Blog

Updated July 28th 2023

In our previous blog, we promised to supply the main ingredients that create a foundation for the 7 Steps to learning and habit change. These are:

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Sleep
• Mindfulness
• Blasting Limiting Beliefs and Emotions

Let’s start with our guest blogger Oliver Sifkovits on the topic of Nutrition.
Why roads between reception desks matter:

Would you like to be able to think quicker, concentrate better and for longer, increase your IQ, as well as have a sharp memory? In short – would you like be more intelligent? I’ve always found that the simplest solutions are the best ones, and this clearly applies to the topic of this blog: research compellingly shows that providing your brain with the right nutrients can rocket its performance to the sky.

Let’s look at our brain as a vivid city in which different parts and people serve a purpose. 60% of our most important organ consists of fats. These are the reception desks of the city which receive information. The more reception desks there are, the more information can be distributed within the city, right? It is therefore essential to eat sufficient Omega 3 & 6 fats so that the messages travelling between our brain cells actually find a place to dock on to.

Also, imagine the reception desks to be extremely busy workplaces: computers require maintenance, printing paper needs to be replenished, and pens need to be replaced when they stop writing. It is no different with fatty acids: since our brain is active non-stop during day and night, it’s optimized functioning is dependant on regular (and by that I mean daily) intake of these substances.

Studies show that sufficient intake thereof can enhance long-term memory (Glen et al., 1985, 1987 & 1990; Skinner et al., 1989). Fish such as mackerel, herring, salmon and fresh tuna, as well as eggs will give you Omega 3 fats, while flax seed represent an option for vegetarians. Primrose and borage oil are Omega 6 – rich sources.

What does travelling from South to North Dublin have to do with nutrition for the mind? The answer is simple: In order for information to find its way to different reception desks in the city, roads are required. The equivalent to this would be the so-called phospholipids in the brain: they allow for smooth nerve signal transmission between cells. One of them is called phosphatidylserine, which has been shown to improve memory, learning, vocabulary skills, concentration, as well as mental alertness (Crook et al., 1991).

You will find this type of nutrient in organ meats and in the form of a supplement. Vegetarian options are soy beans and white beans.

Dimethylethanolamine – short DMAE – are further building blocks of roads in the city. It has been shown to stop mind wandering, improve concentration, promote learning (Holford, 2009), as well as enhance memory, attention, and associative thinking (Dimpfel et al., 1996). Egg yolks, sardines, and organ meat all contain this substance, whereas vegetarian capsules are also available.

So far you have learned about the importance of building a structure in the brain that allows cells to communicate effectively. Look out for the next blog, which will be about the “human” side of nutrition for the mind: communicating and initiating intelligence.

Thank you for reading, we would really love if your liked our blog that you would share it among your social media platforms. Remember, sharing is caring and we Care! 🙂

Oliver Sifkovits (Msc, CSCS) is a Performance Enhancement Specialist, Personal Trainer, as well as 4^th belt holder in Capoeira. He has provided Strength and Conditioning service to athletes from various sports, levels, and age groups, including footballers from Hertha BSC Academy, World Cruiserweight Boxing Champion Pablo Hernandez, as well as multiple Austrian Racketlon Champion Michael Dickert. His approach is designed around improving body-mind-spirit performance and health in individuals.