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.
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"Brain-Building Nutrition is destined to become a classic. It’s one of the top twenty books you have to read to get a real sense of what optimum nutrition is all about."
— Patrick Holford, executive editor, Journal of Optimal Nutrition
"Schmidt presents up-to-date research to document his almost revolutionary findings."
—Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
"Dr. Michael Schmidt is one of the brilliant minds in nutritional medicine today."
— Joli Martin Root, host of Food For Thought, WEVD Radio, New York
"One of my favorite books. Dr. Schmidt is one of the most gifted communicators and eloquent writers of our time. "
— Deborah Ray, host of nationally syndicated The Deborah Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio Network
— Patrick Holford, executive editor, Journal of Optimal Nutrition
"Schmidt presents up-to-date research to document his almost revolutionary findings."
—Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
"Dr. Michael Schmidt is one of the brilliant minds in nutritional medicine today."
— Joli Martin Root, host of Food For Thought, WEVD Radio, New York
"One of my favorite books. Dr. Schmidt is one of the most gifted communicators and eloquent writers of our time. "
— Deborah Ray, host of nationally syndicated The Deborah Ray Show, Healthy Talk Radio Network
From the Publisher
In Brain-Building Nutrition, Dr. Schmidt reveals the extraordinary ways in which specific fats are needed to build a healthy brain, and how dietary fats and oils affect mental, physical, and emotional intelligence.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dr. Schmidt provides readers with a valuable resource that looks into the world of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their effects on almost every aspect of human physiology.
In Dr. Schmidt's book, we learn that our brains are made up of nearly 60 percent fat and that we have the capability to improve our health, substantially, by including certain fats and oils in our daily diets. Dr. Schmidt covers the science behind EFAs and discusses how to get the brain-fats we need in his chapter on food and supplements. He also talks about the dangers of trans fatty acids on the brain in a chapter entitled, The French Fry Generation.
One thing I like about Dr. Schmidt's book is the fact that he addresses the benefits of using krill oil. Most of the earlier work written on EFA's mainly discussed the use of fish oil as a source for beneficial fats. As we know from all of the studies, fish oil can be helpful for protecting heart health, reducing bad cholesterol, treating depression, PMS and ADHD; however, it does not contain the choline rich phospholipids that our brains need. In his book, Dr. Schmidt discusses what can happen when we do not get enough choline. He refers to the work of Dr. Richard Wurtman, who found that the brain can actually "cannibalize" when enough choline is not provided in the diet! Dr. Schmidt also discusses phospholipid supplements in his book and mentions that the fatty acid in krill is a close match for our own brain phospholipids.
The other parts I really like about Dr. Schmidt's book are all of the studies that he includes discussing how EFA's protect the brain against neurological disorders, like Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and Alzheimer's disease. The case study he writes about concerning the use of EFA's in reducing violence in prisoners is also quite fascinating.
Finally, the book includes a helpful question and answer section and several useful appendixes--a table of foods with the highest antioxidant content, a body mass index (BMI) table, contents of Omega-3 in marine and fresh water fish, and much more.
Despite my joy in finding this wonderful book, I still believe there is an audience out there (including me) who would like to see a newer book written where krill oil is used as the main source for EFAs in all of the case studies. Until that happens, Dr. Schmidt's book is a very, very useful reference.
~Elizabeth A. Jesse, MA, LLPC
In Dr. Schmidt's book, we learn that our brains are made up of nearly 60 percent fat and that we have the capability to improve our health, substantially, by including certain fats and oils in our daily diets. Dr. Schmidt covers the science behind EFAs and discusses how to get the brain-fats we need in his chapter on food and supplements. He also talks about the dangers of trans fatty acids on the brain in a chapter entitled, The French Fry Generation.
One thing I like about Dr. Schmidt's book is the fact that he addresses the benefits of using krill oil. Most of the earlier work written on EFA's mainly discussed the use of fish oil as a source for beneficial fats. As we know from all of the studies, fish oil can be helpful for protecting heart health, reducing bad cholesterol, treating depression, PMS and ADHD; however, it does not contain the choline rich phospholipids that our brains need. In his book, Dr. Schmidt discusses what can happen when we do not get enough choline. He refers to the work of Dr. Richard Wurtman, who found that the brain can actually "cannibalize" when enough choline is not provided in the diet! Dr. Schmidt also discusses phospholipid supplements in his book and mentions that the fatty acid in krill is a close match for our own brain phospholipids.
