Five Genius Foods That Support Brain Health
I’m Brandon Wilson. I am constantly working toward improving my mind, body, and spirit using various ancient techniques and cutting-edge biohacking tools and devices. I want to be healthy, but not at the expense of being happy. This simple idea is what it means to be wellthy.
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I have been known to say there is no wheelchair for the brain. You only get one, and you must take care of it.
I was surprised that one of the effects of grief has been general brain fog. I’ve had difficulty concentrating and making decisions. I’ve been forgetful and making silly mistakes. I’ve struggled to write, even though I’ve been writing daily for over five years. This is an uncomfortable feeling, and I want to do everything I can to support my brain and get back to firing on all cylinders.
My eyes caught a book on my bookshelf that I wanted to revisit. It’s called Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life by Max Lugavere. Max is a health and science journalist, filmmaker, and best-selling author. The book is a guide to attaining optimal brain function with the pleasant side effect of minimizing dementia risk. While the book is packed with science-based, practical advice, I wanted to highlight some genius foods and their benefits.
Five Genius Foods to Support Brain Health
Genius Food #1: Extra-virgin olive oil
Have you ever tasted a high-quality olive oil and noticed a spicy or peppery taste? That’s a compound called oleocanthal, a plant-based phenol that stimulates the body’s repair mechanisms. This compound is anti-inflammatory and may help the brain clear itself of amyloid plaque, the sticky protein found associated with Alzheimer’s disease. EVOO is also a rich source of monounsaturated fat, a healthy fat that helps maintain blood vessels and the liver.
Here are some tips for finding high-quality extra-virgin olive oil. The best way to assess an oil is to taste it. Good EVOO should be spicy and smell grassy. If it’s cheap, it’s probably not great. The darker the bottle, the better. Look for a harvest dated within 18 months. Dr. Peter Attia’s favorite brand of Olive oil is Kosterina.
Use EVOO as your primary oil. Drizzle on salads and eggs, and use as a sauce. Store in a cool, dry place.
Genius Food #2: Avocados
According to Max, avocados have the highest total fat-protecting capacity of any fruit or vegetable. The brain is the fattiest organ in the body. Avocados are rich in different types of vitamin E and contain carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which can boost brain processing speed. Potassium works with sodium to regulate blood pressure and is essential for vascular health. A whole avocado provides twice the potassium of a banana and has 12 grams of fiber.
Avocados take a long time to ripen and only last a day or two. Let them ripen on the counter (or use these tricks to speed up the process), then put them in the fridge once ripe and take them out when ready to eat.
Eat a half or whole avocado every day. Sprinkle some sea salt and add some EVOO. Add to salad, eggs, or a smoothie.
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