The High Performance Journal - November 21st, 2023

Back when I was in elementary and high school I was considered to be a massive screw-up.

I was the last of 4 kids and my parents would routinely tell me that out of all of their children, they were most worried about me.

Something else you should know is that my diet was horrible.

A good meal to me meant eating 2 Big Macs, supersized fries, and washing it down with a supersized Coke.

Something I realized when I started to get my body in shape was that I was smarter than I thought.

My mistake was creating an environment for my brain that was highly inflammatory and devoid of nutrition. When I started to fix my diet my brain started to change along with it.

It didn't happen overnight but over time I started to feel better about myself and increase my ability to do cognitively challenging things.

Nutrition has a massive impact on your cognitive health and mental health. The nutrients you ingest can increase or decrease your risk for depression and anxiety.

The foods you eat dictate your brain's ability to think and focus.

In fact, there are 10 foods that can improve brain function and possibly make you a smarter human being.

What are these foods? Scroll below...

10 Foods That Will Make You A Smarter Human (Print this list)

#1 - Fatty Fish

60% of your brain is made of fat & half of that is composed of omega-3 fatty acids & unsaturated fats.

Fishes such as salmon, trout, albacore tuna, herring & sardines are rich sources of omega 3’s.

For best results get at least 2 servings of fatty fish a week.

#2 - Eggs

Eggs are nature's multivitamin and a net positive for your brain health.

Specifically, egg yolks are a good source of choline, which is associated with reducing inflammation and maintaining memory and communication between brain cells.

#3 - Beef Liver

Organ meats are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, choline, B12, folate, magnesium & chromium all of which support cognitive function & brain health.

Beef liver is considered nature’s multivitamin as it contains more nutrients gram for gram than any other food.

#4 - Green Leafy Vegetables

Vegetables such as broccoli, collards & spinach are high in brain nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin K & folate.

Studies have shown that these plant-based foods may help slow cognitive decline.

#5 - Coffee & Green Tea

Coffee as well as green tea contain a high amount of caffeine & antioxidants, which can help support brain health.

Green tea in particular contains L-Theanine which helps reduce anxiety & makes you feel more relaxed.

#6 - Berries

Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries & raspberries contain flavonoids that help improve memory.

Researchers at Harvard found that women who consumed 2 or more servings of berries each week can delay memory decline by up to 2.5 years.

#7 - Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin which has antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory & has been shown to boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which helps brain cells grow.

If you do take in curcumin you’d want to pair it with black pepper as it can enhance absorption by 2000%

#8 - Fermented Foods

Kefir, kimchi & yogurt with active cultures contain sources of live bacteria that can promote healthy gut function & reduce anxiety.

A review of 45 studies showed that fermented foods may protect the brain by improving memory & slowing cognitive decline.

#9 - Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate & cocoa powder contain flavanoids, caffeine & antioxidants.

Flavanoids gather in areas of the brain that help with learning & memory, which may aid in boosting brain activity.

#10 - Walnuts

Nuts are a great source of healthy fats.

They also contain antioxidants & vitamin E which protects against free radicals.

Walnuts in particular are high in an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which can lower blood pressure & clean arteries.

How Many Of These Are You Eating?

When you eat these foods do not expect it to feel like you somehow acquired superhuman cognitive abilities.

Instead, what you're looking for is what happens after long-term application.

Over weeks and months of eating these foods, you may find that you can think better, focus longer, and have an improved ability to retain memory.

Never sleep on what type of effect foods can have on your mind.

You eventually become what you eat. Make it awesome.

Onwards and upwards 🚀

- Dan

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