EATING HEALTHY

It’s Not You, It’s Your Brain That Craves Chocolate!

And a few of these other foods to remain fit and happy.

Now you have a perfect excuse to indulge in chocolate - your brain thrives on it!

But please, none of those sugary bars that have less than 30% cocoa. Only a real, cocoa-rich deliciousness works, 80% at least! It is packed with polyphenols and anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that protect the brain from inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases while supporting the growth of new cells.

Having in mind that organic coffee has about the same properties, I have slightly upgraded my morning cup to combine the benefits of both. I replace half of my ground coffee dose with a teaspoon of cocoa and have a cup of cocoffee instead, for a perfect morning boost.

If you are not a coffee drinker, try a cup of cocoa alone, prepared as coffee, with hot water only. Again, do not mistake cocoa for sugary instant “chocolate” drinks, we are talking about pure cocoa powder here.

Dark skin foods

If you are worried about the calories that come with chocolate, you will find the same antioxidants in dark skin fruits and veggies, too. Anthocyanins are abundant in:

• black mulberries, black elderberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, dark grapes
• purple aubergine (eggplant), beetroot, red cabbage, purple onion
• black beans and edamame.

Bear in mind that baking, frying or air frying can reduce their content by up to 50%, while boiling or steaming does not have much effect on anthocyanins.

Hydration is key

75% of our brain is made up of water and 60% of its solid matter is made up of fat. It is then logical that it needs proper hydration and good fats.

Drinking water is always healthier than drinking other kinds of liquid, especially alcohol and sodas, but 2l per day, as we usually see recommended, is not a rule. The quantity of water you consume should be adapted to your health condition, age, physical activity, etc.

Eating hydrating foods, like cucumbers and various melons, is also a good source of hydration.

And good fats!

“Good fats” are foods rich in Omega 3 which is essential for our brain health.

The old, omnivore me would probably mention oily fish, like sardines, mackerels, and anchovies, as well as eggs, as sources of Omega 3.

I am however not at all convinced by animal protein health benefits any longer. Health as well as ethical and ecological reasons have made me switch to a plant-based way of living several years ago and I now find my Omega 3 in these little health power-houses: walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, seaweed, and algae.

Walnut kernel actually looks like a brain and some consider the similarity between a food and a particular organ a nature’s way to teach us what food to choose to nourish different parts of our body.

Monosaturated fat contained in avocado, for example, is a good fat, too. It reduces blood pressure and thus the risk of cognitive decline linked to high blood pressure.

Show your brain some love…

… and make yourself a nice dark hot chocolate or dip a piece of an 80% one in your morning coffee. Or maybe you are curious about that cocoffee suggestion I made? Drop me a line if you try it.

Other foods our brain thrives on:

• dark skin berries and veggies
• walnuts and chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds
• black beans, edamame
• seaweed, algae
• avocado.

Years ago, due to personal health reasons, I started paying attention to what the food products were made of. I so much wanted to understand exactly what I was eating, that I ended up co-founding a food-tech startup around the subject.

We decoded the packaged food products’ composition to help people know what they eat in one click and thus make healthy food choices.

I also have formal education in nutrition, as well as plant-based nutrition, and am an amateur plant-based chef.