Our brain is the nerve center of our body; integral to a healthy and fully functioning body. As we age, our brain power declines naturally which must be accepted. This super organ does require a lot of energy to function super advance. The brain might be only 2% of your total body weight, but it requires as much as 20% of your daily calorie intake. It feeds on glucose directly and hence, maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise is mandatory to nurture memory power.
Sadly, the latest changes in lifestyle and adulteration in food items lead to a shortage of nutrients in the body, which in turn affect the natural aging process of the brain, the result is, increasing depleting brain power and cognitive health.
Although there is no magic food that can improve brain power overnight, certain food items have the ability to replenish the lost power of the brain and help you regain what’s lost unnaturally.
Alongside food, exercises play a crucial role in working on the memory power of the human brain. A strategic combination of exercise and foods to increase memory is what you need to have a healthy brain and a sharp memory. Here again, there are specific exercises that one must focus on these exercises for memory power are aimed at regenerating life in the weaker cells of the brain and improving brain function.
So, what food to eat and exercises to do to increase memory power and concentration? Well, your answer is explained in detail in this post.
Best Foods to Improve Memory Power
Whether it is your big examination ahead or you are experiencing the loss of brain power due to age, illness, or injury, there are ways you can work on nurturing your brain to gain back the lost memory power.
Please make a mental note that no super food promises a drastic increase in brain power but aids in gradually improving your cognitive health.
Here are some super foods for the brain that deliver the required nutrients for the brain to work smart and healthily.
Whole grains
Whole grains were the primary food of The Prophet (SAWS). The brain needs adequate amounts of energy to work fluently and whole grains are the best source of energy known to mankind. As the brain works on glucose and whole grains make quick glucose when consumed, adding whole grains to improve brain power is a healthy choice. Make sure you choose whole grains that have a low glycemic index as they release glucose in the bloodstream slowly, which is exactly what your brain needs.
Fish with high oil content
Fish is a halal food mentioned in the Quran. We know that essential fatty acid is integral to a healthy brain. Sadly, our body does not produce EFAs naturally and hence they must be ingested orally. Oily fishes are a rich source of Omega-9 fatty acids and hence eating oily fish is a great way to increase memory power. The vegetarian alternative for oily fish is flaxseed, soya beans, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and their oils.s.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the super foods for memory enhancers. They are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that prevents free radical damage in the brain cells. The free radical damage to the brain can lead to serious cognitive problems including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. The Prophet himself consumed tomatoes in rich quantities and suggested including tomatoes in your diet as a wholefood.
Eggs
When we talk about foods that boost memory, eggs must be on top of the list. The B vitamin – B6, B12, and folic acid- components of eggs work against the homocysteine in the blood, lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive impairment.
Additionally, the Choline present in the egg yolk promotes the production of the memory-boosting brain chemical, acetylcholine.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of nutrients that promote brain power. They offer magnesium, B vitamins, and tryptophan which are essential for stress busting. Pumpkin seeds are also a rich source of zinc, a nutrient vital for healthy brain function.
Berries
Berries are rich in flavonoids which is an element that promotes brain power. A regular intake of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries may improve cognitive decline significantly.
Allah says in the Quran “And from the fruits of date palm and grapes, you get wholesome drink and nutrition: Behold in this is a sign for those who are wise” (16:67).
The Prophet (SAWS) consumed dates and taught Muslims to do so as dates are a rich source of magnesium, and zinc and also have a low GI. They are a great food to increase brain power.
Best Exercises to Improve Memory Power
Strategic exercises do help in nurturing brain power, making you smarter and sharper. These exercises are to increase brain power keep the most complex organ of the body engaged in a different way, increasing memory, cognitive function, or creativity.
Here are some exercises that help increase memory power and concentration.
Meditation
Meditating helps slow down the brain aging process and promotes the brain’s ability to process information and react.
Memory games
There are certain games that help improve brain power. Board games and memory card games are great to improve short-term memory and activate specific cells in the brain that are responsible for pattern recognition and recall.
Puzzles
Both jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles help increase brainpower. Thisbrain power exercises increases perception, mental rotation, working memory, and reasoning. Such brain exercises can help against the ill effects of brain aging and promote overall cognitive function.
Chess
Chess is one of the most interesting brain power boosting games which can be perceived as the best brain exercise. The strategic gameplay of chess improves memory, the ability to process information and act accordingly to meet set goals, and the speed of the brain when processing information.
Learning new skills
When you engage in learning new skills, your brain functions in innovative ways honing its natural ability to think, innovate, and function. The more creative the new skill is, the better changes you may experience in your brain power.
Regular exercises
A healthy exercise routine also helps in improving brain health. When physically active, the blood supply experiences a high and reaches the brain making it more active than it is already. Regular exercise can help in enhanced memory, cognition, and motor coordination.
These are some of the brain power exercises that one must practice boosting brain health and power.
Does Quran increase Memory?
“O mankind! Surely, there has come to your (heart penetrating) counsel from your Master and a cure for all those (diseases) which are (hidden) in the chests. And it is guidance and mercy for those who believe. (Yūnus, 10:57)”
Quran is the answer to every concern of a human and yes, the Quran can help increase memory. Islamic beliefs talk about the divine rewards that shower on one when he/she memorizes the Quran but this can also be experienced physically as a boost in IQ levels and overall brain health and function. Memorizing the Quran can boost both short-term and long-term brain memory.
You do not memorize Quran for a short term but for a lifetime and to ensure you remember all the verses by heart; you need to focus on retaining the information learned. Hence, regularly reading Quran or saying the verses 0ffer a boost in cognitive power.
Additionally, the Holy Quran talks about a wide range of foods that boost the brain. The list includes dates, almonds, Zam Zam water, Avocado, egg yolk, coconut oil, seafood, black seed oil, olive oil, and more.
Best Dua to Improve Memory Power
Recite Surah Alam Nashrah (94 – 30) seven times and blow it on water and drink. In-sha-Allah memory power will increase.
- Dua Before Starting Class:
“Allhumma Akhrijni min zulumatil wahmi ,wa akrimni be nuril fahmi . Allahumma afta alayna abwaba rahmateka, wa anshur alyna khazaena uloomeka be rahmateka ya arrahamar rahemeen.”
- Dua Before Studying
“Allaahumma akrimnee binooril fahmi wa kharrajanee min z’ulumaatil wahmi waftah’ a’lainaa abwaaba i’lmak. Wan shur a’lainaa khuzzaanu ma’rifatika yaa arh’amar raah’imeen.
- Dua After Studying
“Allahumma inni astaodeeka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Farudduhu ‘allaya inda hajati elahi. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel.
The Holy Quran mentions several duas that help in increasing memory power. There are different duas to say before and after studying. Some duas are also helpful in managing anxiety levels, maintaining concentration levels, learning new knowledge, remembering important Quran verses, and when forgetting something is important.
The human brain is one of the most complex organs and must be nurtured with dues care. Whether or not you are finding difficulty maintaining a healthy brain function, indulging in healthy eating and exercising for the brain is important. You must include these foods that increase brain power and exercise regularly to have a healthy brain function.
Memorizing the Holy Quran and saying the duas mentioned in it for brain function advancement will bring proven results.
