 Stress does a lot of things to our physical body, behavior, emotions, and cognitive capacity. Even though a certain amount of stress is needed for each of these things to work at their best, too much stress can lead to a number of bad things, like making bad food choices. Chronic stress can make you feel tired and low on energy, which can make you choose foods that are easy for your body to turn into sugar. These processed starches and other foods with a high glycemic index are chosen because they help us feel more energized and alert very quickly. This might be helpful for a short time, but the insulin response causes the body's glucose level to drop quickly, which causes more cortisol to be made. This in turn impacts mental focus and clarity once more. So, to prevent or respond to that 3pm energy slump and sugar cravings, here are some foods that are helpful in boosting mental focus without spiking insulin. Blueberries. Even though it might seem impossible, these small, dark blue bubbles of goodness have been shown to improve concentration and memory for hours after being eaten. Studies have shown that the antioxidants present mainly in the skin of blueberries that can boost mental focus. A British scientist, Dr. Jeremy Spencer of Reading University, found that the flavonoids in blueberries improved mental clarity and focus, but not much, for the first hour after eating them. However, the effects were much stronger 5 hours later. Spencer says that this benefit is not unique to blueberries. He points out that studies show that other foods with flavonoids are also good at making it easier to concentrate. Green Tea. Want an energy drink that gives you more than heart palpitations? Green Tea is the answer to mental clarity without the caffeine and sugar jitters. Green Tea contains a compound called L-theanin as well as a dose of caffeine. The L-theanin helps slow down the absorption of the caffeine in the body, avoiding a caffeine spike and the subsequent energy crash. L-theanin has also been shown to increase the activity of alpha wave frequency in the brain, leading to feelings of tranquility that counter the effects of the caffeine. Together, caffeine and L-theanin increase focused attention and lead to improvements in speed and accuracy. Leafy Green Vegetables. When it comes to leafy green vegetables, the darker the green, the more enriched the benefits. Leafy green vegetables and herbs are rich sources of antioxidants and carotenoids, providing a boost to your brain power and helping to protect your brain. Leafy green vegetables are sources of B vitamins and folic acid, which are proven to help your memory, focus, mental clarity, and brain health. They also contain folic acid, which improves your mental clarity. Tuna and Salmon. Okay, we understand the desire for all tuna fish luncheaters to enjoy their meal in a well-ventilated area, preferably in the courtyard. But oily fish is a productivity hack that could well be encouraged. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in these fish. These acids are important for good health and also help with memory and mental performance. A lack of Omega-3 has been linked to poor memory, depression, mood swings, and low energy, while people who eat oily fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring, or kippers tend to feel better and be able to focus better. Water. Getting your eight glasses a day? If not, your work may be suffering. Not a food per se. However, if you want to improve your focus, you need to drink enough water. Water has been proven to help you think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity. The average person in the US drinks less than one liter of water per day, yet the average adult will lose more than twice that amount through talking, breathing, sweating, and nocturnal transdermal moisture loss. Studies have shown that if you are only 1% dehydrated, you will likely have a 5% decrease in cognitive function. At brain dehydration levels of 2%, short-term memory problems, trouble focusing, and impacted numerical reasoning are observed in trials. Dark chocolate. No need to thank us, this is science. Dark chocolate can help you focus for a number of reasons. Cacao contains a small amount of caffeine, which heightens mental alertness, and also contains magnesium, which reduces stress. Dark chocolate also stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin, both of which are feel-good, mood-enhancing substances. One study has shown that consuming between 520 and 990 milligrams of cocoa flavonols per day for 60 days improved cognitive performance in research subjects. So there you have it. Six foods to boost your mental clarity and focus. Blueberries, green tea, leafy vegetables, tuna, salmon, water, and dark chocolate. Including these foods in your diet will improve your brain power and help you become a master of focus. They are tasty, they are powerful, and they will take your mind to the next level. So get ready to fuel your brain and conquer the world. Click the subscribe button and don't miss out on this vital information for yourself, your colleagues and your loved ones.