Brain-Building Nutrition: How Dietary Fats and Oils Affect Mental, Physical, and Emotional Intelligence

by Michael A. Schmidt, Jeffrey S. Bland (Foreword)

In this new, updated edition of the classic book on brain performance and nutrition, Dr. Michael A. Schmidt provides a host of practical dietary information and new, ground-breaking research to support his findings. A remarkable but little known fact is that the brain is nearly 60 percent fat. The book begins with a quiz to measure the reader's brain fatty acid profile, and goes on to demonstrate the role of fat in the brain's structure and functioning. The author helps the reader distinguish between harmful and beneficial fats and oils, and warns the "French Fry Generation" of the dangers of a poor diet. The effects of nutrition on mood, memory and behavior are explained by a number of compelling case studies. Finally, the author presents various strategies for enhancing mental, physical and emotional intelligence through the conscious use of supplements and a healthy diet.

Genres: Health, Brain, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2001

Reviews

[Karen Selick]

My friend the dairy farmer is Michael E. Schmidt, and he did NOT write this book. Nevertheless, this Michael Schmidt is very informative. Did you know that your brain is composed of 80 percent fat ? That's why you need to choose the right kind of fats to eat, instead of garbage (such as most trans-fats) that will clog up your brain. But even so--not all trans fats are bad for you. There are some that occur naturally (not through hydrogenation), such as CLA (conjugated lineolenic acid) that are actually very good for you. So are some saturated fats such as coconut oil. I already know some of this stuff, but this adds a lot of detail. For many people, it would be a real eye-opener.

[Kara Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am learning a lot of interesting things that I've never before known about nutrition. However, it's very technical and scientific (it's a research-based book), so it's not an easy read.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great -- fantastic research, great applicable tips! It's a resource I will be coming back to!

[Graham Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super dense, but good citations, so I'll be spending more time in the references section later.