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Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life
by
New York Times Bestseller
Discover the critical link between your brain and the food you eat and change the way your brain ages, in this cutting-edge, practical guide to eliminating brain fog, optimizing brain health, and achieving peak mental performance from media personality and leading voice in health Max Lugavere.
After his mother was diagnosed with a mysterious form o ...more
Discover the critical link between your brain and the food you eat and change the way your brain ages, in this cutting-edge, practical guide to eliminating brain fog, optimizing brain health, and achieving peak mental performance from media personality and leading voice in health Max Lugavere.
After his mother was diagnosed with a mysterious form o ...more
ebook, 400 pages
Published
March 20th 2018
by Harper Wave
(first published 2018)
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Start your review of Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life

This book was released this year - in March of 2018- just 4 months ago. 196 reviews are posted on Amazon at the moment - with a solid 5 star rating across the board.
As far as nutrition books go - especially relevant to brain health - ( preventing cognitive decline and dementia- all according to the latest science), and overall sound nutrition- advice......
I’ve not read a more readable book- easy to grasp useful health guide book in
a long time - enjoyable too. The facts are easily presented- inc ...more
As far as nutrition books go - especially relevant to brain health - ( preventing cognitive decline and dementia- all according to the latest science), and overall sound nutrition- advice......
I’ve not read a more readable book- easy to grasp useful health guide book in
a long time - enjoyable too. The facts are easily presented- inc ...more

EXTREME WARNING : MAX LUGAVERE HOLDS NO HEATH DEGREE OF ANY KIND . HE HAS NOT APPEARED IN PUBLIC DEBATE WITH ANY HEALTH AUTHORITIES . HIS ASSERTIONS ABOUT CHOLESTEROL AND FAT CONSUMPTION ARE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL AND EVEN ROGUE. . (if he where ever to appear in debate with Dr Joel Fuhrman or one of his peers he would be utterly destroyed )
While Lugavere’s book is glibly written and contains some helpful data . Lugavere does NOT have a degree in nutrition and is extremely uncircumspect in his ...more
While Lugavere’s book is glibly written and contains some helpful data . Lugavere does NOT have a degree in nutrition and is extremely uncircumspect in his ...more

This book is my new go-to resource to which I may refer to people when they ask, "What do you do?" So
many people struggle with their weight, and because I am relatively fit and lean, they ask me what I do. I
have a Word document I put together with a list of people and reference materials with internet links
(including "breadheadthemovie.com"), but now, I plan to recommend reading Genius Foods. This book
has it all! What I have been learning about and incorporating in my life is everything I ha ...more
many people struggle with their weight, and because I am relatively fit and lean, they ask me what I do. I
have a Word document I put together with a list of people and reference materials with internet links
(including "breadheadthemovie.com"), but now, I plan to recommend reading Genius Foods. This book
has it all! What I have been learning about and incorporating in my life is everything I ha ...more

Well written summary of all the information on diet and health floating around in the last few years. The author’s conversational style made this an especially enjoyable book.
His 10 Genius foods hook was a great way to simplify all the science.
I also like how he acknowledged that there is good stress as well as bad stress. Stress is how we grow, in many cases.
Living with a family member with dementia can make broccoli very palatable.
His 10 Genius foods hook was a great way to simplify all the science.
I also like how he acknowledged that there is good stress as well as bad stress. Stress is how we grow, in many cases.
Living with a family member with dementia can make broccoli very palatable.

Of all the available old and recent studies on food and nutrition, Genius Foods references a very small and narrow portion of them to reach some very questionable conclusions. Although the author only says it once in the whole book, you should definitely question all information, including that which comes from this book.

Since I'm significantly overweight, I try to read at least one diet book per year. I didn't want to read this book, because I knew it would challenge me on many of my food preferences like pizza, ice cream, breads and starches. It did not disappoint.
One thing that is unique about Genius Foods is its focus on brain health. As I reach age 60 this year, I can notice a small decrease in my ability to retrieve information, and the need to keep brains healthy and functioning is timely and important. T ...more

I have a few essential doubts and questions about this book and the foods he advocates for.
Firstly, in his book, Lugavere advocates for a low carb, high (good) fat diet, that is low in carbohydrates, including those those from starchy plants such as sweet potato, on the basis that they spike insulin even acutely or over a long period of time. I have also been reading about the world's 'blue zones' too, and the research done on the longest living (and healthiest) people on earth, and these studi ...more
Firstly, in his book, Lugavere advocates for a low carb, high (good) fat diet, that is low in carbohydrates, including those those from starchy plants such as sweet potato, on the basis that they spike insulin even acutely or over a long period of time. I have also been reading about the world's 'blue zones' too, and the research done on the longest living (and healthiest) people on earth, and these studi ...more

