I was talking to my dad on the phone the other day, getting updates on various relatives, when he told me my great aunt, who is turning 97 in a couple of weeks is still sharp as a tack mentally. She still remembers all the birthdays and anniversaries of not only her own kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids but all of her extended family member’s birthdays as well. This is incredible to me! I teasingly asked my dad what her secret is :)

Of course we know that what people can or cannot remember and brain function in general varies from person to person. Some things we can’t really help, unfortunately, but there are plenty of foods you can eat to really help feed your brain and help it work optimally for a very long time. Some of these foods are even powerful enough to prevent things like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

And it’s never too late to start! Include these foods into your diet right away and you will be feeding your brain the kind of nutrients it longs for and thrives off of.

Here is a list of 10 foods that have been proven to help feed and nourish your brain.

1. Berries - Berries like raspberries and blueberries are not only packed with belly fat fighting resveratrol, they’re also a rich source of antioxidants, which have been shown to help reduce your chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.

1. Wild Salmon - Salmon is rich in protein and omega-3s and is a great memory booster. Consuming fish can significantly decrease your risk of cognitive decline.

2. Nuts - The high antioxidant levels found in nuts like almonds and walnuts are correlated with improved mental capacity later in life. Researchers at University of California found that adults with higher walnut consumption performed significantly better on a series of six cognitive tests. Eating almonds can also both help preserve your current memory level and reduce your risk of future memory lapses.

3. Oatmeal - One of the best breakfasts out there--oats can do everything from helping lower blood pressure to increasing your cognitive ability, starting at an early age. Researchers at Tuft University found that children who consumed oatmeal for breakfast may have better short-term memories than those who eat less nutritious, faster-digested food.

4. Avocado - Avocado can protect your brain by upping lutein levels and improving cognitive function so all the happy memories you are making can stick around as long as you do.

1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil - EVOO is so great for so many things from your heart to your skin. One great thing is consuming it is connected to both slower cognitive decline as well as lower risk of developing Alzheimer disease.

2. Dark Leafy Greens - Leafy greens like spinach and kale are the food we all know is great for us but they are hard to have to desire to eat a lot of. This is definitely true for me, at least. But these powerhouses are yet another thing that keeps your mind working hard, preserving precious memories and fighting cognitive decline.

1. Sesame Seeds - Sesame seeds are a super easy thing to add to your diet, whether giving a little boost to your stir-fry or adding some crunch to your favorite salad. Two compounds found in sesame seeds--areseamolin and sesamolin--can help scavenge free radicals, potentially keeping your body and brain healthy well into later life.

2. Whole Eggs - You now have permission to eat the whole egg! Of course this is kind of a constant joke because every couple of years we are told something entirely different--Just eat the egg whites!--Just skip eggs all together!--Eat the whole egg! All this information gets so confusing. However, by eating 3 whole eggs a day you are getting 33 percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin D. Older people who suffer from vitamin D deficiency show faster rates of cognitive decline than those with adequate vitamin D levels. You just have to make sure you eat the yolk--that is where all of the brain-protective nutrients are hiding out.

3. Broccoli - Broccoli is your best friend if you are the one forgetting the name of someone you just met! It is packed with vitamin K, which has been shown to improve verbal episodic memory, which is your ability to absorb and remember verbal instructions.

Now let’s all go eat those leafy greens in a big salad with walnuts, sesame seeds and boiled eggs! That will be a yummy way to help our brains so someday they will say, “______(fill in the blank with your name) is 97 and sharp as a tack!”