Physical Care for Your Mind

Mental Marble Enhancing Idea #1:
Get Water on Your Brain

Interestingly enough, some of the clues as to how you can feed your brain better are found in the insults we use to criticize someone’s intelligence. For example, “water on the brain,” is a very good thing as your brain is mostly water. Dehydration will interfere with your ability to think clearly. So, while caffeine may seem like a good idea to stimulate your mind, the fact that caffeinated beverages tend to dehydrate you shows they aren’t all that good for having a clear mind. Drinking ample amounts of water (at least .5 ounces per pound of body weight) will help keep your thinking clear.

Mental Marble Enhancing Idea #2:
Become a “Fat Head”

Being a “fat head” is also a good thing, as the dry weight of the brain is over 50% fat. Children’s intelligence suffers when children are raised on a low fat diet because their developing brains crave fat. This is why kids love fatty foods. Unfortunately, we’re feeding our children (and ourselves) the wrong kinds of fats.

The brain is primarily composed of omega-3 fatty acids. These are abundant in pastured (grass-fed) animal foods, including grass-fed beef, wild game, eggs and meat from pastured chickens and dairy products from grass-fed cows (as long as these products aren’t homogenized or ultra-pasteurized).

Deep ocean fish like wild salmon, sardines, etc. are also great sources of omega-3 fatty acids and are particularly good for the brain because they contain an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA which makes up a large portion of brain tissue. (So, if you want to be smarter than the next guy or gal, there should be something “fishy” about you.) Sushi is really good for your brain (just eat the pickled ginger and wasabi and take a black walnut capsule to avoid parasites).

Flax seeds, walnuts and avocados are also good sources of omega-3s and good brain foods. Walnuts, in particular, have long been considered a brain food because the nut looks like a brain.

Mental Marble Enhancing Idea #3:
Be a “Meat Head” (Especially for Breakfast)

It’s also a good idea to be a “meat head.” Protein foods are also good for the brain because neurotransmitters are made from amino acids. I’ve observed that people on low protein diets are often mentally dogmatic and rigid. They lack mental flexibility and often suffer from mood disorders (such as getting very angry and upset over the idea that they need more protein in their diet).

Of course, here again, it’s the quality of the protein you’re getting that makes a difference. An overcooked piece of cheap beef from a feedlot cow raised on commercial feed isn’t going to do the trick. Look for organic, preferably “grass fed” animal proteins and don’t overcook them—it not only denatures their proteins, they don’t taste as good.

Protein is especially important at breakfast time because that’s when your hydrochloric acid is highest and protein is easiest to digest. Studies show that people who have protein foods for breakfast instead of just carbs (coffee and donuts or breakfast cereals) perform better at mental tasks.

A good way to supplement amino acids for brain function is to use spirulina, sun chlorella or blue-green algae supplements such as Super Algae. If you don’t want animal protein, try some kind of protein powder in a breakfast shake. I’d go for whey protein over soy protein. Recently, I found a rice and pea protein powder that works great for me. I make a breakfast shake with it and some frozen berries and yoghurt whenever I’m not in the mood for a heavier breakfast.

Mental Marble Enhancing Idea #4:
Get Complex (Carbs That Is)

When it comes to sharing information, I like to follow the KISS rule (“Keep it Simple, Steven”), but when it comes to carbohydrates, I like things to get complex. In fact, the single most important thing you will ever do to increase your mental clarity is to get rid of the simple carbs in your diet. Completely! Yes, you heard me, completely!

Many years ago, an iridologist told me that I was “pre-diabetic.” Something about what she said rang true for me and I decided that I didn’t want to end up being a diabetic. So, I gave up refined carbs completely, cold turkey! I stopped eating refined sugar and white flour and started eating only whole grains and natural sweeteners like raw honey and maple syrup.

It was really hard for about three weeks. I had never appreciated what it must be like for someone to quit smoking or drinking until I gave up refined carbs. I went through massive withdrawal symptoms and fought severe cravings, but I succeeded.

The most interesting thing was that I felt like my brain was coming out of a fog. It was like a light turned on in my head and I could think more clearly than I’d ever been able to think in my entire life. Many of my best insights into healing and life came during the time when I was completely off the refined carbs.

Unfortunately, some years back I “fell off the wagon” and started allowing little bits of refined sugars and white flours back into my diet. The social addiction is much harder to fight than the physical addiction because you feel like such an outsider when everyone else is eating it.

I notice, however, that when I eat those foods that my brain quickly “fogs up” again. I don’t think as clearly and my mind isn’t as sharp. So, I’m learning to socially resist these foods (especially at Nature’s Sunshine Conferences and Conventions). It has helped sitting with Dr. Hugo Rodier at conferences and watching him completely avoid the desserts and sugary foods. He is as strict about avoiding this stuff as I used to be, which makes me feel less alone in my determination to completely avoid these foods.

Foods that are a problem here include refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, glucose, white flour, white bread, most pasta and polished white rice. Alcohol also fits into this pattern because it acts like a refined carb in the system.

When I think of my own experience of how clear my mind gets when I avoid simple carbs and how fuzzy my thinking gets when I eat simple carbs, I wonder how anyone in our society is able to think clearly. Add the various drugs people take for their health problems and I can understand why all kinds of crazy things are happening in our society—most people have “junk food” brains!

Mental Marble Enhancing Idea #5:
Don’t Poison Your Mind

Before we move onto the psychological part of learning how to increase our mental marbles we need to talk about protecting our brain from toxins. There are many substances that can damage the nervous system, including drugs, alcohol and environmental toxins like lead, mercury and petrochemical solvents (gasoline, spot removers, glues, dry cleaning solutions, etc.)

Alcohol is a big cause of brain damage. Alcohol kills brain cells. So, either don’t drink at all, or only drink occasionally in small amounts, preferably with food.

Avoid drugs of all kinds, both prescription and recreational. Brain scans show that these substances can cause deterioration of brain cells.

Reduce exposure to chemicals. Drink purified water. Avoid food additives. Use non-toxic household cleaning products and personal care products. Avoid beauty parlor chemicals, dry-cleaning chemicals, carpet cleaning chemicals, paint fumes, etc. When exposed to these substances, take products to help the body detoxify from them, such as Milk Thistle Combo, All Cell Detox, fiber and good fats. Do a periodic cleanse and take antioxidants regularly.

I think that covers the basics of what we need to create a healthy brain nutritionally. Now let’s talk about some attitude adjustments and behaviors that will also increase our mental marbles.

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