Brain Food Fun with Kelly & Andy!
Oh, my gosh! Doing a top rated nationally syndicated television show proved to be… fun!
You never know when you go on live TV exactly what you’re going to get. You’ve got a (very tight!) script; but you don’t know the mood the hosts are going to be in… what the audience is going to be like… how much of your material is going to get in.
On Live with Kelly, I can now tell you, Kelly Ripa and guest co-host Andy Cohen, and indeed everyone from producers to crew members, were SO gracious and charming and sweet. Kelly and Andy were a bit fuzzy-headed due to each having had a rip-roaring good time the night before. Shot glasses were mentioned. They were pretty excited about getting to the healthy brain food!
Kelly and Andy are good friends, and as you’ll see on the clip below, they are adorable together.
Delicious brain food recipes I shared from The Healthy Mind Cookbook
Since I wasn’t able to get my nerd on during the show and explain more of the MANY incredible benefits of these foods, I’ll share with you here, to benefit YOUR brain.
I needed to choose some sure-fire, scientifically-proven, deliciously-tempting, brain-healthy recipes to demo on this show. Here’s what I chose and why:
The brain needs to be hydrated! 1 to 2 percent loss of fluid levels in the brain has been linked to slower processing, poor short term memory retention. (That’s the infamous – where did I put the car keys – or what was I looking for?). Hydration is key to neuronal nirvana – neurons actually shrink when they don’t get enough fluid. What’s wonderful about this drink is it hydrates in the best way possible with a lot of brain boosting nutrients vs. a sugary cola (which actually dehydrates you).
This recipe, perfect as hot weather arrives, is an ideal brain thirst quencher because pomegranates improve cognitive functioning, memory, and mood. Because they contain unusually high levels of antioxidant polyphenols, (brain protectors) they are often dubbed one of the “superfruits.”
In recent years, scientists have started looking at whether pomegranates and their juice might help in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Initial results in animal models are encouraging. Rich in vitamin C, pomegranates might also help boost your moods. They deliver quite a bit of vitamin K and the B vitamin folate as well, both of which have been shown to protect against the loss of brain function in our later years.
Mint improves cognitive functioning, focus, learning, memory and neuronal health. It’s a good source of vitamin A, which can help boost learning skills and increase the brain’s plasticity. There’s some vitamin C in mint as well, which may protect against cognitive decline. Especially fascinating are studies that show how the scent of mint affects brain functioning. In one study, the aroma of mint helped boost alertness and memory.
So refreshing to the brain!
I also shared: Chicken Za’tar with Everything Drizzle, high in B12, iodine, magnesium, folate, and Omega 3’s, which help fight low mood, energy and fuzzy thinking, and Broccoli with Olives, which assists with cognitive functioning and memory. Broccoli is a stud vegetable which does everything! If you haven’t fallen in love with it before, this is a great gateway recipe.
Instead of reaching for a candy bar, snack smart! Try this super stress-fighting food anytime. It’s a delicious and power-packed trifecta of pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds, with cinnamon and ginger. These improve cognitive functioning, learning, memory and mood. Starting to sound good? Kelly and Andy thought so!
During the break, Andy grabbed the whole plate of Triple, Triple Brittle and said, “I LOVE this stuff! This is for me!” Kelly reached out and said, “Wait! I want some, too!” Gratifying to this chef’s heart.
Note: All the recipes from the show are available in The Healthy Mind Cookbook. Or, you can get them on my homepage at www.rebeccakatz.com.
Best of all
On this lovely, fun and exciting morning, when I had such fun playing with Kelly and Andy and the wonderfully engaged audience, the most special thing of all was sharing it with my darling niece Mia, just returned from a stint in London.
She calls me her “cool aunt,” which I love :) A wonderful memory for the two of us!