Best Lunch for Memory and Learning

Power Lunching: 3 Choices That Will Work Wonders

By Nancy Gottesman
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the July 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

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Walnuts, green tea, spinach, salmon, blueberries, and corn

Most people don't give much thought to their midday meal—it's just fuel to get them to dinner. But choose lunch wisely and it can do wonders.

To stay sharp, try:

Grilled salmon
Spinach
Corn
Walnuts
Blueberries
Green tea

The science behind it:
These foods enhance memory and learning, says Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, PhD, a professor in UCLA's neurosurgery department. Omega-3s in salmon and walnuts help nerve cells communicate; antioxidants in spinach and corn (such as vitamin C and flavonoids) optimize brain cell performance; and green tea also helps boost brain function.

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