True or False: Nootropics Make You Smarter
Let’s take a dive into the science behind nootropics, and evaluate exactly how they can boost your cognitive performance.
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We’ve assembled a list of some of the best kinds of foods you can store in your cabinets.
Keeping your pantry filled with healthy food is a great way to ensure you always have the ingredients available to make a nutritious meal. If you let your cupboard go empty, you might find yourself ordering out more often or shopping for unhealthy snacks for a quick energy boost.
It’s important to always have healthy proteins, fats, and carbohydrates on hand. Below, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best kinds of foods you can store in your cabinets.
Canned salmon is a great source of protein, and according to the FDA, has a much lower concentration of mercury than canned tuna. (2) Salmon is packed with omega 3 fatty acids that help support brain health and a healthy inflammatory response throughout your body. As reported by the USDA, canned pink and red salmon has a slightly higher level of omega 3s than fresh salmon. (3)
When buying salmon, you may want to look for Pacific salmon. Salmon caught from the Atlantic are more often farmed, and researchers have found that the crowded conditions of most farms can cause contamination. Additionally, farms have been accused of polluting the oceans. (10)
Organic canned turkey or chicken are both good ways to add protein to your recipes. Each 2 oz. serving yields around 12 to 14 grams of protein. Sticking to organic ensures that it’s free of antibiotics and hormones that may negative impact optimal health.
Most organic canned turkey and chicken have the same nutritional value as a fresh bird you roasted yourself, and are made from breast meat—making them lower in fat and cholesterol. Even organic canned protein can be high in sodium, so always make sure you are reading the label.
If you’re not able to buy canned salmon, tuna can be a good occasional snack or source of protein after a workout. It has roughly 25-30g of protein per can, it’s cheap, easy to find and it can be used in a lot of recipes.
It’s important to look at the label when buying tuna. Tuna comes in several types such as skipjack, albacore, and yellowfin. The biggest concern with tuna is mercury contamination. Mercury is highly toxic in humans and can adversely affect your health. Some types of tuna are higher in mercury than others. Canned white tuna (albacore) has almost three times more mercury than skipjack tuna, which contains the lowest amount of mercury of any type of tuna. (1)
You can use this mercury calculator to get a rough idea of the maximum amount of tuna you can safely eat per day.
When buying tuna, it’s a good idea to look for the following:
Lentils, chickpeas, and nutritional yeast are all great sources of protein for a plant-based diet. Lentils contain about 18 grams of protein per cooked cup, chickpeas coming in at 15 grams per cooked cup, and nutritional yeast provides the body with about 14 grams of protein per ounce.
Nutritional yeast is a popular ingredient that is often used to top dishes off with a cheesy-like flavor. Not only is it high in protein, it also provides an ample dose of fiber and vitamins, including vitamin B12.
Nuts, seeds, and nut butter are great low-sugar sources of fat you can keep in your pantry. You can eat nuts or seeds as a snack by themselves or add them to recipes. You can use nut butter as a dip for vegetables, mix it with yogurt, or eat it with fresh fruit.
It’s a good idea to avoid nuts or seeds that are roasted in canola or palm oil since these oils may increase free radicals throughout your body. Dry-roasted or raw varieties make healthier options. Nut allergies are also fairly common, so if you have issues with nuts, it’s a good idea to avoid them. Peanut butter is often contaminated with mold (and peanuts are technically legumes), so you may want to stick to other nut butter varieties like almond or cashew.
Coconut oil has a high concentration of a type of saturated fat called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Unlike other types of fat, these fatty acids a reprocessed in your liver so your body can use them for immediate energy.
A 2015 review of studies looked at the effect of including more MCTs in your diet. (5) The researchers found that replacing other sources of fat with MCTs may encourage weight loss and help you lose body fat.
Cooking is the most common use of coconut oil due to its saturated fat content—making it one of the best oils for high-heat cooking. However, you can also replace your baking oils with coconut oil, or use it as a moisturizer, or even a natural deodorant.
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat. Research consistently links olive oil to various health benefits. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, there’s strong evidence that consuming monounsaturated fatty acids may support healthy circulation, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. (6)
When buying olive oil, it’s a good idea to stick to extra virgin oil that’s been cold-pressed. Cold-pressed means that the oil isn’t exposed to heat during processing that can potentially damage the nutrients in the oil.
Who wouldn’t want to keep dark chocolate in their pantry at all times? If you buy quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, sweetened only with natural sweeteners like monk fruit, stevia or maple syrup, then it is actually quite good for you.
A serving (40 grams) of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa, and sweetened naturally, can contain between 15-18 grams of fat. Not only is dark chocolate high in fat, it is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc, and is found to be one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet. (11)
Quinoa is much higher in protein than most other grains. It’s also one of the only vegetarian-friendly foods to contain all nine amino acids your body can’t make itself.
This grain also contains 5 grams of fiber per cooked cup. (7) It makes a great alternative to other sources of starchy carbs that are low in fiber like white bread or white rice. Quinoa also contains more than 10% of your DV of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, copper, iron, and zinc.
Brown rice is more nutritious than its white rice counterpart. It’s also lower glycemic and contains more fiber, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar as quickly.
Brown rice has more fiber and antioxidants than white rice, as well as a lot more important vitamins and minerals. 100 grams of cooked brown rice contains about 1.8 grams of fiber, whereas white rice only contains about 0.4 grams of fiber. (8,9)
Canned fruit doesn’t contain as many nutrients as fresh fruit. However, having a few cans in your cupboard can still be handy to use in baking or as an occasional treat. Dried fruit, such as dried figs, mangoes, and apricots can also make a good addition to oatmeal, cereals, or other healthy meals.
It’s a good idea to look for dry or canned fruit that doesn't contain extra sugar or syrup. You can often find organic non-GMO varieties at your local grocery store.
There are plenty of healthy bread and cracker alternatives that you can keep in your cupboard. Some of these foods may still be high in calories or carbs, so try to eat them in moderation or save them as occasional snacks. Here’s a list of potential options:
It’s a good idea to avoid products with hydrogenated oils like palm oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil or added sugar. Some labels hide sugar under other names such as dextrose, barley malt, corn syrup, or maltodextrin.
Soup broths like vegetable stock, chicken stock, or bone broth are great additions to every cupboard. Making soup is an easy way to increase your daily vegetable intake, so having broth available makes sure you always have the option.
Here’s a list of other odds and ends that may be handy to have in your pantry for cooking:
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. Readers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither the author(s) nor the publisher of this content take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All readers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
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