10 Best Foods to Eat for Creativity and Healthy Living
Science says there’s a connection between what you eat and creative thinking. Here are the 10 best foods to eat for creativity and healthy living based on science.
When I was a kid, I used to dream of the day where I could chew a piece of gum and suddenly know a new skill or book. That doesn’t exist yet. However, new understandings in neuroscience and biology have found connections between what we eat and thinking more creatively. If you’re having creative blocks or just looking to improve, try eating something that can help the creative process.
Best Ingredients for Creative Minds
- Omega fatty acids
- Healthy fats
- Antioxidants (I.e vitamin E, flavonoids)
- B vitamins
Fish
One of the best foods for creativity and healthy living is fish. Fish has many healthy nutrients like high-quality protein, iodine, and various vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for improving body and brain functions, memory and cognition, sleep quality, reducing the risk of depression, anxiety relief, and more.
Do you like sushi?
Not only is sushi a creative, healthy, and fun way to eat fish, but seaweed has essential amino acid and tyrosine, which plays a role in the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which is assumed to drive cognitive control and creativity. Tyrosine specifically has been found to promote convergent (“deep”) thinking.
There are many creative ways to eat and cook fish, and even if you don’t like fish, you can still get some of the benefits from omega-3 supplements. Eating fish or taking omega-3 supplements is also a great way to fight the winter blues or SAD.
Avocados
Avocados have become a staple in many homes and diets and are only growing in popularity as more and more benefits are discovered for this incredibly nutritious and delicious food.
Avocados are packed with important nutrients and even contain more potassium than bananas, which improves blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Being a high-fat food with healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), avocados can help improve the organization of the brain’s attention network, also known as the dorsal attention network. Researchers found that general intelligence was associated with the brain’s dorsal attention network, which plays a central role in attention-demanding tasks and everyday problem-solving.
Avocados are also high in fiber which supports gut health that can improve overall mood, well-being, and more. the science of gut health is still relatively new, but there are many promising studies showing just how much gut health can affect and support creative minds.
Eggs
“An egg is always an adventure; the next one may be different.”
― Oscar Wilde
Eggs are packed with healthy nutrients. One of these nutrients is choline, which is used to build cell membranes and plays a crucial role in producing neurotransmitters in the brain, which improve memory, focus, and processing of sensory experiences. Eggs also help relieve anxiety, reduce the risk of depression, and naturally aids sleep quality.
Berries
Berries have a long list of benefits and are among the healthiest foods you can eat. Loaded with antioxidants, they can protect cells, reduce disease risk, and prevent age-related memory loss.
They even help activate BDNF or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which encourages growth and differentiation of new neurons and boosts creative thinking.
Among the many nutrients and benefits of eating berries, they’re also highly adaptable to different diets and dishes, making it easy to get creative with your cooking and support other health and fitness goals.
Bananas
Bananas are a great source of vitamin C, which supports brain health by producing serotonin, which is a hormone that affects the sleep cycle, moods, and experiences of stress and pain. By eating bananas, a person may lower feelings of anxiety and stress and have more energy to be creative. Bananas are also one of the best fruit sources of vitamin B6, which among other benefits, helps maintain a healthy nervous system.
Mixed Nuts
If you haven’t noticed yet, there’s a trend in how some foods benefit creativity, boosting, and caring for the brain. Mixed nuts are no different, and some are even in the shape of a brain, like walnuts. The main benefit is mixed nuts have neuroprotective compounds including, melatonin, antioxidants, and omega-3s. These neuroprotective compounds can improve mood and cognitive performance.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a pretty amazing vegetable. They’re full of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. One of these is vitamin k, which stimulates the brain and cognitive functions. Bioactive compounds can slow mental decline, promote brain tissue recovery, and support healthy digestion, which is growing in importance with new studies about the connection between the gut and brain.
Scientists call this little brain in the gut the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS may trigger major emotional shifts and play a role in mental health and well-being. Researchers are finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (CNS) that trigger mood changes.
Oats
Oats are one of the healthiest grains on Earth and a great source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants for the creative mind and body.
When trying to live a healthier and more creative lifestyle, Oats make an easy and balanced breakfast that can benefit weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, reduced risk of heart disease, and more.
One of the most unique nutrients oats contains is an antioxidant called, Avenanthramides, which are almost solely found in oats, may help reduce blood pressure, skin protection, antiaging, and other health benefits.
Dark Chocolate
Do you like chocolate? You’re in luck! Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health and creative lifestyle.
Dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and a wide variety of powerful antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of depression. It also contains stimulant substances like caffeine and theobromine, which can improve brain functions and blood flow for better blood pressure.
Eat Something New
Above, all research on the best foods to eat for creativity and healthy living, trying new things might be the best way of boosting creativity through food.
Creativity does not involve a single brain region or a single side of the brain. Anything that stimulates brain activity of a complex nature will boost connectivity. So naturally, trying new and different foods create new connections in the brain, triggers memories, and helps creativity. If you’re having a creative block or just want to improve, try new types of food to boost creativity.
Recipes
- Learn how to cook healthy recipes.
- Learn how to cook creative recipes from your favorite movies and beyond.
- Travel the world with your stomach, try a dish from every country.
- Try a cooking class when you travel.
- Catch, grow, hunt your own food.
- Go on a creative retreat and try the local dishes.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
