Natural Brain Power

Natural Brain Power

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

Here at You Again, we believe in the power of food to supply our nutrients and vitamins for our body's optimal daily performance. What does that mean? That means that what we eat can impact (both negatively and positively) everything from our immune function, hormone function, and of course, brain function. 

Recently I read the book "Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety - Nourish Your Way to Better Mental Health in Six Weeks" by Dr. Drew Ramsey to dive deeper into the food & brain connection. The book sites a number of studies and clinical trials to support the idea that 12 certain vitamins & minerals can greatly improve our mood, memory, and focus. Let's talk about a few and where you can naturally find them.

1. Iron

Iron helps with the production of dopamine and serotonin which are neurotransmitters that regulate our mood, focus, and happiness

Which foods contain high amounts of iron? Spinach, Meat, Oysters, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, and chocolate!

Bake up these recipes using Tahini (Sesame Seed Butter):

Chocolate Chip Blondies baked with Tahini

Ooey Gooey Irresistible Tahini Brownies

Oat Ginger Raisin Cookies baked with Tahini

2. Omega 3 Fats

These polyunsaturated fats help the brain grow, change, and reduce inflammation levels within both the brain and the body.

Which foods contain high amounts of Omega 3 Fats? Leafy greens, seafood, hemp seeds and flax seeds.

Find ground flax seed in our Oat Ginger Raisin Cookie Mix!

3. Magnesium

Maybe you've heard magnesium referred to as the "calming chemical"? This mineral enables proper function of the brain cells and has been used for centuries to naturally improve one's mood.

Which foods contain high amounts of Magnesium? Fruits, Leafy greens like Spinach, Carrots, Black Beans, Cashews and Almonds.

Bake your favorite You Again cookies with Cashew or Almond butter for a perfect texture & delicious taste!

4. Potassium

Potassium plays a role in allowing oxygen to get to the brain, which is necessary to keep our brains thriving. Studies have shown that lack of potassium has been linked to mental fatigue.

Which foods contain high amounts of Potassium? Swiss Chard, Kale, Spinach, Beet Greens, Avocados, and Bananas.

Have you tried our Super Soft Oat Ginger Banana Cookies?

5. Vitamin A

We often hear Vitamin B and Vitamin C mentioned, but what about A? Vitamin A helps the body naturally produce DHA (long chain fatty acid) which is key to overall brain health. Vitamin A also works as an antioxidant to help reduce inflammation and rid our bodies of free radicals.

Which foods contain high amounts of Vitamin A? Carrots, Mustard Greens, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Eggs, Dairy.

Sneak pumpkin puree into our mixes, it add an amazing texture. Try this Pumpkin Spice Muffin Recipe using our Oat Ginger Mix!

6. Zinc

Raise your hand if you've heard zinc tossed around in the past year! A perfect pair with your Vitamin D and Vitamin C to boost your immunity, zinc is also a key mineral in optimal brain health. It acts as your body and brain's natural defense against infections and inflammation. It also helps support natural production of serotonin.

Which foods contain high amounts of Zinc? Nuts, Meat, Legumes, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, and dark chocolate!

Calling all dark chocolate lovers, we've got you covered! Find dark chocolate and raw cacao packed into our Mint Chocolate Cookie Mix. Find our delicious dark chocolate chips also in our Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix.

All of our mixes are designed to support the health and optimal function of the brain and body using whole food ingredients, superfoods, and adaptogens!

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