#6 Hot peppers
Image Credit: jeffreyw
Granted, hot and spicy food is not everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love things like hot peppers should be encouraged to indulge to their heart’s content. The substance that makes peppers hot – capsaicin – is known to have beneficial effects on the brain. It turns out the brain has numerous receptors for capsaicin, and when the brain is exposed to it, it helps to calm the nerves and improve the ability to focus.