taste W H AT ’ S C O O K I N G DINING OUT C O C K TA I L
J imb o ’ s M a r k ets S ta c y Ke c k
Feed Your Mind How what you eat (grey) matters
B y C a th a r i n e L . K a u f m a n ( a k a T h e K i t c h e n Shr i n k ) hen it was analyzed during autopsy, Albert Einstein’s brain was shown to have 73% more glial cells than average. These cells form during the embryo’s development, so Mama Pauline must have been eating right while her budding genius was still in utero. Leonardo Da Vinci enjoyed a popular Renaissance dish of grilled eel and orange slices, and studies have shown that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like carefully chosen seafood, may help boost IQs. Beethoven had a penchant for strong coffee (60 beans to the cup), the Dalai Lama is a chocoholic, and Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel was a fan of green eggs and ham (made green by healthy herbs, no doubt). Einstein said, “There’s a genius in all of us.” If he’s right, then perhaps all we have to do to realize our mental potential is eat healthy foods. Here’s a list of no-brainers.
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TOP: An assortment of brain foods from Jimbo’s market ABOVE: Piatti chef Pepe Ccapatinta presents his salmonstuffed avocados
Fish and Tips Swap red meat for red snapper or other omega-3 fatty acid powerhouses (especially wild-caught, deep sea, cold-water varieties) including salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel. One of the omega-3s in fish, DHA, is a key building block in components of grey matter. So, a diet rich in omega-3s may keep brain cells well-lubricated and vibrant, improving mood, brain-wiring and cell-to-cell communications. That all adds up to quick thinking. Wild-caught salmon is also a rich source of niacin, which is believed to ward off age-related cognitive decline from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. As Dr. Seuss says, “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.” Pepe Ccapatinta, executive chef at Piatti in La Jolla Shores, puts sardines, wild-caught salmon and anchovies on his A-list of brain foods. “A lot of people don’t like sardines because of a bad experience as kids, but they need to move beyond that (Continued on Page 60) pacificsandiego.com
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