Can nutrition enhance mental energy?
Sources:
Yes, nutrition can significantly enhance mental energy. According to Louisa Nicola, proper nutrition impacts various aspects essential for maintaining and boosting mental energy:
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Overall Diet Quality: Eating real, nutritious foods consistently can improve sleep quality and hydration, both of which are critical for mental energy. Nutrition needs to be personalized since different people react differently to the same foods. Preparing meals at home and prioritizing nutritious foods can enhance mental performance 1.
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Exogenous Ketones: Consuming exogenous ketones can boost mitochondrial efficiency and energy production. Nicola emphasizes that efficient mitochondria are crucial for brain cells to function optimally. Ketones not only increase mitochondrial biogenesis but also enhance the body's ability to burn fat for fuel, leading to better mental clarity and sustained energy 2 3.
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Keto Diet: Nicola advocates for a keto diet to boost mental clarity and performance. The diet involves consuming only 5% of daily calories from carbohydrates, reducing inflammation in the brain, and lowering cortisol levels. This switch has been found to increase mental clarity, performance, and potentially extend lifespan 4.
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Metabolic Health: Nicola also discusses how mental illnesses like depression and schizophrenia can be influenced by metabolism. Optimizing metabolism through dietary adjustments can have transformative effects on mental health, highlighting the interplay between nutrition and cognitive function 5.
Therefore, focusing on a balanced and personalized diet, potentially supplemented with exogenous ketones or following specific dietary regimens like keto, can greatly enhance mental energy and overall cognitive performance.
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