Foods that make you SMARTER

Along with your heart, your brain is arguably the most important organ in your body. After all, you can't do much without the ol' noggin as it controls literally EVERYTHING you do, think, say, and a bazillion other automated body processes.

That said, several major functions of your brain -- memory, learning, and focus -- can be (and often are) largely affected by the foods you eat, which is what we'll be covering in today's newsletter. Below are our top 2 nutrition RULES for a healthy brain, impeccable memory, and unmatched focus when you need it most.

Rule #1 - Eat Carbs.

You've probably heard for years that you should be avoiding carbs, which really couldn't be any further from the truth. As we've preached in this newsletter over and over, it's all about choosing the right carbs at the right times. Besides, carbohydrates are your brain's #1 (and preferred) source of energy and fuel, so make sure you're getting a fair amount of them in your diet. 

The best carbs to eat?

*Beans (kidney beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, lima beans, red beans, marrowfat peas, chickpeas, pinto beans, butter beans, navy beans)
*Lentils, wild rice, basmati rice, brown rice
*Sweet potatoes, yams, new potatoes, squash, artichokes
*Sprouted grain bread, oatmeal, couscous, quinoa
*Fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, apricots, peaches, pears, grapes, kiwi, mango, watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, rhubarb, plum, pineapple, papaya, grapefruit, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, cherries)

And the list goes on and on! Stick to veggies, fruits, legumes, potatoes, and unprocessed grains and you'll be good to go.

Rule #2 - AVOID simple carbs like sugar and "white" carbs.

While carbs are important, AVOIDING the wrong types of carbs are equally important for your memory, learning, and ability to focus.

For example, a recent UCLA study found that diets high in sugar (namely high fructose corn syrup) actually made test subjects DUMBER, decreasing their ability to learn, focus, and remember things. In fact, brain activity was lower overall and their brain cells flat out struggled to communicate with one another...yikes!

"White" foods like bread, pasta, white rice, etc, are very processed and act just like sugar in the body, so be sure to avoid those too in favor of the healthy carb sources mentioned above.

In addition to healthy carbs, there are a bunch of other foods that will make you SMARTER, like the ones we reveal in the meal plan we posted for you here: