{"id":5791,"date":"2023-01-27T13:36:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T21:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/?p=5791"},"modified":"2025-10-16T09:07:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T16:07:12","slug":"eat-these-six-foods-to-jumpstart-your-creativity-asap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/eat-these-six-foods-to-jumpstart-your-creativity-asap\/","title":{"rendered":"Eat these 6 foods to kickstart your creativity ASAP (yes, there are foods that make you more creative)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are creative thoughts born of thin air or nourished by what we nosh on? We asked pharmacist, dermatologist, founder of Murad (and all-around wellness advocate) Dr. Howard Murad <\/a>and Lisa Young<\/a>, PhD, registered dietitian nutritionist, adjunct professor of nutrition at NYU and author of Finally Full, Finally Slim<\/em><\/a> to help break down the facts around feeding creativity and countering cognitive decline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which foods can help make us more creative? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that fruit and vegetable consumption foretold greater curiosity and creativity versus days when these items were not consumed. However, \u201cThere\u2019s no magic pill\u2014or food\u2014that prevents cognitive decline,\u201d Young says. \u201cThe best \u2018brain foods\u2019 can help produce the hormones that increase alertness, while helping the mind process new information.\u201d Rather than dosing yourself with a dozen eggs and expecting a creative burst, \u201ca consistent, healthy dietary pattern can help support brain health.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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01<\/div>\n
Popcorn <\/div>\n

Foggy memory<\/span>? Popcorn <\/span>contains <\/span><\/span>zinc<\/span><\/span><\/a>, which<\/span> helps <\/span>neurotransmission<\/span>,\u201d Dr. Murad<\/a> says.<\/span> \u201cIt<\/span>\u00a0also<\/span> helps <\/span>manage dopamine<\/span> for<\/span> anti-depressant <\/span>benefits, as well as <\/span>focus <\/span>and memory<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> Like all the foods on this list, moderation and sensibility are essential to reaping the benefits (meaning go easy on the butter and salt).\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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02<\/div>\n
Egg yolk <\/div>\n

In the 1970s, egg yolks got a bad rap for being high in cholesterol and building up arterial plaque\u2014one of the lead factors in heart attacks. <\/span>But treating<\/span> our heart right with egg-white scrambles meant <\/span>depriving<\/span> our bodies of essential nutrients. \u201cEgg yolk is full of nutrition\u2014the most important being choline\u2014for neurotransmission and memory,\u201d Dr. Murad<\/a> says<\/span>. Eggs<\/span> also contain taurine that <\/span>helps keep<\/span> the brain healthy for neurotransmission<\/span>\u2014<\/span>and may help stave off long-term memory loss.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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03<\/div>\n
Nuts and seeds <\/div>\n

Just a handful can <\/span>do your entire body good. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Nuts and seeds contain<\/span> good fats which enhance brain activity<\/span>,\u201d Young says. \u201c<\/span>Pumpkin seeds, as an example, are rich in zinc<\/span> that\u2019s e<\/span>ssential for enhancing memory and critical thinkin<\/span>g. Nuts and seeds<\/span> in general contain nutrients that help <\/span>counter <\/span>anti-depressant activit<\/span>y,<\/span> which may help to get rid of creativity-killing thoughts.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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04<\/div>\n
Whole grains <\/div>\n

Carbs and creativity can actually go hand-in-hand. \u201cWhole-grain bread and beans have inositol that helps balance brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine,\u201d Dr. Murad<\/a> says. \u201cInositol can also help with balancing compulsive disorders and anxiety\u201d <\/span>and can be found in<\/span> dried prunes, almonds, peanut <\/span>butter<\/span> and cantaloupe.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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05<\/div>\n
Beets <\/div>\n

A <\/span>polarizing vegetable? Yes. But beets\u2019 benefits are undisputed. \u201cBeets are high in nitrates that increase blood flow to the brain which may help boost focus and creativity,\u201d Young says. Beets are also gaining traction with <\/span>trainers and athletes<\/span><\/a> because they can help increase energy levels (great for left-brainers and right-brainers) and can help enhance athletic performance. Another less-than-favorite root veggie that boosts brain function is radishes. Fortunately, both beets and radishes can blend in to a flavorful salad without being too overpowering.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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06<\/div>\n
Fish (and more) <\/div>\n

From the Mediterranean diet to the National Institute of Health\u2019s DASH diet, f<\/span>ish is the all-star of many <\/span>nutritional guidelines<\/span> that support total health and longevity<\/span>.<\/span> It\u2019s <\/span>loaded with omegas which can \u201chelp build gray matter and counter memory loss,\u201d Dr. Murad<\/a> says. Grey matter influences how or cells communicate, function and process information<\/span>, and it <\/span>feeds off omegas found in all kinds of fish,<\/span> as well as<\/span> walnuts, <\/span>edamame<\/span> and flax seeds<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Murad, and are for informational purposes only, even if the advice of physicians and medical practitioners are included. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not looked be considered specific medical advice.<\/em>\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

References for this information:  <\/strong>
Foods<\/em>, 2021, volume 10, issue 2<\/a> 
British Journal of Health Psychology, <\/em>2015, volume 20, issue 2, pages 413-427<\/a> 
Nutrients, <\/em>2020, volume 12, issue 10<\/a> <\/em> 
News Medical Life Sciences Website<\/em><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are creative thoughts born of thin air or nourished by what we nosh on? We asked pharmacist, dermatologist, founder of Murad (and all-around wellness advocate) Dr. Howard Murad and Lisa Young, PhD, registered dietitian nutritionist, adjunct professor of nutrition at NYU and author of Finally Full, Finally Slim to help break down the facts around […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":5875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food","category-mind"],"metadata":{"_edit_lock":["1760630837:21"],"_edit_last":["21"],"adobe_analytics_repeatable":["a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:4:\"name\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"value\";s:0:\"\";}}"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["2"],"show_featured_image":["1"],"_show_featured_image":["field_609ee1cf1ce13"],"primary_category":["3"],"_primary_category":["field_608c33bdd26d5"],"mobile_image":[""],"_mobile_image":["field_60bf7692abe28"],"_post_views_count":["field_6107dfafd6a27"],"sidebar_products_use_global_default":["0"],"_sidebar_products_use_global_default":["field_63a349a11086a"],"sidebar_products_items":[""],"_sidebar_products_items":["field_63a349a110878"],"sidebar_products":[""],"_sidebar_products":["field_63a349a0dadad"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["3"],"_thumbnail_id":["5875"],"post_views_count":["5749"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["Dr. Howard Murad and Lisa Young, registered dietitian nutritionist, talk feeding creativity and countering cognitive decline."],"sidebar_products_title":["Related Products"],"_sidebar_products_title":["field_6408d62123449"],"_aioseo_title":["6 creativity diet foods to boost brain power & innovation | Murad Skincare"],"_aioseo_description":["Fuel innovation with a creativity diet. Discover 6 science-backed foods that enhance cognitive function, problem-solving, and creative thinking."],"_aioseo_keywords":["a:0:{}"],"_aioseo_og_title":[""],"_aioseo_og_description":[""],"_aioseo_og_article_section":[""],"_aioseo_og_article_tags":["a:0:{}"],"_aioseo_twitter_title":[""],"_aioseo_twitter_description":[""]},"aioseo_notices":[],"acf":{"show_featured_image":true,"primary_category":{"term_id":3,"name":"Food","slug":"food","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":27,"filter":"raw"},"mobile_image":false,"sidebar_products":{"use_global_default":false,"title":"Related Products","items":""},"post_views_count":"5749"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5791"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6178,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5791\/revisions\/6178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/5875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}