The other parts I really like about Dr. Schmidt's book are all of the studies that he includes discussing how EFA's protect the brain against neurological disorders, like Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and Alzheimer's disease. The case study he writes about concerning the use of EFA's in reducing violence in prisoners is also quite fascinating.
Finally, the book includes a helpful question and answer section and several useful appendixes--a table of foods with the highest antioxidant content, a body mass index (BMI) table, contents of Omega-3 in marine and fresh water fish, and much more.
Despite my joy in finding this wonderful book, I still believe there is an audience out there (including me) who would like to see a newer book written where krill oil is used as the main source for EFAs in all of the case studies. Until that happens, Dr. Schmidt's book is a very, very useful reference.
~Elizabeth A. Jesse, MA, LLPC
5 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am not a scientist and my comment is based only on my own investigation using the internet and several books that I have purchased on this and other related subjects. I have also made it a point to seek out information from known reliable sources. I have recently been told that Chia Seeds and the oil from Chia Seeds are better than Hemp seeds or Hemp Seed oil, because they contain more Omega 3 fats and a better ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 and 9 than Hemp Seeds. I am not putting down Hemp, but from everything I have learned this is a true statement. The author, Michael Schmidt seems not to have discovered this or (I believe is misinformed). There is very little reference to Chia Seeds, and where they do exist, it seems inaccurate. Having said that, I do feel that the book is of value and he seems pretty knowledgeable in general, so I am still recommending the book.
I would be curious to know if others (perhaps more knowledgeable than me) would care to comment on the use of Chia and if the book accurately reflects it's true nutritional values. At the very least, you should do your own investigation. Salba Super Grain (100% Pure Salvia Hispanica L) - 1lb.
I would be curious to know if others (perhaps more knowledgeable than me) would care to comment on the use of Chia and if the book accurately reflects it's true nutritional values. At the very least, you should do your own investigation. Salba Super Grain (100% Pure Salvia Hispanica L) - 1lb.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Andrea had been waging a fierce personal battle, which two years of psychotherapy had failed to calm. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
neural fatty acids, damaged fatty acids, peak brain performance, supplemental fatty acids, brain fatty acids, fatty acid insufficiency, highest antioxidant content, fatty acid imbalance, krill oil, fatty acid balance, fatty acid status, adequate fatty acids, brain oxidative stress, algae oil, fatty acid therapy, isoprostane levels, fatty acid pathways, docosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid levels, blueberry extract, fatty acid intake, trans fatty acids, six double bonds, free radical stress, glycemic load Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Smart-Fat Diet, National Institutes of Health, United States, Donald Rudin, Michael Crawford, New York, Sidney Baker, Charles Glueck, Fructose Effects, Ralph Holman New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Andrea had been waging a fierce personal battle, which two years of psychotherapy had failed to calm. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
neural fatty acids, damaged fatty acids, peak brain performance, supplemental fatty acids, brain fatty acids, fatty acid insufficiency, highest antioxidant content, fatty acid imbalance, krill oil, fatty acid balance, fatty acid status, adequate fatty acids, brain oxidative stress, algae oil, fatty acid therapy, isoprostane levels, fatty acid pathways, docosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid levels, blueberry extract, fatty acid intake, trans fatty acids, six double bonds, free radical stress, glycemic load Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Smart-Fat Diet, National Institutes of Health, United States, Donald Rudin, Michael Crawford, New York, Sidney Baker, Charles Glueck, Fructose Effects, Ralph Holman New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 18
books:
See all 18 books this book cites
- Handbook of Lipids in Human Nutrition by Gene A. Spiller on 8 pages
- Nutrition and the Brain, Vol. 6: Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Food Constituents by Richard J. Wurtman in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Nutrition Superbook: The Good Fats and Oils by Jean Barilla in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine by Barry Halliwell on page 94, and Back Matter
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking on page 176, and Back Matter
See all 18 books this book cites
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