The Incredible Link Between Diet and Gambling

According to a Popular Science report, every 60 seconds, the human brain needs about a tenth of a calorie to keep you alive. At the same time, and, as expected, the brain needs even more calories when you are are trying to learn something new or to decide if you should hit, stand or double when you play blackjack online. In other words, you need to be well-nourished in order to enjoy high levels of cognitive performance. Apparently, some foods are better at helping you do this. We are talking about the so-called brain foods that are known to release important happiness hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, thus helping you feel better, improve your mood, be more focused and prepared to take on a challenge.

Eating well is not only critical for promoting good health in general, but it also appears to play an important role in the way we perform at an intellectual level. Professional poker gamblers know this very well. However, they are having a hard time joggling between food courts and 15-minute trips to the buffets, trying to squeeze in as much food as they can during 14-hour pro sessions during tourneys that last up to five days. As you can imagine, with a standard break for dinner that does not last for more than 15 minutes, it can be difficult for them to eat sufficient food and also pick the best brain foods that can help them during the competition. Managing to maintain a solid and healthy diet with lots of foods that are good for their cognitive functions and overall mood is what can separate a pro poker player from an average player.

Let's find out what are the best brain foods for gambling success and what you should eat before hitting the land or virtual casino tables.

Eat Lots Of Oily Fish Before Gambling

Sardines, mackerel, salmon and pilchards are excellent oily fish that have fantastic effects on a gambler's ability to use their brain. Since they are filled with lots of EPA and DHA acids, they are one of the best tools to beef up the power of the brain. Salmon can also boost the serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is an important transmitter that can stabilize our mood. It contributes to healthy sleep and it boosts our mood while improving our behaviour and living a longer life. Since it is synthesised with the help of tryptophan and salmon also contains plenty of it, it is easy to understand why you should include it into your meal plan more often. Plus, salmon can balance your blood pressure and lower the bad cholesterol.

Good Side Dishes for Oily Fish

Add some spinach on the side and you will considerably feel your memory improving, thanks to spinach being an important source of folate and vitamin E. You can even snack on some fresh spinach during your real money casino game play online and feel the effects.

Baked potatoes are also a good side dish for your oily fish meals before an online poker tournament, for example, where you can expect to be spending many hours in a row tied to your computer. Baked potatoes will provide you with the substance your stomach needs to help you feel fuller for longer. Your perception should remain clearer for a longer amount of time and you may incur fewer losses. The fuller you feel, the better your overall gambling will be.

Dark Chocolate For Better Focus

The more cocoa your chocolate contains, the greater the burst of energy you should feel every time you eat it as a snack in between two online casino sessions. Cocoa has important nutrients that also have a positive effect on your concentration, along with caffeine, which is a winning mix for players who wish to remain sharp and well-focused for a longer time.

Super-Blueberries

Another top brain food considered by many to be a genuine staple of a casino player's diet, blueberries have been long researched and results from a Tufts University study have shown that the tiny and tasty fruits are responsible for preventing the loss of our short-term memory. This is critical when playing poker, craps, baccarat or blackjack games and you need to pay attention to every card and every point you need to add. The fact that blueberries contain large amounts of vitamin C and other essential antioxidants will also help you feel less stressed and anxious. Just two cups of blueberries a day should suffice to trigger the desired results when sitting behind a stressful casino table. Don't just take our word for it, take a look at the way Jamie Gold managed to maintain his aggressive table style at the WSOP Main Event in 2006 and how he won the World Championship and capped $12 million while snacking on blueberries. For a whole week, Jamie ate his favourite mid-game snacks consisting of a bowl of blueberries, which he claimed were his brain food.

Walnuts, The Grab And Play Snack

Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid, which is a crucial omega-3 acid, and, along with and various other polyphenols, they can help prevent the loss of memory loss, while lowering stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Ready to try including some of these excellent brain foods in your diet to improve your gambling? Pick your favourite casinos online and put your new diet to a test!