Years ago, in a galaxy far-far away known as junior college, I took a biological psychology class. In that class, we studied a lot of different things, but primarily focused on the brain and how its chemicals affected our personalities. It’s where I learned an overview of how to tell from a drawing if a child has been physically abused, and it was where I learned another tip that would serve me through my college years:
- For optimal academic performance, be sure you’re in the same brain-state when you’re taking a test as you were when studying the material. If you had coffee while studying, be sure to have coffee while taking the test. If you were having a beer while studying, have a beer while taking the test.
Now, it’s been some odd years since I took that class, so I don’t really remember the source of that advice – I can tell you that when it came to coffee, my favorite vice, I followed the advice. It appeared to hold true, but whether that is because of the coffee brain state or just because I studied well remains to be proven.
All that said, when I was offered the opportunity to review Head Strong by Dave Asprey, I was excited to take advantage of the opportunity. I am always looking for good ways to boost my brain power and be more productive, and Asprey promises results in two weeks.
In the chapter on brain fuel, I was happy to see that my beloved coffee made the top of the list. I do kind of worry about the section on ketosis. During that alternate life in junior college, I also took a nutrition class. Ketosis is not a good thing, it’s a malnourished state. I know ketogenic diets and carb-cutting diets are very popular here in the United States, but it’s important to note that whether it is safe to induce this state is something that is highly debated among medical professionals. Taking ketosis too far can cause the breakdown of organs and muscle tissue, coma, and even death. Now, Asprey does mention that ketones can cause muscle damage. My advice? I’ve taken just one class on nutrition. It was years ago. I’m not up on the latest research. If you plan on inducing ketosis in order to create more brain energy, PLEASE check with your family doctor first.
He also has a chapter on foods to avoid. MSG, GMOs, Flouride, and other things I avoid because of their affects on my body and brain are in this chapter. For some people, they may call pseudoscience, but I have found if I avoid the things he talks about in this chapter, I do indeed feel better.
The book is worth checking out and reading. I’m even more curious about trying bulletproof coffee (Apsrey happens to be the creator of the stuff) after reading it. I recommend it with the caveat that you may want to check with your doctor before making any drastic changes to diet. The book does have some great recipes and some good exercise routines for those without a lot of time.
About Head Strong
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper Wave (April 4, 2017)
From the creator of Bulletproof Coffee and author of the bestselling The Bulletproof Diet comes a revolutionary plan to upgrade your brainpower—in two weeks or less.
For the last decade, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Dave Asprey has worked with world-renowned doctors and scientists to uncover the latest, most innovative methods for making humans perform better—a process known as “biohacking.” In his first book, The Bulletproof Diet, he shared his biohacking tips for taking control of your own biology. Now, in Head Strong, Asprey shows readers how to biohack their way to a sharper, smarter, faster, more resilient brain.
Imagine feeling like your mind is operating at its clearest and sharpest, and being able—possibly for the first time in your life—to do more in less time? What it suddenly became easier to do the very hardest things you do? Or if you could feel 100% confident about your intellect, and never again fear being the person in the room who just isn’t smart enough, or can’t remember something important? How would you treat people if the mood swings, short temper, and food cravings that disrupt your day could simply disappear?
In Head Strong, Asprey shows us that all of this is possible—and more. Using his simple lifestyle modifications (or “hacks”) to take advantage of how the structure of your brain works, readers will learn how to take their mental performance to the next level. Combining the latest findings in neuroscience and neurobiology with a hacker-inspired “get it done now” perspective, Asprey offers a program structured around key areas of brain performance that will help you:
- Power the brain with exactly what it needs to perform at its best all day long
- Eliminate the sources of “kryptonite,” both nutritional and environmental, that make the brain slower.
- Supercharge the cellular powerhouses of our brains, the mitochondria, to eliminate cravings and turn up mental focus.
- Reverse inflammation to perform better right now, then stay sharp and energized well into your golden years.
- Promote neuron growth to enhance processing speed and reinforce new learning—hotwiring your brain for success.
Asprey’s easy to follow, two-week program offers a detailed plan to supercharge brain performance, including: which foods to eat and which ones to avoid, how to incorporate the right kinds of physical activity into your day, a detox protocol for your home and body; meditation and breathing for performance, recommended brain-boosting supplements; and how to adjust the lighting in your home and work space to give your brain the quality light it thrives on.
A better brain—and a happier, easier, more productive life—is within reach. You just need to get Head Strong.
Purchase Links
HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
About Dave Asprey
DAVE ASPREY, founder of the Bulletproof Executive blog, is a Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur who spent fifteen years and over $300,000 learning to hack his own biology. Dave lost one hundred pounds without counting calories or doing excessive exercise; upgraded his IQ by more than twenty points; and lowered his biological age–all the while learning to sleep better in less time. Mastering these seemingly impossible things transformed him into a better entrepreneur, a better husband and a better father. Dave’s blog reaches 1.5 million unique monthly visitors, and his #1 ranked podcast has been downloaded 5 million times.
You can also connect with Dave on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!