Productivity and Your Brain: There IS a Connection!
If you’ve noticed a connection between your productivity and your brain power, you’re not alone. Brain fog and a feeling of lethargy can spell trouble for anyone, especially entrepreneurs who need to stay sharp and focused in order to achieve their goals.
If it’s true that we are what we eat, then it only makes sense to fuel our brains for maximum productivity. For most of the years I worked as a classroom teacher I ate a sugary, processed cereal with milk for breakfast and had something sweet during my recess break around ten in the morning. I usually included a banana and with my limited knowledge of nutrition I honestly believed that I was eating a balanced and healthy diet, at least until lunch time rolled around. No wonder I was exhausted by noon and irritable, too.
Recently I have begun working with a nutrition coach, Cheryl Major CNWC and she has taught me so much about this topic of productivity and your brain function. In a recent post entitled Eat for Productivity – You’ll Be Surprised at the Difference it Makes she wrote:
“Our brains need glucose to stay alert and to function well. That’s why it’s hard to concentrate when we’re hungry; our glucose levels are low, and our brains are “running on empty”.
Nearly everything we eat during the day is converted into glucose by our bodies. The tricky part is that not all foods are processed at the same rate. Foods like breads, pasta and sugary foods are processed quickly which gives us a “glycemic bump” only to let us down shortly after that which is why you get a burst of energy after eating something that your body processes quickly and then feel tired shortly after. Other foods that are high in fat, like hamburgers and pizza, are processed more slowly, but our digestive systems have to work harder to process them. When this happens, oxygen levels in the brain are temporarily lowered which also makes us feel sluggish.”
Cheryl suggested lots of fresh veggies and some nuts for me to snack on during the day, and to start my day with some protein. I only eat a banana about twice a week these days and have included Greek yogurt and some other protein rich foods into my morning routine. The result is that I have more energy, feel less bloated, and definitely sleep better than I did just a few months ago. I’m also more alert throughout the day and feel like I make better decisions more quickly. This is part of your “inner game” that you can control and optimize through proper dietary habits.
She also says:
“To be an entrepreneur requires discipline and a plan. That plan should include how to eat right to keep you brain healthy and your mind sharp!”
As an online marketing strategist and mentor I help my students with the discipline required to be successful online. Cheryl helps us with the plan for productivity and your brain to make sure it all comes together.
I’m bestselling author, marketing strategist, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and I would love to connect further with you to help you to achieve your goals. If you are interested in learning how to optimize the syndication of your content, please take a look at my popular Syndication Optimization training course and consider coming aboard to increase your visibility, credibility, and profitability.
I have struggled with food my entire life. I always watched the skinny girls eat the same foods and stay skinny. I didn’t eat more than them. My Thyroid didn’t function right, and at age 33 ended up with diffuse large B cell thyroid lymphoma.
My endocrinologist did some testing and found out that my Thyroid meds were not being absorbed into my system due to the fact I have Celiac Disease. My whole life I have been allergic to wheat and it’s derivatives. I love pasta and bread. I had always noticed rashes (small water blisters) on my elbows and back of my thighs but did not know why I had them. Turns out, the rashes were from the Celiac disease. Also, years earlier I had been diagnosed with irritable bowel. Turns out, that is also caused my Celiac disease. The Celia in the small intestines get swollen by the wheat and then do not absorb the nutrients. The food moves undigested through the small intestines and then all the fatty acids are absorbed. This causes you to gain weight but at the same time be Mal-nourished due to not absorbing the vitamins and minerals out of the food.
Then there is the brain fog and sluggishness. Which I chalked up to Type 2 Diabetes.
It wasn’t the diabetes making feel that way though. I would get horrendous head aches and feel like my I could not focus on things. Sometimes I would even pass out “have Vasovagal episodes”..
All of these health problems stemmed from consuming Gluten. If you have any type of Endocrine system issues, you should stay away from Gluten! For the past year I have tried to eat totally Gluten free. It is very expensive. I haven’t found any pasta I like but there are many options out there. There are also apps that you can download to scan bar codes on products to find out if they are truly gluten free.
Have a Happy Healthy and Lovely Day!