Just as your body needs vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, so does your brain. Check the following food list and find out if you have been having your daily helping of brain food.

Brainy vitamin:
The hero of the piece is vitamin B satisfies a lot of bodily functions and needs, but in addition to these functions, it is found to be vital to normal brain and nerve function and said to be especially helpful in their smooth and efficient functioning.

Whole grains:
Whole grains are a good source of vitamin B1 which is essential for maintaining the health of your brain and nerve cells. So make sure to include whole grains in your menu along with enriched grain products like rice, pasta, bread and cereals.

Meat and veggies:
Vitamin B5 helps form a coenzyme which is useful in the transmission of nerve impulses. It is found in abundance in poultry, meat, fish, legumes, vegetables and fruits.

Chicken and nuts:
Its vitamin B6 which helps produce serotonin, a brain chemical, that is critical to many brain functions. Chicken, liver, kidney, nuts, and legumes are some of the food items that contain vitamin B6.

Dairy products:
Milk, eggs and dairy products help maintain healthy nervous tissues because they contain vitamin B12.

Ace acid:
Folic acid is vital in the metabolism of fatty acids in the brain. Fruits like bananas, oranges, lemons, strawberries and cantaloupes are excellent sources of folic acid. Pregnant women should especially take note of this; as a deficiency of folic acid can increase the risk of neural defects in newborns.

Star fish:
Once again fish figures prominently in the menu for healthy food. That fish is an excellent source of high quality protein and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals is well known.

But did you know that cold water fish in addition to being a good source of all this, is the richest source of certain fatty acids that are crucial for good health and cannot be created by the human body.

These fatty acids, also omega-3 fats are said to fight heart disease and are also identified as ‘brain protectors’ and are known to have a direct beneficial effect on brain chemistry, and the proper development and functioning of the brain.

Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids; sardines, anchovies, tuna, herrings, salmon, mackerel and bluefish. Vegetarians can opt for flaxseed oil.