With Thanksgiving less than 2 weeks away, it’s time to get your stomachs ready for all the turkey, stuffing and everything else that comes with my favorite holiday.  Are you ready?  My hope for this post is to shed some light on how we eat, what we eat and how we can eat for a better self.  Did you hear about the recent news that McDonalds Chicken McNuggets contains 40 ingredients?? 40!!!!  I’m sure you’ve also heard that Subway breads contain the same material they use in yoga mats or that gummy bears contains gelatin (gelatin is an odorless, almost tasteless substance that is made by prolonged boiling of skin, cartilage, and bones from animals – wtf right?).  Now I’m going to have to think twice when I’m at the store and see those Harbo gummy bears, ughhhh.  I think one of the BIGGEST health issues that is not at the forefront of the American public is sugar consumption.  Did you know that the average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar a year?!?!  That’s got to be a typo right?  Nope, here is a visual of the problem America is facing! They say sugar is as addictive as cocaine (Don’t worry Mom, I’ve never done cocaine, haha).  Now I’m not saying you should completely rid yourself of sugar but just regulate the refined variety (that has 0 nutritional value).  Try to get your sugar from natural foods like fruits and vegetables.  They provide a natural energy boost that is actually good for you.  Now that my societal vent session about all the unhealthy/bad sh*t is over, I wanted to shed some light on the “good guys.”  The foods that are not only good for you but good for the brain.  Below is a list of 6 foods that have brain boosting power (and are healthy at the same time – double whammy):

Avocados – great source of monounsaturated fat (the healthy kind) that contributes to healthy blood flow, which helps contribute to lower blood pressure as well.

Blueberries – helps protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the  effect of such diseases as Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Studies have also show that blueberries improved the learning capacity and motor skills of aging rats.

Fish (salmon) – rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids which helps brain function.

Green Vegetables – think kale, spinach, broccoli, collard greens which all have a good source of vitamin E and folate.  Lowers levels of an amino acid called homocysteine.  Homocysteine has been linked to triggering the death of nerve cells In the brain.

Nuts & Seeds – think almonds, peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds.  These are a good source of Vitamin E which has been linked to less cognitive decline as you get older.  Just be careful for the salted varieties – if you can, try to get the unsalted option.

Dark Chocolate – save the best for last right? Here is your guilty pleasure entry, especially for you ladies.  Has powerful antioxidant flavonoids that has proven to improve your memory, enhance focus/concentration and even improve mood.  So next time the hubby asks why you like chocolate so much, you can say “because honey, it makes me smarter ;).”

As you can see from the list above, many of these foods are categorized as very healthy options that should be included in your daily diet. They are called ‘superfoods’ because of there multifaceted nutritional value.  Out of the list above, I probably include 2-3 foods into my daily diet.  The one I really want and need to add in is fish because I feel like it’s the one of the best superfoods you can eat.  It’s high in the healthy fat as well as a great source of protein.

So how many of these brain foods are you incorporating into your diet?  For me, I like to plan out my week on Sunday for what I’m going to eat during the week. Failing to plan is planning to fail is the adage I live by with my health.  I try to meal prep, if I can by cooking a protein (chicken, turkey, salmon) and veggies on Sunday night and sticking in the frig for the next few days.  For lunch, I’ll buy salads from Trader Joe’s on Monday for the week (I usually eat out on Friday as a treat). I’ve found that when I plan my food week ahead, I tend to not only eat healthier and save money, but reduce the chances of stress eating.  When I say stress eating I mean deviating from healthy options because I’m stressed whether that’s from work or something else going on in my life.  It boggles my mind how some of the people I work/worked with will consume certain things without even a second thought.  They think their Redbulls are giving them the energy to get through the day without even knowing what they are putting into their body.  The amount of sugar and ingredients you can’t even pronounce is a travesty to those that don’t even know what it’s doing to their bodies.  People have told me, “man, you eat/are so healthy.”  My response to them is usually yeah, as opposed to unhealthy? Why would you knowingly eat unhealthy foods if you can control it with a little planning and discipline. There are only a few things you can control in your life and what you put in your mouth is definitely one of them.  I think if we were all a little more mindful of what we put into our bodies, our world would be a much healthier and happier place.

On another note, I just wanted to send my thoughts and prayers to everyone in France that were affected by the senseless act of violence on Friday.  I can’t imagine what you are going but know that the rest of the world is thinking about you and are here for you with whatever you need.  This Black Eyed Peas song has actually been making me question the world we live in today.  We need to take a stand and spread positivity, peace and love in this world we live in.  Make sure you let the people in your life know that you love them because tomorrow is never guaranteed.  Peace!

QOTP: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that; hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King jr.