Garlic lowers cholesterol levels, thins the blood, and boosts the immune system— all of which make for a happy and healthy brain. Garlic contains certain com- pounds that are known antioxidants and anti-inflammatories—there’s a reason it’s called a superfood. Recent research also suggests it may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and that it may slow (or even reverse) damage from brain injury and environmental stresses.
Incorporate fresh garlic into salads by chopping, crushing, or putting it through a garlic press (two or three cloves a day is optimum). Whole garlic bulbs can be roasted in the oven, and the individual cloves can be squeezed out onto bread or toast as a creamy spread.