I have been focusing on my physical health quite a bit lately and this lead to learning more about how food influences our physical and mental health. Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life by Max Lugavere and Paul Grewal is a great resource and overall interesting book that delves into nutrition and health.

Max Lugavere lists a “genius food” with each chapter for a total of 10 important foods to include in your diet. Each chapter delves into a different affect within the body that is influenced by the foods we eat. Sometimes things get a little technical as far as biology and chemistry, but Max does a good job of making sure you can understand these processes without needing a science degree. There is a lot of great information that I took away from the book and have already started implementing to improve my mental and physical health.

I had started my health-focused mindset long before discovering this book, but this book has reinforced and supplemented my diet and exercise habits, and I already have a lot more energy, have lost a total of 15 pounds, and I am well on my way to reaching my health goals for this year. I had a lot of weight to lose so this change little but significant.

This book came out in 2018, but Max began his journey into how food impacts the brain several years ago after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He delved into how the disease manifests and what can help reduce and prevent further development. His journey was an extensive one that eventually produced this book. Paul Grewal is a medical doctor who provides snippets within each chapter about the topic discussed, practical application, or examples of how he has seen or treated certain symptoms for patients in relation to each topic. There is a “Genius Plan” discussed in the final chapter that outlines a diet and exercise regiment that, if followed, will result in vastly improved health. I admit I am not attempting that regiment but am continuing my own journey with a few modifications made as a result of the new information from this book. The regiment seems a little restricting, but that is why I’m sure it would work very well. My own regiment is proving to be a great improvement for my health.

Overall, I think this book has a lot of great information about how our diets impact our physical and mental health. Not just which foods are good, but how our bodies process different nutrients and how they can affect us at different times. This is why I’m recommending this book. I think you will learn a lot about how what you eat affects you mentally and physically, and you may likely change your diet or be more conscious about your food choices once you know more about certain food items.

As for me, I am continuing my health journey. It was hard to get started, but know I am on a roll with keeping up with exercise and focusing on what I eat. I have more energy which makes it easier to exercise, and I am happier overall. I’m already seeing other positive changes like clothes fitting better. I’ve always known physical health is linked to mental health. I’d just let myself go a bit over the past several years because I was happy and content (and quarantine weight is real as well). Now I am happier and equally content. I’m also overly excited about becoming a father and want to be healthy so I can ensure I can live a long happy life with my wife and children.

I hope that you eventually give this book a shot if you also want to improve your physical and mental health or simply want to know more about how our food choices impact our bodies and minds. Perhaps this can be the seed that makes you start your own journey. If so, I wish you the best of luck and feel free to contact me if you want an accountability buddy.

Happy Reading.