It was a big surprise to me, though it made sense when I heard it, that brain health and heart health and digestive health are all linked together. To feed your body is to feed your brain.
That idea of the brain sitting up on an untouchable throne that’s immune to what we put into our bodies—well, it turned out to be a fantasy. (We wanted to have our cake, and eat it, too, with no ill effects for our brains! Ah, well.)
On the other hand, maybe it’s good news that we don’t have to pursue three separate courses of action for belly, heart, and brain. Just one plant-rich food lifestyle will do nicely to feed your brain.
As we continue our 30-day challenge, we’ll learn more about how to successfully create such a lifestyle. That said, there are a few marvelous plant (and tree) foods that you can quickly add into your weekly fare, to help feed your brain and protect it from decline:
• raw honey
• beets
• carrots
• green tea
• walnuts (just 5 a day is all you need!)
Writing Prompt
Choose one of the quick-start brain foods noted above and put it in a poem about memory in general or in a poem that centers on specific memories. Then add the food into your daily and/or weekly fare, and enjoy the boost.
What the squirrels know
is that burying a nut
becomes an investment
in tomorrow (and tomorrow).
When the cold winds blow,
they reach into memory
to find the hard treasure
that helps them, again, remember.
—L.L. Barkat
