9 - The Importance of Fuel

Summary

We all have to eat, and what we eat has been established by numerous cultural forces. When we begin to view food as fuel for our brain, we may have to confront our dietary eating patterns in order to enhance brain health and mental strength. The consumption of hyperpalatable foods, often ultra-processed with excess sugar and fat, can lead to self-medication with food and to compromised brain health. The motivation and reward system in our brain that facilitates our habits includes the overconsumption of unhealthy food. This chapter covers the critical neurodestructive conditions that are impacted by our diet (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation, oxidation, elevated blood sugar, malfunctioning gut microbiome); argues that ultra-processed foods and comfort foods with high concentrations of sugar and fat are bad for the brain, highly addictive, and targets for self-medication; and concludes with foods to avoid and foods to consume to optimize brain health and mental strength.