing more exercise. Those are pretty standard practices.
But every body is different. Try things out and see how you feel.
Summary
There is no magic brain food. Your digestive system extracts glucose and puts it in the blood. The blood takes the glucose to every cell that needs it. When the blood reaches the blood-brain barrier, glucose is easily pumped into the brain, where the brain uses it as fuel.
You already have a system for giving the brain what it needs. All you can do is stay healthy. There are no additional steps needed.