Employees who eat more healthily perform better, new study finds

A new study has found a direct link between healthy nutrition and improved brain function, The Sun reported.

Researchers carried out the study that included 20,114 employees from three companies geographically dispersed. They found 25% of employee who eat a healthy diet performed much better.

They also found those who ate a well balanced diet tended to take fewer sick leaves than their other colleagues.

An expert reveals it's the choices we make that prevent us from concentrating and performing our best.

Robin Swinkels, a nutritionist at Fresh Fitness Food, told The Sun: "I do think a big part of people’s lack of focus is due to the food choices we make,"

"It’s not necessarily sugar or carbs per se. Sugar in fruit, for example, can be very useful to soothe a sweet craving.

"It’s more about the types of food we choose. A sandwich with crisps and a soda is not lunch to me, though you see it everywhere."

Swinkels explains consuming processed food means you feel hungry again. "And a hungry brain is easily distracted," he said.

If you want to make changes or attempt to get that promotion, here are five simple and healthy tips to start implementing today:

1. Prep your meals and snacks for the day:  It will help free up the space in your head and allow you to focus on work. Preparation will also prevent you from going after that chocolate or chip packet you just don't need.

2. Eat your carbs: Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose, which is the brain's favourite energy source. Skipping it will do you no good.

3. Avoid processed foods: Opt for whole foods instead which will provide you will a lot of nutrition like vitamins, minerals and fibre.

4.Take a break: Switch off and go for a walk, talk to a colleague or even exercise. Exercise has shown to improve our mental health.

5. Hydrate: It sounds trite to say, but your body requires water. Consume a good amount of it throughout the day. It helps improve brain function.

The findings of the study were originally published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.