What we eat makes a difference to our brain function

25th January 2011

I recently got hold of a book called "The Winner's Brain - 8 Strategies Great Minds Use to Achieve Success" by Jeff Brown, Mark Fenske and Liz Neporent (Da Capo Press 2010). The book is an interesting read for anybody who wants benchmark their own traits to the traits of the successful people, and get easy and practical advice on how to "develop your own winner brain". 

The authors start by outlining the power tools, which set the winners brains apart from the rest, namely opportunity radar (capability to find solutions when none seem to exist, capability to see opportunity in difficulties, capability to adjust and to find alternative ways to find solutions), optimal risk cauge (tolerate being outside the comfort zone, not regretting made decisions, understanding when something is "too good to be true), goal laser (focusing on the target, striving towards goals no matter what, always seeing projects to the end), talent meter (finding out the way to improve weaknesses, accurately identifying potential in others and self, easily recognizing one's own weaknesses) and effort accelerator (capability to self-motivate easily, capability to finish tasks even when behind others).

Some brains may posses some or all the above power tools naturally, but the authors believe that that almost anyone can enhance them by using 8 techniques explained in the book:

1. Self-awareness: thinking about yourself to become a winner

2. Motivation: cultivating the drive to win

3. Focus: locking on to what's important

4. Emotional balance: making emotions work in your favor

5. Memory: "remembering" to have winner's brain

6. Resilience: bouncing back into success

7. Adaptability: reshaping your brain to achieve

8. Brain care: maintaining, protecting, and enhancing your winner's brain

For those of you interested in the details, I suggest to get your hands on the book. 

With all of you, I would like to share an interesting point mentioned in the "brain care - techniques". Namely, what we eat and drink makes a difference to how our brains work:

As nearly 60% of the brain is fat, the experts recommend a healthy intake of polyunsaturated fats found in e.g. fish, nuts, seeds, canola oil and eggs. By maintaining a steady intake of brain friendly fats, one can also protect against Alzheimer's disease and depression. Also, there is good evidence that many fresh fruit and vegetables enrich memory and may help to keep the brain young. Look especially for the ones containing antioxidants and flavinoids, like apples, berries, grapes and plums. 

Yet another reason to eat healthy, and increase the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables!

Healthy 2011 to everybody!

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