Dr Daniel Amen’s shopping list for a healthy brain: How to live longer

A top psychiatrist has shared his best brain healthy pantry and refrigerator basics to keep him sustained throughout the week – and why a focus on ‘deprivation’ or a negative attitude will make you feel sicker and ‘foggier’ for longer. 

Dr Daniel Amen, a brain specialist from California, listed his favourite foods that build and sustain health in post on Facebook including dips, eggs, protein powder, quinoa, and berries. 

He said to stay away from sugary fast foods and beverages and opt for high-quality, nutritious, and delicious foods to reduce inflammation and illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, depression, dementia, and early death.  

Dr Daniel Amen, a brain specialist from California, listed his favourite foods that build and sustain health in post on Facebook including dips, eggs, protein powder, quinoa, and berries 

The doctor said raw, unsalted seeds and nuts like chia flax or hemp and frozen or fresh fruit like strawberries, blue berries and raspberries are also good brain-healthy foods

He also includes organic, cage-free eggs, protein powder, coconut wraps, quinoa in his list

He includes organic, cage-free eggs, protein powder, coconut wraps, quinoa, raw, unsalted seeds and nuts like chia flax or hemp and frozen or fresh fruit like strawberries, blue berries and raspberries as brain healthy foods

Dr Amen is a renowned celebrity brain specialist known for using a unique brain scan called SPECT that is said to uncover evidence of a variety of ailments including strokes, epilepsy, trauma, some types of dementia and heavy drug use. 

He has a list of famous clients including Justin Bieber, Australian actress Tammin Sursock, Miley Cyrus and even supermodel Bella Hadid who he inspired to quit drinking. 

‘Your attitude, or mind-set, may be the single most important factor in feeling better fast. When your mind-set is one of deprivation and your focus is on what you cannot have, you are more likely to remain mired in illness and brain fog,’ Dr Amen wrote. 

Dr Amen recommends putting dips like hummus, guacamole and salsa, organic, cage-free eggs, healthy oils such as coconut, almond or macadamia-nut oils, and almond or coconut butters and spreads in the trolley during your weekly food shop. 

Dr Amen is a renowned brain expert and psychiatrist with a list of celebrity clients including Miley Cyrus (pictured right) and Justin Bieber

As well as Australia actress Tammin Sursock (pictured right) and super model Bella Hadid who he inspired to quit drinking alcohol

Dr Amen is a renowned brain expert and psychiatrist with a list of famous clients including Justin Bieber, Australian actress Tammin Sursock, Miley Cyrus and even supermodel Bella Hadid who he inspired to quit drinking alcohol

He includes protein powder, coconut wraps, quinoa, raw, unsalted seeds and nuts like chia flax or hemp and frozen or fresh fruit like strawberries, blue berries and raspberries as brain healthy foods. 

Dr Amen said he also uses sweeteners like Stevia or Sweet leaf as opposed to sugar and is sure to include superfoods in his diet like goji berry powder which is packed with antioxidants and maca root which is a Peruvian vegetable said to have a variety of health benefits. 

In another post, the Californian doctor shared a more extensive list of brain-healthy foods he eats on the regular. 

The post named an array of healthy nuts, seeds, snacks, low glycaemic, high fibre fruits, vegetables, probiotic foods, eggs meat, poultry and fish and herbs and spices.  

Dr Amen recommends putting dips like hummus, guacamole and salsa, healthy oils such as coconut, almond or macadamia-nut oils, and almond or coconut butters and spreads in the trolley during your weekly food shop

Dr Amen recommends putting dips like hummus, guacamole and salsa, healthy oils such as coconut, almond or macadamia-nut oils, and almond or coconut butters and spreads in the trolley during your weekly food shop

Dr Daniel Amen’s top brain healthy pantry and refrigerator basics

Condiments for dipping like hummus, guacamole, and salsa

Organic, cage free eggs

Healthy oils like coconut oil, almond oil, and macadamia-nut oil 

Nut butters and spreads like almond and coconut butter

Protein powder

Coconut wraps 

Quinoa

Raw, unsalted seeds and nuts – chia, flax, hemp

Small amounts of fresh or frozen fruit like organic strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries 

Sweeteners like stevia

Superfoods like maca root and goji powder

‘To feel better fast and make it last for a lifetime, it is critical to develop an abundance mind-set, where you focus on the high-quality, nutritious, and delicious foods you can have that build and sustain your health.’ 

Other foods on Dr Amen’s grocery list included raw almonds, cashews and pistachios, pumpkin and sesame seeds as well as fruits such as apples, grapes, kiwi and lemons. 

His top vegetables range from artichokes, to cabbage and cauliflower even to seaweed and horse radish. 

When it comes to probiotic foods, the doctor recommended sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, miso soup and pickle and he listed salmon, sardines, scallops and turkey as brain-healthy meats and fish.

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