A short YouTube video by Jeffrey Bland, PhD (uploaded May 9, 2024) listing his favorite foods to support brain processes involved in mood. The speaker highlights nuts and seeds (fats, fiber), wild Alaskan salmon (omega-3s, low contaminants), fermented foods like sauerkraut (gut–brain support), olive oil and black pepper (polyphenols), and coffee (polyphenols; note on caffeine sensitivity and decaf).
Let's talk about some of my favorite foods that support the brain processes involved with mood. So first off, nuts and seeds. These are walnuts. What makes them so great? They're high in fats that have been linked to better overall brain wellness. They've got fiber, which is linked to better gut wellness. And they're just a great source of healthy calories in the day. Next up, some wild Alaskan salmon. This is obviously frozen. It's a great way to make it cost effective. Salmon's packed with omega 3 fats. It's also low in contaminants like mercury, which makes it a great choice for supporting the brain. Next up, let's talk about fermented food. So this is sauerkraut, big staple in my day. Fermented food helps to support the gut brain connection and in doing so is one of my favorite ways to support my brain wellness. Olive oil. Olive oil is rich in polyphenols, linked to better overall wellness as well as better brain wellness. Same kind of goes here for black pepper. It's a concentrated source of polyphenols. And then one of my favorite ways that I choose to support mental wellness each day, and it's not necessarily going to work for everyone, but is coffee. Coffee is a big part of my routine. Coffee is rich in polyphenols. And again, for certain people, it may not be a wonderful way to start the day, specifically caffeinated coffee. But decaf is delicious too. And in both cases, you're getting a good dose of polyphenols that are linked to mental well being. Thanks for watching.
