The Brain Diet

Brain Diet? Sounds gross... AND high in cholesterol. (Oh, I get it...never mind). I picked this book up expecting it to be much like any other of its kind - 250+ pages that could have been summarized in one paragraph.

Boy was I wrong...

The Brain Diet (by Dr. Alan Logan, N.D) is an eye-opening and scintillating commentary on the universally-important but largely untouched study of nutritional neuroscience.

Dr. Logan convincingly draws links between dietary practices and its impact on brain health. He does so with nice blend of concise and easy-to-read language for the layman person while providing ample references to satisfy the scientifically-minded reader.

Here is just a taste of what you will find in the Brain Diet:

• All mental health conditions are on the rise, with an estimated 1 out of 2 Americans expected to have a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives.
• Only about 3.5% of our grain consumption comes from whole grains!
• An international panel of fat experts recommends 650mg/day of combined EPA/DHA (omega-3 fats found in fish) but we only consume a combined 130mg/day.
• Blueberries can reduce cognitive and behavioural deficits.
• Inflammation could be the plague of the 21st century, associated with heart disease, diabetes, obesity and neuropsychiatric conditions. In addition to getting your 5-10 a day, adding turmeric, ginger, green tea (particularly matcha) can help ward off inflammation.
• Overconsumption of sugar can lead to the production of advanced glycated end products (AGE's) which promotes inflammation. French fries, frozen waffles and butter are also high in AGEs).
• There is a growing link between cell towers and cell phone use as being a factor in brain-related conditions.
• There is an increasingly clearer link between over-fatness and its impact on brain health. Dr. Logan gives some very sensible and comprehensive advice on fat loss
• Ditto for the connection of the gut and the brain. There is an especially thorough look at the role of probiotics.
• There is a fascinating chapter on the differences between Japanese dietary habits and those of North America. Dr. Logan outlines many conclusions that account for differences in brain and overall health.
• An honest and detailed look at the role of supplements in our diets. Which ones work well under which circumstances and why.
• Included in the book are real-life case studies and what interventions were used to help alleviate the underlying problems.
• There are fantastic easy-to-read guidelines for helping treat a variety of brain-related conditions.

This book is a great read for anyone interested in keeping their mind sharp both now, as well as in later years through dietary changes. In fact, anyone concerned about overall health would be well-served by Dr. Logan's perspective.

This book may not be right for someone who is looking for structure as the advice is less regimented. Further, people who are more into the bottom line rather than the minutiae may get frustrated. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to categorize this as a "fantastic read".