It’s time to get smart on the things that will make your grey matter even better. So check out these top tips to nourish and strengthen your brain!

Hit the sauna, stat
New research
reported in Neuroscience letters has revealed that sweating in out in the sauna after exercise produces a protein called BDNF. The good news? This protein actually protects your brain to reverse damage and build neurons.

Have a cocoa
Treat yourself. The flavanols from cocoa and proteins from milk make for a potent, yet delicious mix which repairs blood vessel flow in the brain to keep your mind sharp as you age. The effects of adding marshmallows are, as yet, unknown.

Turn your brain ommm
Got a big test coming up? Research from UC Santa Barbara has revealed that being mindful actually helped students focus by reducing the time their mind spent wandering. The result? They had improved results in exams.

Nourish that noggin
Not just good for your workout gains; BCAA (that’s branch chain amino acids, found in supplement form are good for helping to build muscle) can also fire up your grey matter by fixing neurotransmitters. Translation: better brainpower say experts from the University of Pennsylvania.

Nap yourself smarter
We all know our brain turns to mush after an all-nighter – but a hefty weekend lie-in can have a similar effect. The sweet-spot? Seven hours will keep your brain sharp as you age says scientists from University College London. Talk about sweet dreams.

Get outside
Time for a change of scenery? A study from Exeter University found that moving to a greener area leads to improvements in mental health, while new city-dwellers found the opposite. Just moved to the big smoke? No worries – just checking out nature scenes on screen can have benefits if you’re not near a green space.