It’s a common known fact that what we eat effects how we feel. When we feel better, we tend to be more creative, which in turn helps us to write more detailed, emotionally impactful, and original content.
So, what are some types of food that can help us to be more creative?
Fruit, like berries and avocados, is high in an amino acid called tyrosine, which helps stimulate production of dopamine. This protein helps keep our bodies and minds in good shape.
Lorenza Colzato, a cognitive psychologist, stated, “Food rich in tyrosine and food supplements that include tyrosine are a healthy and cheap way to increase our ability to think deeply.”
Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple products, believed that his creative ingenuity resulted from the high levels of fruit he consumed. Whether or not Steve Jobs’ fruit eating habits aiding in his technical ingenuity, you should avoid becoming a fruitarian, a person who only consumes fruits, because many other foods help fuel creativity.
Chocolate can help increase short-term cognitive functions, according to a 2007 English study. This is due to the flavanols contained within chocolate. Flavanols can enhance oxygen levels within the brain.
Dr. Ian MacDonald stated, “Acute consumption of this particular flavanol-rich coca beverage was associated with increased gray matter flow for two to three hours.”
I’d go with more natural chocolate, such as Enjoy Life’s vegan and gluten free chocolates. They contain less processed and artificial foods, and are stunningly delicious.
While carbohydrates are yummy, and you sometimes find yourself making excusing to eat more carbohydrates, not all carbs are the same. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down and are better regulated by the body than simple carbohydrates.
So, as much as you may like white bread, trade it for some brown rice, barley, whole grain bread, or oatmeal.
Complex carbohydrates can increase glucose within the brain, and thus stimulate the brain. This means better memory and concentration, both of which are vital to creativity.
As Dr. Arnold Scheibel said, “Your body quickly takes glucose out of the carbohydrates and feeds it to your brain to help it function.”
Other foods that are antioxidant-rich, such as beets, yams, and dark leafy green vegetables (I’m talking about kale, swiss chard, and the like), are excellent for spikes in creativity.
The bottom line: eat foods that are less processed because more processed foods contain chemical ingredients that aren’t natural to bodily processes. And, always, eat in moderation. Chocolate is good for you, until you eat too much. It’s difficult to be creative, when you feel like you’re going to vomit.
What foods do you find help your creativity?
(Photo courtesy of Yamanaka Tamaki.)