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How to Feed a Brain: Nutrition for Optimal Brain Function and Repair
Want to optimize your brain function? This book teaches you about specific brain-supporting nutrients, how these nutrients affect us, and what we can eat to support our brain function. The author is a survivor of a severe traumatic brain injury that left him comatose with less than a 10% chance of regaining consciousness beyond a vegetative state. In this book, he shares real-life stories of how he used nutrition in his own brain recovery, along with scientific studies and research explaining why and how nutrition makes such a difference in our brain function. The book includes downloads to printable charts, lists, and user-friendly handouts to take to the grocery store or put on the refrigerator so that readers can easily apply what they learn to optimally feed their brains. Special sections provide instructions for supplementation and tube feeding.After sustaining his severe injury, the author devoted years to researching and connecting with doctors, nutritionists, practitioners, neuroscientists, and more to learn how to optimize brain recovery and function. How to Feed a Brain is the culmination of the nutritional tools that he has learned through this journey and used in his own recovery.This book is not only for someone with a brain injury or disease, but also for anyone seeking to improve their brain. Ready to get started? This book will give you the nutritional tools to optimize your brain function.
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
203 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 14, 2019
Quick and to the point. The lack of scientific studies to back up the author's claims is going to change very few minds - but for those seeking a practical protocol, this book is great. 3 stars because I didn't like that the details of the protocol are mentioned only as references to his website. The first third of the book is entirely unnecessary to read and those pages would have been better filled by supporting scientific research.
October 30, 2019
Hey, I wish the best for the author who has overcome some serious brain injury, but after the filler (a thank you section at the beginning that was incredibly long) the information here was a simplistic rehash of stuff I've read elsewhere.
June 23, 2019
Condensed Science with Good Application
I prefer books with more science. Since I do a lot of research on nutrition, this seemed a little too much like a summary without to much of the why explained. But I can see how it would be great for someone looking for a straightforward explanation with more focus on application.
I prefer books with more science. Since I do a lot of research on nutrition, this seemed a little too much like a summary without to much of the why explained. But I can see how it would be great for someone looking for a straightforward explanation with more focus on application.
October 25, 2020
Waste of time
I expected more actual info in this book. Instead, it wants to link you to various websites. Seems to have been written primarily to promote the author’s own website.
I expected more actual info in this book. Instead, it wants to link you to various websites. Seems to have been written primarily to promote the author’s own website.
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December 30, 2019Clear, friendly, engaging and encouraging, with lots of helpful information available online from it.
October 28, 2019
Fantastic Book. Reading this book lead me down the path to taking on the Keto Diet.
I drastically see the cognitive benefits from removing carbs from my diet in such a short period of time, and have Cavin Balaster. Mental Clarity is the first sign, similar to the feeling when you just finish a workout...but all the time! I look forward to maintaining my brain health, cognitive function and physical development.
I drastically see the cognitive benefits from removing carbs from my diet in such a short period of time, and have Cavin Balaster. Mental Clarity is the first sign, similar to the feeling when you just finish a workout...but all the time! I look forward to maintaining my brain health, cognitive function and physical development.
November 9, 2019
Awesome book!!
I chose this book because my son has the same type of brain injury that Cavin has, and I wanted to him to recover as well as he has. Cavin makes it so much easier to understand the diet that heals your brain. Thank you for helping us, Cavin!!
I chose this book because my son has the same type of brain injury that Cavin has, and I wanted to him to recover as well as he has. Cavin makes it so much easier to understand the diet that heals your brain. Thank you for helping us, Cavin!!
November 2, 2019
Good resource but too many references to feedabrain.com/whatever .
November 26, 2019
What's the ICD 10 code for leakey gut syndrome? Oh, there isn't one.... hmmmm....
June 29, 2023
I liked Brain Food by Lisa Mosconi more. This book explains similar things. Choline. I skipped the chapter on gastric tubes because it wasn't relevant to me. The book also mentions the importance of uridine and iodine, which Lisa Mosconi does not.
Sources of iodine include nori, and other sea vegetables. Uridine
"Iodine is also good for muscle growth and for detoxing estrogen and heavy metals like lead and mercury."
"Uridine is concentrated in broccoli, beets, mushrooms, and organ meats like liver and pancreas. It is an important nucleotide found in RNA, and while the combination of choline and DHA have shown great benefits in promoting synaptogenesis, when combined with uridine monophosphate (UMP), the most active form of uridine, those results are enhanced."
He also writes referencing another author that uridine levels can only be increased in the bloods by consumption of breast milk. So I don't really know how we are supposed to get uridine, if that's the case. But he recommends it regardless, also he recommends a supplement of uridine monophosphate.
Source: 20 Wurtman, Richard J et al. “Synaptic proteins and phospholipids are increased in gerbil brain by administering uridine plus docosahexaenoic acid orally,” Brain Research 1088.1 (2006): 83-92.
Sources of iodine include nori, and other sea vegetables. Uridine
"Iodine is also good for muscle growth and for detoxing estrogen and heavy metals like lead and mercury."
"Uridine is concentrated in broccoli, beets, mushrooms, and organ meats like liver and pancreas. It is an important nucleotide found in RNA, and while the combination of choline and DHA have shown great benefits in promoting synaptogenesis, when combined with uridine monophosphate (UMP), the most active form of uridine, those results are enhanced."
He also writes referencing another author that uridine levels can only be increased in the bloods by consumption of breast milk. So I don't really know how we are supposed to get uridine, if that's the case. But he recommends it regardless, also he recommends a supplement of uridine monophosphate.
Source: 20 Wurtman, Richard J et al. “Synaptic proteins and phospholipids are increased in gerbil brain by administering uridine plus docosahexaenoic acid orally,” Brain Research 1088.1 (2006): 83-92.
October 23, 2019
Awesome book, well organized and full of important information no only for people with some type of brain trauma but to every person that wants to improve their brain health.
January 30, 2020
Rather interesting book with some gems in it. I discovered some useful information in the middle section with cooking and food analysis. Other parts didn't register with me.
October 18, 2020
Helped me heal my PCS
The guidance from this book helped me heal my brain. I’ve had Post Concussion Syndrome for almost 2.5 years. Thank you Cavin!
The guidance from this book helped me heal my brain. I’ve had Post Concussion Syndrome for almost 2.5 years. Thank you Cavin!
April 18, 2022
Nothing ground breaking for me here. Meat based diet.
June 13, 2022
Not surprisingly, the summary is to eat meat and vegetables, use olive and avocado and coconut oils, eat grains that don’t have gluten, eliminate common allergens and processed foods, and hydrate.
November 8, 2018
Gives brain injury sufferers and their families hope... there's more to it than your doctors tell you, a whole lot more...
January 6, 2019
This book helped me immensely when I was recovering from a concussion. And so did Cavin's podcast.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews