You know what I've been thinking about lately, Reader,

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If you had to focus on just one area of your health that would lift up all the others, which one would that be?

You could make a good argument for gut health. If you have gut issues, you know, it's pretty much all you can think about. And it seriously drags down every other area of your life.

But I think there's an even more important piece that needs to be addressed first: your brain. 🧠

You support the brain first, and suddenly everything else gets 100x easier.

When I reflect on my own health journey, this was certainly the case for me.

At my sickest point, I was trapped in a neverending spiral of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness for the future.

And while I had significant gut issues (and chronic infections, though I didn't know it at the time), it wasn't fixing my gut that got me out of that constant loop of anxiety and depression.

It was supporting my brain. 💡

You might remember from my health story that the first thing my naturopathic doctor did was put me on high-dose vitamin D.

And inside of two weeks, maybe less, that hopelessness and anxiety DISAPPEARED.

I can't overstate how dramatic a change this was. In a matter of days, I felt like life was worth living again. I knew my health challenges were fixable. I saw a way out that I hadn't seen before.

And I still had (serious) gut issues. I still had Lyme and coinfections. But my brain was back online.

Which meant I could finally begin to work on the other aspects of my health that seemed impossible to fix before.

And everything started to get better.

So what does this mean for you?

If you're at a point with your health right now where you feel stuck, or unsure of what to do, or you're feeling that anxiety and depression creep in, refocus your efforts on your brain health.

Here are a few options you can try:

• ​Vitamin D: I mean, you saw this coming, right? You can and should have your vitamin D levels checked out at some point, but just about everyone could use more of this sunshine vitamin. I've had good results at 5,000 to 10,000 IUs daily.
• ​Magnesium L-threonate: This is a type of magnesium your brain really likes, and can support mental clarity, focus, and motivation. I take 1000 mg almost every day.
• ​SAMe: This is a dopamine precursor, so if you struggle with mental energy and motivation, SAMe might be your guy.
• ​Paleovalley mushroom complex: Looking for a whole food option? This blend of adaptogen mushrooms supports mental clarity, focus, cognition, and a chill nervous system (if you tend to be someone who's constantly on edge). As a bonus, it can help balance hormones, which can seriously mess with our brains when they're out of whack.

Eat more brain-boosting foods:

• Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, all the berries)
• Avocado + healthy fats in general
• Nuts and seeds like almonds and pepitas
• Leafy greens
• Sprouts
• Beef/chicken liver 1-2x a week, if you can stomach it (I recommend cooking with butter and rosemary.)
• High-electrolyte beverages like aloe juice, coconut water, lemon/lime (this combo makes a delicious mocktail actually)

Practices:

• ​Guided meditation and NSDR: These guided practices really chill me out, often to the point of falling asleep.
• No screens 90 minutes before bed: I know, I know. But it can really make a difference in your sleep quality, and that's going to have a huge effect on your brain capacity.
• Walking in nature: No headphones, just vibes
• Morning sunlight exposure: As the kids say, touch grass, and let the morning sun hit your eyes to reset your circadian rhythm in the morning

If I had to pick three of these to get started, I'd go with 10,000 IU vitamin D daily, 1000 mg mag L-threonate, and a daily NSDR practice of 20-30 minutes. I think you'd really feel a difference in two weeks or less. If I had to pick just one? I'd actually go with the mag L-threonate. It's incredible how much magnesium our brain and nervous system needs to thrive, and we could all use way more than we get from even the healthiest diet.

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To your (brain) health,

Amanda

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