Informative, well written book on how to keep your brain healthy through diet, exercise and meditating. This author is a believer in eating all the good fats (basically olive oil) and veggie veggie veggie with little or no carbs. Fiber thru veggies is his mantra not thru grains. Has the medical info to back it up on the "why" it's good for your brain and how your gut plays such an important part to keeping that brain healthy. Did you know that the weight of all the bacteria in your gut equals th
...more

This has been the year of reading books on eating healthy. How can so many doctors totally disagree with each other?
While Max Lugavere falls into the low carb camp at least he is not a hard line zealot. Also, he is not a doctor (didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn Express while writing) maybe he realized he is not infallible.
I enjoyed his journey of how and why he got to his decisions. Sometimes staying in the middle of the road allows you the flexibility to change when science has updated its bel ...more
While Max Lugavere falls into the low carb camp at least he is not a hard line zealot. Also, he is not a doctor (didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn Express while writing) maybe he realized he is not infallible.
I enjoyed his journey of how and why he got to his decisions. Sometimes staying in the middle of the road allows you the flexibility to change when science has updated its bel ...more

There is some junk science in this book, and many claims are not given proper citations (though some are). Unfortunately some of the dogma in this text (e.g. proposing that nearly all of modern medicine is bad; the authors’ trendy preoccupation with fasting) gets in the way of some sensible and interesting dietary information also found in the book. The lines between what are “healthy” vs “unhealthy” lifestyle decisions are in reality more nuanced than this book elects to explore.

With the exception of grass-fed beef, I am well on my way to keeping Alzheimer's at bay. Will check out his documentary Bread Head.
...more

Not exactly fascinating cover to cover (it’s pretty dry and “scientific” but he’s trying to explain and prove his thinking) but does make you think.
Doctors after do “Diagnose and adios”
My genes don’t show a predisposition it seems like they’re not solely responsible. External trigger. So there must be something else. Connection between brain health and metabolism. Increased energy levels and clearer thinking. Better mood and more focused. Lose fat.
Neurogenisis = creating new brain cells. Neuro ...more
Doctors after do “Diagnose and adios”
My genes don’t show a predisposition it seems like they’re not solely responsible. External trigger. So there must be something else. Connection between brain health and metabolism. Increased energy levels and clearer thinking. Better mood and more focused. Lose fat.
Neurogenisis = creating new brain cells. Neuro ...more

This one was a mixed bag for me. I'll start with the good and then move onto the bad.
The Good:
*The writing. Author Max Lugavere writes with a natural, easy style. The book is presented as though he were speaking to you in a normal conversation. Any time a book can convey complex ideas in an easy-digestible, engaging manner, it scores big time IMHO. This book deals with many complex biochemical processes, mechanisms, and pathways. Yet he manages to present these concepts in a very down-to-ear ...more
The Good:
*The writing. Author Max Lugavere writes with a natural, easy style. The book is presented as though he were speaking to you in a normal conversation. Any time a book can convey complex ideas in an easy-digestible, engaging manner, it scores big time IMHO. This book deals with many complex biochemical processes, mechanisms, and pathways. Yet he manages to present these concepts in a very down-to-ear ...more

The author writes a very informative and motivational narrative on the foods we need to eat to keep a healthy mind and body. Although I knew extra virgin olive oil, avocados, blueberries, wild salmon, dark leafy greens, eggs, grass-fed beef, dark chocolate and almonds were good for you his explanations made total sense. I have a huge sweet tooth but he has convinced me to change my ways. I truly hope this will be a life style change for me.

By far my favorite book on nutrition!
In Genius Foods, Max Lugavere sheds light on the critical link between our brain and the food we eat.
Motivated by the neurological condition of his mother, he skipped his media career and started to gather information about dietary and lifestyle choices and their impact on our brain performance, our memory, our ability to focus, to learn, to create and our concentration. He writes in a very fun and engaging way, without skipping important information or maki ...more
In Genius Foods, Max Lugavere sheds light on the critical link between our brain and the food we eat.
Motivated by the neurological condition of his mother, he skipped his media career and started to gather information about dietary and lifestyle choices and their impact on our brain performance, our memory, our ability to focus, to learn, to create and our concentration. He writes in a very fun and engaging way, without skipping important information or maki ...more

What foods are best for your brain? This book will give you the answers and offer up tips for maximizing the power of your mind through what you eat. Lugavere isn't a scientist, but rather, found passion in the average Western diet when his mother developed Alzheimer's at a young age, with no family history of the disease. What could cause it? This book synthesizes all of the research he did to find any clues as to answers.
I hate diet culture, but I am utterly fascinated with food, eating habit ...more
I hate diet culture, but I am utterly fascinated with food, eating habit ...more

