Also avoid refined vegetable oils (sunflower, corn, soybean, rapeseed, etc.), which are rich in linoleic acid (omega-6) and easily oxidized. Consuming them in excess, along with omega-3 fatty acids, increases brain inflammation. “Most of these oils wouldn’t have existed before the Industrial Revolution: extracting and refining corn oil, grapeseed oil, or other oilseeds was virtually impossible without machines and chemicals,” the psychiatrist points out. Finally, avoid ultra-processed foods, which are often packed with these ingredients, low in micronutrients, and full of additives that weaken the brain and disrupt emotional balance.
Maintain a positive mood and high energy levels with serotonin.
Discreet yet essential, serotonin, known as the “happiness hormone,” regulates mood, energy, and sleep. Its main trigger? Daylight. Upon waking, enjoying a coffee on the balcony, stepping into the garden, or taking a short walk, even in winter, sends a powerful signal to the brain. TJ Power recommends five to ten minutes under a clear sky, fifteen minutes on cloudy days, and up to thirty minutes when the sky is heavily overcast. Spending time outdoors around lunchtime prolongs this revitalizing effect.
“A deep and restorative sleep restores serotonin balance.”