Spoiler Alert: it's all about polyphenols!
There's a lot of misinformation about this: superfoods, powders you can add to your coffee, brain-boosting supplements, etc. Sure, some of those are good. But many are just companies making a LOT of money.
One heavy-hitter with good data behind it is polyphenols. This is available in a lot of your day-to-day foods and can have a big impact on brain fog and energy levels when increased in the diet.
What are they?
Polyphenols are antioxidants, so they're good for :
decreasing inflammation
reducing cancer risk
reducing heart disease
...But this isn't even why I'm even discussing them today.
The important point today is:
Polyphenols increase healthy gut bacteria.
When we eat polyphenol-rich foods, our good gut bugs actually digest these foods for us, making them (and us!) stronger and healthier.
This helps improve our circulation and production of neurotransmitters.
It also helps improve blood flow to the brain and enhances our nerve connectivity between the gut-brain axis.
Here are some of my personal favorite polyphenol rich foods:
Cocoa
Berries
Olive oil and olives
Hazelnuts
Curry powder
Coffee
Green tea
All of these foods help support a health microbiome and can enhance cognitive performance.
When our microbiome is health, our brain is healthy.
The information in this article is not intended to replace your doctor’s advice. Consult with your local healthcare professional before starting or stopping any medication or supplement.
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