Eat Your Way to Better Poker II ? Remember These Foods to Improve Your Memory

Eat your way to better poker II – Remember these foods to improve your memory

“Are you telling me there is something I can eat to improve my memory?” Yes, we are! And we don’t just mean that eating your Auntie’s chicken noodle soup will bring back memories of summer. By eating certain foods regularly, you will improve your brain’s ability to record new memories and to access them quickly, keeping your brain young and ready to learn.

How does it work?

As the brain ages, it loses the ability to protect itself from daily wear and tear, particularly inflammation (swelling)and oxidation, a process which allows damaging free radicals to attach themselves to cells. In addition to this, brain cells often stop communicating with each other as people age, making it harder for the brain to process thoughts, retain small-term memory and make new cells.

“Ancient neurons are like ancient married couples — they don’t talk to each other very much anymore. They just sit in the room with the remote and stare at the TV,” says Dr. James Joseph, director of the Neuroscience Lab at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.

While research in the field of aging and nutrition is just beginning, scientists have found that diet may help minimize the brain’s sensitivity to oxidation and inflammation, as well as improve brain cells’ ability to communicate with each other. This means that by eating correctly you may keep your brain younger, more nimble, and better able to remember.

We will now walk you through several chemicals which have been learned to improve your memory and general brain condition, not to mention your health and looks!

Antioxidants:

We have just read that the brain ages because of oxidation and inflammation, which happen because of the brain’s high demands of oxygen for its daily functioning. Now listen to this: if what you want is to minimize inflammation and oxidation, you could do worse than eating lots of antioxidants. These natural chemicals give plants their bright colors, and are especially effective at – you guessed it! – preventing oxidation.

A study involving 70 beagles showed that dogs which had been fed an antioxidant-rich diet over several years performed better in ancient age than their fellows who had eaten a standard diet. These ancient dogs COULD learn new tricks! Now, we are not calling anyone an “ancient dog”, but while we all wish we were Annette Obrestad, most of us have already left our teenage years behind and are heading towards Doyle Brunson and Dewey Tomko at this stage. This is why it is so vital to get an edge nutrition-wise over all the middle-aged competition out there in the tables, not to mention all those plucky youngsters! So what should you eat to keep your brain as active and healthy as those beagles?

As we said earlier, antioxidants give plants their bright colors, so any bright-colored vegetable or fruit is a excellent bet. Since we really want you to start eating better, we have compiled a list to make your shopping simpler. For best results, try to eat at least 5 (but preferably 9) parts of these foods daily. Don’t underestimate the power of vegetables – remember that Daniel Negreanu is a vegetarian, who brings home-cooked vegan packed lunches to huge tournaments and has the success rate we all wish we had.

The “veg-o-phobes” among you may already be saying “why should I eat all those horrid green things when I can have my cake and take a supplement instead?” We are very sorry, but that just won’t do – most researchers agree that antioxidants present in food are significantly more effective than those from supplements! Reckon salads are for rabbits? In that case try adding vegetables to your stews, pasta dishes and stir-fries, or blend fruits and yogurt for tasty and nutritious smoothies that will keep you running through those all-night online tourneys!

Fruits

- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Cranberries
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Plums
- Avocados
- Oranges
- Red grapes
- Cherries
- Red apples

Vegetables

- Kale
- Spinach
- Brussels sprouts
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Red bell peppers
- Onions
- Carrots

Stay tuned, because in later articles we will offer you recipes and menus that are bound to make you ace those tables and lick your chops!

Breakfast Made Easy With These Cooking Accessories

Breakfast is the most vital meal of the day; it gives your body much needed nutrients to start the day off after a night of regeneration. Eating a healthy breakfast also helps set the tone and mood for the day. How often have you skipped breakfast only to feel a small down in the dumps (not to mention hungry) or irritable midway through the morning? Because breakfast is such an vital meal, there is no reason it should be a hassle to make.

Every kitchen should be stocked with basic pantry staples such as bread, sugar, flour, butter, and eggs, but did you know that there are certain cooking accessories thought to be staples as well? There certainly are! There is a whole slew of cooking accessories that will help you make picture perfect breakfasts (and quite tasty) each and every time! While some of these make preparing breakfast a small simpler, some also make it a small more enjoyable for the cook and guests!

The Breakfast Basics

Most breakfast recipes call for mixing up a batter of some sort, so one of the most basic kitchen accessories you will need is a set of mixing bowls. But, mixing bowls with a spout are ideal for breakfast recipes as it makes it simple to pour any mixture into a mold, skillet, or griddle! You will also want to invest in a excellent silicone balloon whisk to ensure that all your batters are mixed to the hilt. Also, don’t forget the silicone spatulas to wipe the bowls clean! A set of mixing bowls, whisk and a excellent spatula can be a huge help in the morning.

Stove Top Griddle

A stove top griddle is a must have for any breakfast enthusiast. Most stove top griddles come long enough to fit comfortably over two burners and are perfect for cooking French toast, pancakes, or even bacon. Many griddles come with one flat side and a grill side, which makes it dually useful for both breakfast and dinner. A excellent double stove top griddle can last you a long time.

Bacon Press

If you like bacon, then you will certainly want to invest in a bacon press. A bacon press can ensure that you get the perfect results every time, perfectly crisp bacon without the splatter of hot grease. These accessories come in a variety of shapes and sizes, though the best are made from cast iron. A bacon press can be very helpful in the morning to prepare food the whole family will delight in and not make too much of a mess.

Cast Iron Skillet

No kitchen is complete without a cast iron skillet. These handy cooking implements go from the stovetop to the oven without any hesitation and cook your eggs to perfection every time. They are also ideal for making biscuits and gravy or a morning batch of cornbread. Cast iron skillets come in a range of sizes and prices, so shop around. A quality skillet can be used when preparing eggs, bacon home fires and more.

Pancake Molds

While pancake molds are not a necessity in the kitchen, they sure are a lot of fun. Whether you have kids or are just a kid at heart, they can really liven up the breakfast table. Pancake molds come in a variety of seasonal and holiday shapes and will cost only a few dollars each.

Wide Nonstick Spatula

Speaking of pancakes, have you ever had a hard time flipping them? Say excellent-bye to half-burned, half-turned pancakes when you get your own wide, nonstick spatula. Such an accessory will make others reckon you are a pro pancake turner. Prepare stacks and stacks of tasty pancakes with ease. The entire family will thank you for it.

Toaster

Toast goes well with many breakfast items, and for this reason no kitchen should be without a toaster! If you are tight on space, reckon about a toaster or countertop convection oven, as it can double for baking small side dishes as well as making the perfect toast for breakfast. A regular toaster can add to many already tasty dishes.

Divided Skillet

If you do not have one of these, certainly reckon about it. A divided skillet is a fantastic way to cook two different things at once. So if you are cooking for a vegetarian and a meat eater, you can make tofu sausage on one side and pork sausage on the other without ever contaminating the other! Clean up is a breeze, one pan for two side dishes.

While this list is in no way exhaustive, you will find that these cooking accessories will make breakfast a snap to make! The simpler it is to make breakfast the better the experience and the flavor! Have a fantastic morning and bon appetite!