Finally a thorough synthesis of all the confusing health advice we're constantly bombarded with.
In the same way that I don't believe people are good or bad (we're not children, we should be able to formulate more fine grained opinions), I don't believe in foods being healthy or unhealthy.
Don't patronize me with 'unhealthy', what I always want to know is what effect any food has on my body - short and long term -, and allow me the choice of favoring one over the other at any point.
This book does ...more
In the same way that I don't believe people are good or bad (we're not children, we should be able to formulate more fine grained opinions), I don't believe in foods being healthy or unhealthy.
Don't patronize me with 'unhealthy', what I always want to know is what effect any food has on my body - short and long term -, and allow me the choice of favoring one over the other at any point.
This book does ...more

I greatly enjoyed this book. Most of the genius foods I already knew, but this book put them into a new perspective that resonated even deeper for me. For example I have a deeper understanding of the dangers of using Vegetable/Canola oil and a new found desire to only use extra virgin olive oil. My favorite chapter is the last chapter because it really brought the whole book together and showed the practicality of all the genius foods without being restrictive to your life. I like how flexible t
...more

So many times the media will take a small part of a study and write headlines proclaiming that this food and that food are now unhealthy. It's confusing and not correct.
This book really delves into the science that we currently have today around eating. And it makes a good case for eating as described in the book.
I've been meaning to eat more fish for years and am now very much motivated to do so! Also looking into IF and lowering my carb intake. Why? Read the book for the details, it better fo ...more
This book really delves into the science that we currently have today around eating. And it makes a good case for eating as described in the book.
I've been meaning to eat more fish for years and am now very much motivated to do so! Also looking into IF and lowering my carb intake. Why? Read the book for the details, it better fo ...more

I'm not usually terribly interested in diet books, but speaking as a pure novice, this book was really interesting. "Genius Food" is full of information about nutrients, proteins, acids, etc, how we process them, how best we can fuel our bodies and minds while avoiding do either harm. While there are certain suggestions that seem a bit extreme (ie intermittent fasting) there are elements from this book I fully intend on integrating into my own personalized overall picture of health.
...more

This book was truly life-altering. It scared the bread right out of my hands. I am now one month in to eating this way, and haven't felt this great in a long time.
...more

EXTREME WARNING : MAX LUGAVERE HOLDS NO HEALTH DEGREE OF ANY KIND . HE HAS NOT APPEARED IN PUBLIC DEBATE WITH ANY HEALTH AUTHORITIES . HIS ASSERTIONS ABOUT CHOLESTEROL AND FAT CONSUMPTION ARE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL AND EVEN ROGUE. . (if he where ever to appear in debate with Dr Joel Fuhrman or one of his peers he would be utterly destroyed )
While Lugavere’s book is glibly written and contains some helpful data . Lugavere does NOT have a degree in nutrition and is extremely uncircumspect in hi ...more
While Lugavere’s book is glibly written and contains some helpful data . Lugavere does NOT have a degree in nutrition and is extremely uncircumspect in hi ...more

3.5 And it's not because I paused to think of how to type in Genius, thinking it started with a J and I'm passive aggressive. It's another book on health but something about the summary in the form letter e-mail I got from Blinkest intrigued me so I gave it a shot and listened to it. This is probably not the way to go if you're seriously going to take what the author and his sidekick Dr. Paul have to say.
It tries to be palatable for the average person- which I do think I am, maybe a little less ...more
It tries to be palatable for the average person- which I do think I am, maybe a little less ...more

This is one of the best books I have read on why the recommendations in the book (and those given, for example, by Mark Sisson) work on a physiological level. Lugavere explains the mechanisms by which the body uses (or is abused by) compounds in food and chemical reactions and how our state of health is reflected in our levels of inflammation. Furthermore, it goes deeper into the affects of inflammation and takes for granted that elevated levels are the underlying cause of or contributor to a ho
...more
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“Foods Uniquely Designed to Screw Up Your Brain Bagels Biscuits Cake Cereal Milk chocolate/white chocolate Cookies Energy bars Crackers Doughnuts Muffins Pastas Pastries Pies Granola bars Pizza Pretzels Waffles Pancakes White bread Milkshakes Frozen yogurt Ice cream Batter Gravy Jams Jellies Fries Chips Granola”
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“The swelling can be so severe that it impairs blood flow and increases abdominal pressure, hindering the animal’s ability to breathe. Sometimes the liver and other organs will even rupture from the stress. Cruel and inhumane, it provides an excellent, if extreme, illustration of exactly what we’re doing to ourselves as a consequence of chronic sugar consumption: developing fat-filled livers and creating foie gras right inside of our own bodies.”
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