Your diet is only part of the equation.<p>Diet, sleep, and exercise are needed in combination. The highest performers across many professions tend to sleep the most. Exercise helps make better use of the foods you are eating and produces the hormones you need to think clearly.<p>As for supplements to help, examine.com has a bounty of information: <a href="https://examine.com/topics/Cognition/" rel="nofollow">https://examine.com/topics/Cognition/</a>
How do you avoid the mid afternoon slump? My afternoon are pretty much a write-off until the early evening. I have tried avoiding carbs and sugars for lunch and have a pretty good bowl of oats for breakfast. Ive just come to accept that its my Circadian rhythm and such plan my productive hours around the early mornings.
Make sure you are not diabetic. During diabetes and pre-diabetes blood sugar is higher than normal, even when fasting, more so when snacking. And high blood sugar does cause "brain fog".<p>Fasting, done right, can also improve mental clarity.
A ketogenic diet combined with intermittent fasting has put my brain into serious overdrive for the last 2 months. I also get better sleep and have much higher levels of energy (and constant throughout the day, too).
It's not something I eat regularly, but I have heard (probably posted on HN) that turmeric can help improve brain function/memory.<p><a href="http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/one-dose-kitchen-spice-improves-brain-function" rel="nofollow">http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/one-dose-kitchen-spice-impr...</a>
I'm experimenting on this lately. Currently, I'm trying to eat lots of nuts, like 100g+/day. Seems more healthy than taking vitamin pills etc. I've put together a table comparing nutrition info on some nuts. I've also done blood tests and my mineral levels (iron, zink) did go up.<p>I do feel more energetic when doing sports. Not sure about my brain yet. :D<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MT-TEMWooXMZ5u5CxMbiRjUYDIFi-HuofrQnyKuwx2k/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MT-TEMWooXMZ5u5CxMbi...</a>
Costco recession special, ie, hotdog and soda with sauerkraut $1.50. Puts one in the happy place for afternoon coding.<p>Even better if I bike to/from but the greenway isn't ready yet so it can get real muddy.
I like to start the day with an enormous breakfast of proteins and fats with zero carbs that come from anywhere but green vegetables.<p>Growing up with American public school lunches, I never really became a lunch person. I just let breakfast carry me to dinner. Avoiding grains and sugars allows my blood sugar (and thus insulin) levels to stay constant throughout the day. I’ve found that if I spike blood sugar with grains and sugars I tend to be generally unproductive after I eat, and barely productive at all when I get the inevitable sugar crash.
I optimize for good stable long term mental function, not temporary boosts. It works for me.<p>My overall philosophy, divided by macronutrient:<p>* Lots of high quality protein (grass fed beef, free range chicken, tempeh, etc)<p>* Minimize high GI (glycemic index, meaning it spikes blood sugar and insulin) carbs<p>* Healthy fats (avocados, flax seed oil, etc)<p>Raw almonds are a good example of 2 & 3 combined<p>I'm not perfect but it takes a while to develop habits and I've gotten into a good habit.
Disclaimer: Not a doctor or in any medical profession, my opinion is formed from just general articles and (probably false) points I have generally read.<p>A few simple points I normally follow:<p>* Food takes energy to digest. Don't eat a lot just before you need to think, have a small snack instead. In general, smart your day with a small amount of food. If you eat lots for one single meal, assume you will need time to recover.<p>* Sugar brings you up fast, brings you down faster. If you do have sugar, caffeine seems to be good for keeping you up a while. Carbohydrates can also help keep you up for a while.<p>* Caffeine is generally good, but make sure to decaffeinate to bring down your tolerance occasionally.<p>* Protein seems to generally be good for brain growth and maintenance.<p>* Fats in small quantities are apparently needed for neural connections, but those can be got in many forms.<p>* Iron to prevent anemia (which a surprising number of people have).<p>In general, stuff that is good for the rest of the body tends to be good for the mind.
Colorful Salads and Fruits, will start paying off after 2 days or so.<p>But don't eat until you are "really" full, stop 3 bites after you are not feeling hungry.<p>I like -and it is proven to be more healthy- to always keep food with me, and not eat just 3 BIG meals, but many small ones<p>Also Fasting in the the correct timing helps mental attention and clarity
In many primitive cultures certain chemicals were used. "modern" society has many subcultures that still continue to do so however.<p>Eg <a href="https://qualiacomputing.com/2016/12/12/the-hyperbolic-geometry-of-dmt-experiences/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://qualiacomputing.com/2016/12/12/the-hyperbolic-geomet...</a><p>Caffeine/tobacco are some modern less "powerful" ones.
The original Budwig Protocol is great for the brain. It's simply quark cheese and flax seed oil. It's important to keep in mind the flax seed oil needs to as fresh as possible because it gets rancid very quickly. At best buy you own press, the seeds cost next to nothing and you'll have the best quality flax seed oil on demand. Works fantastic against acidosis.
What worked for me is using 'smart drugs' to help my mind in critical periods. I experienced with a couple of offerings, but weirdly 'Lion’s Mane' and 'Cordyceps' mushrooms were the best. Your mileage may vary.
It’s most useful to think of all inputs (food, air, smells, visual and auditory information) the same way we think about food: they require digestion, they have a very practical impact, and the experience of consuming it is as or more important than what the thing actually is.<p>Along these lines, I maximize my productivity by paying most attention to my digital consumption, and avoiding the toxic, addictive, digital foods. Staying off of threads like this one is really, really useful. It’s far more useful than my diet of fresh fish, nuts, and other fatty foods alongside vegetables, legumes, and whole grains that are in all honesty less important than the company I enjoy the meal with.<p>The what is so much less important than the how.
In addition to whatever foods are most nutritious, how about what <i>not</i> to eat?<p>Sugar and caffeine both have a rebound effect, that big (tasty) sandwich and resulting afternoon hangover, etc.
short term: anything with glucose or caffeine<p>long term: varied but balanced diet (diversified portfolio strategy), the body likely takes care of all the messy details<p>Many others here mention sleep and exercise. Hydration should also be considered. I would strongly be in favor is someone suggested a causal link between quality of life and brain functioning. Just look at how long it takes you to die without {air, water, food, sleep, mobility, social interaction} and weigh their importance accordingly.
Is there objective evidence published in the scientific literature to suggest that the foods you eat impact your problem solving skills on a day-to-day basis?