8 Foods That Can Make You More Productive at Work

By Meredith Lepore

We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what food will help us power through putting together a pitch for investors? Is there a snack you can have that will help you focus when all you want to do is go outside and enjoy the day? Well, you’re in luck. With the right ingredients, you can boost brain power by as much as 20 percent, according to the World Health Organization. There are actually many foods that are not only delicious and good for you, but that also have awesome benefits that will boost brainpower. Here are a few suggestions:

Bananas hold the daily amount of glucose needed for your brain. Researcher Leigh Gibson found that “the brain works best with about 25 grams of glucose circulating in the blood stream — about the amount found in a banana.”

It is a little fancy to bring in a bag lunch, but treat yourself! Salmon has omega-3s, protein, iron and B-vitamins, which support memory, recall, reasoning and focus.

Haha. Tell your mom and your dentist. Chocolate is good for you! Dark chocolate has antioxidant properties that “increase the production of endorphins while enhancing focus and concentration,” whereas milk chocolate is good for quickening reaction time and improving verbal and visual memory.

Instead of chugging another cup of coffee, try green tea. It has neuroprotective effects which help keep your nervous system strong.

Yogurt is the best, isn’t it? In addition to being delicious (I’m looking at you Chobani Greek Keylime yogurt) it also has protein, tons of minerals, and probiotics which help the digestive system. Having a healthy digestive system will make you more productive in the long run.

Walnuts are full of omega 3 fatty acids to help you think more clearly and keep you focused.

Berries are amazing. They have been shown to protect the brain from free radicals and may reduce the age-related effects of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. So for the love of God add some blueberries to your cereal in the morning.

Avocados really are the most super of super foods. According to WebMD, “every organ in the body depends on blood flow, especially the heart and brain”, and avocados help just that. They “[enhance] blood flow, offering a simple, tasty way to fire up brain cells”. Also, because they are so fiber-heavy, they will fend off those annoying hunger pangs which can be super distracting.