In the past five years, scientists have unveiled a connection between diet and brain function. This newfound knowledge has opened up a world of possibilities when it comes to optimizing our mental health through our dietary choices. While further research is still needed, many experts today maintain that dietary interventions can be therapeutically beneficial not only to our physical health, but also to our cognitive functioning and mental wellbeing.
One dietary component that has gained considerable attention is omega-3 fatty acids. Found in abundance in certain foods such as fish, these fats support cognitive processes and are now believed to help maintain the health and flexibility of brain synapses. Conversely, diets high in saturated fat have come under scrutiny for their potential negative impact on our brains.
Jonathan Wolfson and Mark Brooks are the cofounders and co-CEOs of Brainiac Foods, a company that makes snacks for the whole family targeted specifically at brain development. The nutritious products – including nut butters and supplements – are packed with omegas, choline and lutein. Their new line, Little Brainiac, supports parents as they transition to feeding solid foods to their toddlers by offering pouches containing meaningful amounts of brain nutrients.
Both fathers, Wolfson and Brooks were inspired to found Brainiac after studying the importance of omega-3s and other brain boosting nutrients. They discovered that nearly 20% of American families aren’t getting the recommended levels of brain nutrients they need. So, the cofounders partnered with nutrition scientists, pediatricians, neurologists and dietitians to create Brainiac Foods.
“As a serial entrepreneur, I always ask: how do I do well by doing good?” said Wolfson in an exclusive interview with me. “What gets me up each morning is making a difference, creating companies that improve the lives of people and our planet.”
At his previous company, Wolfson developed a low-carbon advanced biofuel used for the first ever eco-skies commercial flight and also commercialized Thrive, an algae-based, heart-healthy cooking oil. But starting Brainiac has been particularly personal to him, as the initial idea came when his third child was diagnosed with failure to thrive as an infant.
“My wife and I were very concerned and spoke to numerous experts to figure out what our son needed for proper development,” Wolfson says. “What became clear was that nutrition would help his brain and eye development. Then I discovered older kids and adults have large nutritional gaps for optimal brain health and performance. That was the driver for creating Brainiac.”
The greatest challenge Wolfson has faced is the development and streamlining of the actual physical production of the Brainiac products. “Bringing an idea from intangible to tangible is often much more difficult than initially planned. The only way to overcome that is to understand that the process will entail failure. Failing is part of the process of making better-for-us and better-for-our-planet products.” Brooks adds that it is also challenging to find people “who believe in what you are doing and the positive impact that you can create together, and who thrive under uncertainty.”
Wolfson advises all aspiring entrepreneurs and changemakers to “save all of your rejections from colleges, jobs, investors, venture funds, pursued hires, etc. One day, when you’ve had some success, which if you are persistent you will, you can wallpaper a room with them and enjoy that room.”
“Have agility and be resilient,” says Brooks. “An overnight success takes five years. Building a business is going to take longer and be more expensive than you think. Also, be open to constructive feedback. The customer is really what matters.”
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