A little brain food and you're instantly smarter and can concentrate better? Wouldn't that be nice, but unfortunately it's not quite that simple. Nevertheless, there are certain foods that have been proven to have a positive effect on brain development and everyday performance. Especially in today's performance-driven society, everyone is looking for ways to escape the afternoon slump, get through the day feeling more energetic, and maintain their energy levels. We'll tell you what brain food really is and what ultimately matters when it comes to the right diet.
What is brain food?
The trendy term "brainfood" essentially means nothing more than food for the brain. Brainfood refers to foods that positively influence brain function and performance. Ingredients in brainfood, such as essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, support our brain in its daily challenges. Because only when the brain is adequately supplied with the right nutrition can we maintain optimal performance in the long term.
Why is brain food so important for us?
Humans fare quite poorly compared to other living beings in many respects. They are neither particularly fast nor particularly strong. In no area of physical ability are humans superior to animals. But one organ makes the crucial difference: the human brain. Our brain can be considered our strongest muscle. But only if we use and train it correctly. For this to work, it is necessary to give it what it needs, and regularly. Because our brain is a real workaholic, working nonstop and consuming a great deal of energy in the process. Although the brain only makes up about two to three percent of our total body weight, it is responsible for approximately 20 to 25 percent of our energy consumption.
The optimal conditions for our brain
You can think of our brain like a plant that needs our care. For it to flourish, various factors are essential: water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide from the air. If even one of these is missing, the plant withers. So we see that a healthy balance is crucial. The same applies to our brain – except that instead of carbon dioxide, we take in oxygen so that blood can be transported to the brain. Fascinating, isn't it? Brain research is therefore exploring the question of optimal nutrition for our brain and has already made some interesting discoveries, which we'd like to share with you here.
The most important brain drink
Water is one of the most important substances for consistent performance. This brain food, or rather, brain drink, is the fundamental requirement for optimal performance. Here's how it works: Our blood is 90 percent water and is pumped by the heart throughout our body. If the body lacks water, the blood becomes thicker and flows more slowly. This means it takes significantly longer for nutrients and oxygen to reach the brain. The transport function is therefore slower, and our brain's performance declines. Even a small loss of water has a noticeable effect. Therefore, it's recommended to drink about two liters of water daily to ensure optimal brain function.
Food for the brain
Since we don't usually subsist solely on liquids, we now want to know what to look for in a proper diet! Here, too, it quickly becomes clear that fluid intake plays a crucial role. Fruits and vegetables are at the forefront when it comes to water: they not only contain a high water content but also numerous vital nutrients. A colorful mix of fruits and vegetables contains all the essential vitamins, micronutrients, and trace elements. Proteins are at least as important. Proteins are not only essential for building muscles, hormones, and enzymes, but they are also a crucial component of our brain cells. Equally important is the consumption of high-quality fats. This lays the foundation for a proper diet and improved brain function. However, some foods are specifically referred to as brain food and score particularly well because they contain an above-average amount of nutrients. These include, among others, blueberries, nuts, turmeric , and the exotic coconut.
Superfoods at I·DO
These superfoods can also be found in some of our I·DO juices. Walnuts, for example, are found in our I·DO Essence, a fermented vitamin concentrate to support the immune system.
Thanks to its many positive properties, the yellow wonder root turmeric has found its way into several products: the ginger turmeric shots and organic ginger shots with turmeric and pineapple.
Other factors
So far, we've focused on nutritional factors. But factors like stress, lack of sleep, and environmental influences also affect our brains. Stress represents an extreme situation for our bodies and impairs our brain function. While it might lead to a short-term performance boost, in the long run, stress has a negative impact on both body and brain. Since stress is considered the biggest health risk of the 21st century, we should learn how to best manage it and find more serenity in our daily lives. To help you make the most of sleep for regeneration, we've compiled some sleep hygiene tips that can help you improve your sleep quality.
Knowledge to take away
Our brain is a complex organ, and a wide variety of factors influence its performance. Proper nutrition ensures a good supply of all the essential nutrients needed to keep our brain functioning at its best. The brain works nonstop and therefore requires a constant supply of the right nutrients. A balanced diet can prevent slumps, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue, and it can also be delicious. So, as always, pay attention to a healthy and balanced diet combined with the right lifestyle, including stress management and sufficient sleep.
