All the research that I have done and all of my continuing education with The Neuroscience Academy for health professionals has changed so many decisions that I make each and every day.

As I continue to be enlightened and the quality of my life steadily improves I regret all the years that so much of what we know today was unknown when I was growing up.

Growing up in a European family in Australia, food was a very, very important part of our life. Sadly, quantity was the priority over quality. So, I inherited a huge appetite! In those days not a lot was known about the relationship with food and mood or your energy level after eating different foods. 

However, today even if my research did not tell me the effect of a high carb lunch, my body would definitely show me the after effects with full on brain fog and lethargy.

My husband had two bagels too many at a brunch I hosted last Sunday and ended up sleeping for two hours after our guests left not realizing the cause.

So it is definitely worth looking back at your most productive workday in the past week.  Try to remember what it is that you had for lunch on that very productive day. Scientists now tell us that food has a direct impact on our cognitive performance, which is why a poor decision at lunch can derail an entire afternoon at work.

If we skip lunch then we will be running low on glucose, which provides our brains with energy to stay alert. This explains why we cannot concentrate very well on an empty stomach.

Different foods will have different effects on our bodies as not all foods are processed by our bodies at the same rate.  Pasta, bread, soda for example release glucose quickly giving us a burst of energy followed by the crash.  High fat meals like cheeseburgers will  make our digestive system work much harder, reducing oxygen levels in the brain and then making us groggy.

So here is the deal. Take something healthy to work to have for lunch. You do not want to be tempted to grab quick and easy fast food when you are hungry and don’t have time to think about what to eat for lunch. Plan ahead when you are not hungry and stressed and you will end up having a much more pleasant and energy filled afternoon.