Build a Better Brain

If your brain could write you a grocery list, what do you think would be on it?

Probably not the cereal or pastry you grabbed this morning. (Sorry.)

Your brain is only 2% of your body weight but it's the most demanding organ you have, and every meal is either giving it what it needs to stay sharp or quietly letting it down.

The good news? Researchers have identified 10 ordinary foods, all available at your local grocery store, that contain compounds proven to protect the brain from cognitive decline. Real, ordinary food doing extraordinary work.

Here they are.

🥬 Leafy greens. A decade-long study found that 1 to 2 servings daily gave people the cognitive abilities of someone 11 years younger. One cup of cooked kale delivers 600% of your daily vitamin K.

🫐 Berries. Regular berry eaters maintained sharper memories for up to 2.5 years longer in a study of 16,000+ women. The anthocyanins cross the blood-brain barrier and directly protect neural connections.

🟡 Turmeric. Curcumin crosses the blood-brain barrier, reduces harmful protein deposits, and boosts BDNF (your brain's growth factor). Pair with black pepper and a healthy fat or most of it passes straight through.

🍵 Green tea. Caffeine for alertness, L-theanine for calm, EGCG for neuron protection. The only food that creates "calm focus." Two to three cups daily.

🍇 Red grapes. Resveratrol reduces the buildup of amyloid-beta proteins linked to Alzheimer's. Grape juice improved cognitive performance in older adults with mild memory problems in just 12 weeks.

🎃 Pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Zinc for brain development, magnesium for neurotransmitter regulation, vitamin E for neuron protection. Higher vitamin E intake was linked to 25% reduced dementia risk.

🫘 Soy. Isoflavones protect neurons from oxidative damage and is especially beneficial for postmenopausal brain health. Stick to whole forms: edamame, tempeh, miso.

🥒 Fermented foods. Your gut talks to your brain through the vagus nerve. Fermented foods support the microbiome that keeps that conversation healthy. Kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, miso.

🍚 Quinoa. Complete protein for neurotransmitter production, iron for brain oxygenation, and 43mg of choline per cup for memory and cognitive function.

🥦 Cruciferous vegetables. Sulforaphane crosses the blood-brain barrier to fight neuroinflammation. Broccoli sprouts contain up to 100 times more than mature broccoli. Chop and wait 40 minutes before cooking.

Ten foods. All affordable. All accessible. All backed by published research.

And if you'd like to supplement even further to ensure optimal intake, Shaklee has products that provide the natural goodness is concentrated form.

• Organic Greens Booster - Provides one cup of raw, organic, nutrient-rich green vegetables in every scoop. Great addition to smoothies, soups, or pasta sauces.

• Turmeric Boost - Contains 500 mg of turmeric extract standardized to 95% curcuminoids (per capsule) plus 5 mg of black pepper extract to enhance absorption and increase bioavailability*

• Vivix - Containing potent Resveratrol, and powered by the world’s most potent source of polyphenols - backed by 27 global patents, Vivix delivers proven anti-aging benefits to help you live younger longer.*

• Energizing Tea -  an antioxidant-rich blend of green matcha, white, and red teas that provides a safe, natural energy boost. My favorite flavor is pomegranate!

• Life Shake - With 20 g of protein and 25 essential vitamins and minerals, Life Shake is formulated to support key biomarkers of longevity, like metabolic, gut, and cardiovascular and brain health.

• Mindworks - contains a unique chardonnay grape seed polyphenol blend, a natural guarana extract, plus vitamins B6, B12, and folate. The ingredients in MindWorks have been shown in multiple clinical and laboratory studies to significantly enhance short-term memory, sharpen focus, improve reaction time, protect against age-related cognitive decline, and support healthy circulation.

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  Build a Better Brain