Even if you haven't seen the movie, "Limitless", the premise is that a "super pill" can help make you smarter, think quicker, react faster, and overall be a genius. Even though that's Hollywood and there's no real magic pill to do that, we do have mother nature to look to if we want our brains to perform better.
Here are five quick concoctions that will prepare you for your day and make you look like a rockstar at work.
Blueberry Juice
Remember the age-old saying: the darker the berry the sweeter the juice?
Well, not only has eating more darkly pigmented fruits like blueberries been associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's, some studies show that eating them can actually boost concentration and memory up to 5 hours later.
Just thank all those antioxidants, which increase blood flow (and thus, oxygen) to the brain, making mental tasks easier. Try adding them to your morning oatmeal or afternoon salad.
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Peppermint Tea
Even without caffeine, this tasty brew can perk up your brain.
Studies have found that the scent of peppermint is associated with reduced anxiety and fatigue, and enhanced motivation and performance.
Beet Juice
Beetroots are veggies loaded with dietary nitrates that are converted into nitrites in the body, which increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
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If you're like most people, you either love beets or hate them. If you need a little extra help convincing yourself to try beet juice, then try roasting them to bring out their natural sweetness, or whip up a Blueberry Beet Almond Smoothie (2 cups almond milk, 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup beets, handful of almonds) to take with you to work or to the gym.
Water + Lemon
Water is life and a little infused water may be all you need.
Studies show that dehydration can mess with memory and overall brain functioning big-time, while other research has found that the scent of lemon improves performance on tasks that require a great deal of concentration.
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Coffee + Cinnamon
Sure, it might seem obvious that coffee would perk you up and help you focus, but did you know that two to three daily cups have been linked to both long- and short-term improvements in memory?
Bolster its brain-boosting effects even further by adding a few dashes of cinnamon—a 2009 study found that even just the smell of this spice can lead to increased feelings of alertness and decreased frustration.
