When it comes right down to it, your memories are who you are.

Your memory stores the experiences and events that have shaped you. 

Your memory is also important for basic, everyday function. From remembering where you parked your car, to paying your bills and keeping appointments.

Memory loss is a scary thing. While occasional forgetfulness is pretty normal, especially as we age, the idea of losing track of major details and even forgetting the people we love is truly terrifying.

Fortunately, you can protect and retain your memories simply by including brain-boosting memory foods in your diet.

Are you forgetting where you left your keys now and then? Or are you finding that more important information is starting to slip through the cracks? Either way, adding memory-boosting foods to your diet is a risk-free step with potentially huge benefits.

You can combine these memory boosters with more intensive treatments if you need them. Or you can enjoy these foods as part of a balanced diet.

We’ve made a list of 10 of the best memory foods for you to draw from.

Just remember to take the list to the store with you!

Green vegetables

Of course, veggies made the list. In fact, most veggies are great for brain health, but green ones are especially helpful. Broccoli, cabbage, and dark leafy greens like spinach and kale are loaded with brain-boosting nutrients. They contain memory-boosting flavonoids and significant amounts of vitamin B, which can put a stop to memory loss. They also contain vitamin K, which is essential for creating verbal memories.

Avocados

A lot of people avoid avocados because they're high in fat. The thing is, it’s the right kind of fat.

Avocados are a great source of both omega–3 and omega–6 fatty acids, which your body needs to get from food. They help to increase the blood flow to the brain, ensure it has the energy it needs to function optimally and improve its absorption of antioxidants.

Berries

Pretty much any berry can help to improve cognitive function, but especially dark-coloured berries, like blackberries and blueberries, as well as cherries (not a berry per se, but similar nutritionally speaking) as they contain even more of the flavonoids that support brain health.

Berries help your body purge toxic proteins that can bring on age-related memory loss.  

Dark chocolate

Need an excuse to indulge in a little something sweet?

BeBrainFit.com has just the thing: "Chocolate’s flavonoids stimulate blood flow to the brain to aid memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving."

Dark chocolate is also known to have an anti-inflammatory effect and can improve blood flow to your brain.

Nuts

Specifically, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts help promote better brain health. 

Walnuts are high in DHA, a type of omega–3 that improves brain health and prevents age-related memory loss and decline. 

Almonds and hazelnuts are excellent sources of vitamin E. BrainHQ.com explains the importance of that: "vitamin E intake is generally associated with less age-related cognitive decline. In one study, participants who received vitamin E improved statistically and clinically in some memory and verbal measures, while participants who received a placebo did not. 1/4 cup of almonds or hazelnuts packs in nearly 50% of the RDA for vitamin E."

Peanuts contain significant amounts of niacin. Niacin deficiencies have been linked to the onset of memory loss, Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s.

Fish

Salmon, mackerel, and herring are just a few delicious kinds of fish that contain the healthy fats your brain needs. The brain contains tremendous amounts of fats, so healthy fats in the diet benefit your “think tank.” Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and are associated with preserved brain function. Experts agree that replacing other meats with fish at least 2-3 times a week can improve your overall health.

Green tea

This delicious Chinese tea (as well as the related Japanese matcha) contains the antioxidant EGCG. EGCG improves both cognitive function and memory retention. Its use for these and other health purposes dates back thousands of years. Try replacing a cup of your daily coffee with a cup or two of green tea to improve your mental powers.

Eggs

Containing healthy fats and protein, eggs are also one of the best sources of choline, an important nutrient used to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory. Eggs don’t just protect your brain; they also fuel it, helping you thrive in your day-to-day activities.

Turmeric

This spice has an active property called curcumin. It works to protect and improve your memory retention by alleviating inflammation, fighting oxidation and by removing the plaque that builds up in your neural pathways.

Seeds and Seed Oils

Sunflower, pumpkin, and flax seeds are known for their omega fatty acid content, supporting overall brain health. Sunflower seeds contain vitamin E, which helps protect your brain from age-related cognitive decline. Pumpkin seeds contain vitamin B, which can stop memory loss and enhance cognitive abilities. Flax seeds are high in omega–3 fatty acids and enhance cognitive function, memory retention, and even mood.

You can get the benefits of these seeds by eating the seeds themselves, or by eating pressed seed oils. 

The Perfect Press® line guarantees Perfectly Pressed seeds, bottled in Miron glass to protect the oils from rancidity. Each teaspoon meets your lips in a fresh and potent form.

You can experience pumpkin, sunflower and flax together, along with black sesame and coriander seed oils in Perfect Press® Five Seed Blend.

These seed oils deliver powerful brain-boosting nutrients, and have a long list of other benefits for your overall health!

Try them today, and protect your most valuable asset: your memory.

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