I am always concerned about improving productivity, and generally I subscribe to the idea that the best way to increase personal productivity is from the top down. Today’s article takes a look at getting yourself ready for information overload through a healthy diet. We’re talking about foods to minimize that run down feeling you get in the middle of your workday.

So, what’s on the menu?

Sugar And Caffeine

traineo

This is our first stop because it’s the most common for people on the go. The good news is that both Sugar and Caffeine can have some benefits on memory. In fact, for older people, a nice dose of glucose can have significant positive benefits on their brain functions.

The trick, like with everything else, is moderation. Too much caffeine or sugar will have just the opposite effect, reducing concentration and causing all sorts of unpleasant side-effects like paranoia and jitters. If you’re getting ready for a mentally taxing day, have a sugary snack or one or two caffeine filled drinks. Just try to avoid the espresso IV drip.

Iron

The very, very brief biology lesson goes like this: Iron is what carries oxygen to the brain and it is a vital component in our brain’s messaging system, neurotransmitters. The most important functions that Iron is responsible for are regulating those neurotransmitters that are responsible for our ability to pay attention.

A low Iron count means that 20 minutes into your next strategy meeting you’ll be ruminating on how you’re going to level up your Cleric in WoW later that night. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but I am certain your employers would appreciate a bit more focus.

Good sources of Iron include lean beef, whole grains and bran. Adding vitamin C to the mix has been shown to improve the absorption of Iron into the blood stream.

Fish

Omega-3 Fatty acids, which are found in high doses within Fish are critical for completing the Brain’s communication chain. Without these acids, the Brain cannot properly develop. If you’re like me, your Mother probably force fed you some cocktail of Fish oils as a child (well, probably not) but assuming that she did — this is why.

Lets assume for a moment that you hate Fish, and the thought of another teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil makes you welcome dementia. You can also pick up your daily dose of Omega-3 from Walnuts and Canola Oil. I’m certain you can find something interesting to make from one of those.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate’s are what will keep you going in the long term. Unlike Sugar, it usually takes your body between two and four hours to process Carbs into glucose, which means that this is a long term energy solution. The nice thing about Carbs it that you can avoid the spike and crash that sugar often produces. No matter what your buddies over on the Atkins side of the fence tell you, Carbs are your friends — as long as you consume them in moderation.

There is nothing less pleasant than the splitting headache and dulled memory than come from a glucose crash.

Web 2.0 Roundup

If you want to turn Brain food into a overall healthy lifestyle, might I suggest that you take a look at traineo. Here is their corporate boilerplate –

traineo’s idea is simple: join traineo for free and pick up to 4 friends or members of your family (who will become your ‘traineo motivators’) to receive weekly email updates on your progress towards your weight loss and fitness goals. Our easy-to-use software allows you to choose what you’d like traineo to report to your motivators so they can give you the motivation, support and accountability you need to achieve your goals.

The hardest part about trying to get back into shape is finding someone to keep you from giving up after a week. Traineo does a darn good job of filling the niche. Give it a try and report back with the results.

Hopefully, next time you find yourself in a boring meeting, you’ll be able to focus all of your attention on “synergistic micromangement” before returning to your desk to level up.

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