This is my review of The Neurogenesis Diet and Lifestyle by Dr. Brant Cortright.
Neurogenesis is the process of growing new neurons, or brain cells. Science has discovered that it is possible for adult brains to grow new brain cells, and that there are things we can do to stimulate the process. This book is a how-to manual for how to do this.
This book does the single most excellent job of summarizing the current scientific knowledge about how we can sharpen our minds and maintain a healthy brain that I have ever seen. Everyone could benefit from reading this book. Think about it: every aspect of your life from the way you feel to your job/academic performance to your relationships will be affected, positively or negatively, by the state of your brain. Much of the scientific knowledge Dr. Cortright shares is not widely known (i.e. Including the spice turmeric, blueberries, green tea, a healthy Omega 3/6 ratio, etc. for a super brain-healthy, neurogenic diet). And while some of his advice is well known (that exercise is a necessary health booster), Cortright gives us a new reason to do it: it grows new brain cells!
Cortright recommends a low-sugar, healthy diet, and unlearning poor eating habits requires a bit more information than the book offers. Two healthy cook books I recommend are Eat to Live Quick and Easy Cookbook: 131 Delicious Recipes for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Reversing Disease, and Lifelong Health and The Fat Chance Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes to Help You Lose the Sugar and the Weight. I recommend Stevia as a good artificial sweetener for coffee and other things. Stevia is anti-inflammatory, unlike other artificial sweeteners.
Likewise, living a more neurogenic lifestyle requires creating new habits and perhaps a bit motivation, and for that I’d recommend The Procrastination Equation: Outline Summary and The 17 Anti-Procrastination Hacks.
There are many videos that can be helpful for meditation beginners, especially these 5 minute metta meditations (here / here), and this 24 minute confidence-boosting meditation.
