Brain Health Kitchen

10/27/2026

Pastries and sweets aren’t just a sugar problem!

They tend to bring together several things we want less of for brain health (added sugar, saturated fat, very little fiber or protein)and not much of the good stuff we get from whole plant foods.

In this Summer Highlight, Annie breaks down why the MIND diet puts pastries and sweets on its “limit” list, along with other foods and eating patterns that may be working against the brain over time.

Comment PODCAST for the link to listen!

We’re grateful to our founding sponsors for helping make the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast open access for everyone.

NeuroReserve creates science-backed brain health nutrition products, including Relevate, a brain-specific multivitamin with omega-3 fatty acids, Brain Health Kitchen Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Revanta creatine. Visit NeuroReserve.com and use code BHKPODCAST for 10% off.

BetterBrain is a dementia prevention program covered by insurance for most people, with brain health testing, expert coaching, and a personalized action plan. Learn more at betterbrain.com/annie

10/26/2026

Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the 10 brain-healthy food groups in the MIND diet... but the bottle you choose and the way you store it matter! 🫒

A few things I look for:
• A harvest date within the last year
• One clearly identified country of origin and producer
• Dark glass or a tin
• A quality seal or certification
• Fresh, layered flavor that may be pleasantly bitter or peppery

And yes, you can cook with it. High-quality EVOO can handle more heat than many people realize. I use it for most of my cooking, favor gentler methods, and keep it from smoking or burning.

Comment “EVOO” and I’ll send you my FREE guide to buying, storing, tasting, and cooking with extra-virgin olive oil 💚

10/22/2026

We’ve known for a long time that heavy cannabis use can affect the brain in the short term. But what about decades later?

In this week’s episode of the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast, Dr. Annie Fenn and psychiatrist Dr. Jake Goodman look at what the latest research says about cannabis and long-term brain health, including a question researchers haven’t been able to answer very well until recently: Does using ma*****na or cannabinoids earlier in life affect dementia risk later on?

Annie was surprised by what she found.

And cannabis is only one of the things Annie and Jake put to the test. They also rank sleep, therapy, strength training, magnesium, creatine, omega-3s, coffee, alcohol, Benadryl and more based on what the evidence actually tells us about protecting the brain over time.

Comment PODCAST for the link to listen!

We are grateful to our founding sponsors for helping us keep the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast open to everyone:

creates science-backed brain health nutrition products, including Relevate, Brain Health Kitchen Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Revanta creatine, and their newest product REO3, a high potency omega-3. Learn more at neuroreserve.com.
health is the world’s first dementia prevention program covered by insurance for most people, with brain health testing, expert coaching, and a personalized action plan. Learn more at betterbrain.com/annie. Be sure to check out the podcast for special listener discount codes.

10/21/2026

Benadryl is over the counter...but does that mean it’s harmless for your brain?

In this week’s episode of the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast, Dr. Annie Fenn and psychiatrist Dr. Jake Goodman take on some of the medications, supplements, foods, and habits we use every day and ask a different question: What do we actually know about their effects on long-term brain health?

Benadryl (also known as diphenhydramine) is one that deserves a closer look. Taking it occasionally is very different from taking it night after night, year after year.

And Benadryl is just one of the things Annie and Jake rank in this episode. They also get into sleep medications, cannabis, alcohol, creatine, magnesium, omega-3s, coffee, exercise, therapy and more.

Which ones make the top tier, and which ones should make you think twice?

Comment PODCAST for the link to listen!

We are grateful to our founding sponsors for helping us keep the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast open to everyone:

NeuroReserve creates science-backed brain health nutrition products, including Relevate, Brain Health Kitchen Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Revanta creatine, and their newest product REO3, a high potency omega-3. Learn more at neuroreserve.com.

BetterBrain is the world’s first dementia prevention program covered by insurance for most people, with brain health testing, expert coaching, and a personalized action plan. Learn more at betterbrain.com/annie. Be sure to check out the podcast for special listener discount codes.

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

Sugary drinks aren’t just a blood sugar issue. They’re a brain health issue, too.

Research has linked higher intake of both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages with greater risk of dementia and stroke, which is why Annie gives them their own category of foods to limit.

And this goes well beyond soda. Think energy drinks, sweetened milks, bottled coffees and teas with added sugar, and all the other drinks that quietly add up over the course of a week.

The upside? This can be one of the easier places to make a meaningful change.

In this episode, Annie and Jenny look at the foods and eating patterns that may be working against brain health, and what to choose instead.

Comment PODCAST for the link to listen.

We’re grateful to our founding sponsors for helping make the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast open access for everyone.

NeuroReserve creates science-backed brain health nutrition products, including Relevate, a brain-specific multivitamin with omega-3 fatty acids, Brain Health Kitchen Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Revanta creatine. Visit NeuroReserve.com and use code BHKPODCAST for 10% off.

BetterBrain is a dementia prevention program covered by insurance for most people, with brain health testing, expert coaching, and a personalized action plan. Learn more at betterbrain.com/annie

10/14/2026

If you’re cutting back on dairy for your cholesterol, eating more plant-based foods, or following the MIND diet more closely, you may be wondering: Am I still getting enough calcium?

The reassuring answer is that a brain-healthy eating pattern can provide plenty of calcium without relying heavily on dairy. In fact, 9 of Annie’s 10 favorite calcium-rich foods are dairy-free.

That matters because calcium supports bone health, and taking care of your bones may be an important part of caring for your brain as you age too.

Comment “CALCIUM” and I’ll send you the full article with Annie’s top 10 calcium-rich foods, how much calcium you need, and what to consider before relying on a supplement. Save this for your next grocery trip! 💚

10/13/2026

Plain, unsweetened yogurt is a great brain-healthy food. The problem is that a lot of what’s in the yogurt aisle barely resembles it.

Added sugar, artificial ingredients, and very few live cultures can turn something with real gut-health benefits into something very different.

In this episode, we talk about the foods that are worth looking at a little more closely, not because you need to eat perfectly, but because some everyday choices can quietly work against metabolic and brain health.

For yogurt, the advice is simple! Look for plain, unsweetened options with live bacterial cultures listed on the label. And if you like kefir, that can be an especially good source of beneficial bacteria.

Comment PODCAST for the link to listen!

We’re grateful to our founding sponsors for helping make the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast open access for everyone.

NeuroReserve creates science-backed brain health nutrition products, including Relevate, a brain-specific multivitamin with omega-3 fatty acids, Brain Health Kitchen Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Revanta creatine. Visit NeuroReserve.com and use code BHKPODCAST for 10% off.

BetterBrain is a dementia prevention program covered by insurance for most people, with brain health testing, expert coaching, and a personalized action plan. Learn more at betterbrain.com/annie

10/08/2026

Protein isn’t only about building muscle. It provides the amino acids your body uses to make neurotransmitters, hormones, and molecules needed for a healthy immune system, and getting enough may become even more important as we age. 🧠

The standard protein RDA is a minimum designed to prevent deficiency. It doesn’t fully account for your age, gender, or activity level, which is why one number may not fit everyone.

And you can absolutely get meaningful protein while following a brain-healthy eating pattern. Think lentils, edamame, peas, almonds, quinoa, tofu, and dark leafy greens, along with options such as fish, lean poultry, and plain Greek yogurt.

Comment “PROTEIN” and I’ll send you the full article with Annie’s 10 favorite protein-rich brain foods, how much protein older adults may need, and tips for plant-based eaters.