Search Results for walnuts

Walnuts Boost Critical Thinking Skills By 11%

Researchers at Andrews University have found a potential connection between eating walnuts and improved critical reasoning skills in young adults.  They published their findings in the British Journal of Nutrition.  The bottom line:

“Students consuming walnuts showed a significant improvement in inference after consuming one-half cup of walnuts daily for eight weeks,” says Pribis. “Walnuts will obviously not make you a critical thinker; this comes after years of studying. However, students and young professionals in fields that involve a great deal of critical thinking or decision-making could benefit from regularly eating walnuts.”

Significant improvement in this case means scoring 11% higher on a verbal inferential reasoning task. Walnuts were ground up and consumed by having two sliced of banana bread every day.

We have reported on additional claims that walnuts provide a cognitive boost elsewhere on the Next Brain blog

I am interested to hear from readers that use walnuts to improve brain function or cognitive performance.   How many do you eat and how often? How do you consume them – raw or as an ingredient  in some other food?

More Items for Your Brain Foods List

In the Next Brain blog we report on foods that offer some scientific promise of either protecting your brain health or improving cognitive performance.  A list of 10 Top Foods to Boost Brainpower published by Forbes Magazine caught my eye.  While it includes items typically found on such lists – for example blueberries, curry  and walnuts – it also includes many I don’t normally see such as chickpeas, celery and crab.

The claim about crab is particularly interesting.  A serving exceeds your daily requirement of phenylalanine, an amino acid that is needed to create dopamine. I am going to do a little research into that and will blog my findings.

Source of image:  openclipart.org

Nuts Known to Improve Cognition

Posit Science, a leading provider of brain training software, has a interesting post on Nuts for Brain Health.  They claim:

• Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts have scientific studies that support claims for brain boosting effects
• Peanuts have preliminary evidence that support their role in brain health
• Other nuts that are often mentioned for brain health including pecans, chestnuts and cashews lack published scientific studies.

A useful summary for those considering including nuts in a Next Brain diet. Interested to hear from readers that eat nuts to improve brain function and cognitive performance.

Brain Healthy Recipe of the Week Program

Posit Science, a brain training firm, recently announced a brain healthy cookbook and recipe of the week program called ThinkFood.  You can signup here.

The first recipe is for Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.  You get a list of ingredients, preparation instructions, an explanation of why it is brain healthy and an introduction to the food blogger that authored it.

Just in case you are wondering, the Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies are brain healthy because “They benefit from a combination of brain foods: chocolate, banana, flax, and walnuts. The more brain-healthy ingredients, the better!”

There are 50 recipes to try. Interested to hear from readers than sign up and put some of these recipes to the test.