Biohack Your Brain by Kristen Willeumier

As a lay person, I’m not qualified to comment on the scientific quality of the book. I will note that dozens of 5-star reviews on Goodreads qualify her assertions as “solid science.” The author has a readable style that combines information about the anatomy and functions of the brain along with recommendations of how to feed the brain. One person seemed to misunderstand the title and thought she was talking about hypnosis or psychedelic drugs as “hacking.” She follows conventional wisdom about diet, exercise, supplements, hydration, stress, meditation, and mental exercises. She makes some very specific and practical recommendations in each category.

For those of us who are older and concerned about our aging brain, she offers encouragement about the neuroplasticity of the brain. We can help maintain brain function by using it in a variety of functions. When we just vegetate, we lose brain functions. Doing a variety of exercises, both mentally and physically, are better than just doing rote daily exercises. Learning new things, words, ideas, routines, habits, languages, etc. challenge our brain to be more active.

The one topic I would like to have seen more information was about the microbiome, or the interaction between the brain and the gut combined to function as “the mind.” Research has shown this is important in the functioning of the brain and works both ways. The strongest case she makes for a vegetarian diet is: ”Pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and steroids used in conventional animal ranching are also deadly to healthy bacteria in the gut.” This large-scale mechanization and assembly line production also applies to poultry and pork.

Personally, my primary guide on supplements in the US is the website ConsumerLabs.com that includes testing of individual supplements and surveys of international research studies. I also think that describing the Mediterranean diet as strictly vegetarian ignores the history of lamb, goat, fish, wheat products, and cheese that are predominate in the diet of the region.

I recommend this book as a practical guide for not only learning about the physical brain but also steps that we can take to improve brain health.

”Your brain is a living, oxygen-consuming supercomputer with extraordinary processing capabilities. More than that, it’s an essential part of who you are.”Kristen Willeumier. Biohack Your Brain (p. 6). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

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