Feeding the Brain: The Mindful Future of Food

Photo by Agenlaku Indonesia on Unsplash

We are on the cusp of breakthroughs in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and clean energy—new technologies that could influence the way we eat, hopefully for the better. 

Foods are interesting indicators for the way society is heading. Currently, an appreciation for a healthy mind, emotionally and intellectually, could play into consumer choices of what to eat. Here are a few examples of the mindful and mind-enhancing direction of some of today's food trends.

Nootropics

Nootropics are natural foods or synthetic supplements that boost brain power. They make you more alert, increase your intellectual stamina, and help memory skills. A berry-based nootropic drink could become an alternative to coffee, for example. Its caffeine-free antioxidants, amino acids, and plant extracts are a healthy way to enhance your mind. Such a beverage could serve as a coffee substitute if coffee becomes extinct due to climate change, or becomes too unsustainable to continue to produce. Human enhancement using powerful brain foods is a reasonable approach to food and drink, particularly when losing your job to a robot is a credible threat.


Sustainable Fruits and Vegetables

Researchers are eager to discover ways to manipulate plants into becoming more resilient to climate change. Until then, we may need to prepare our palates for edible plants that can resist extreme weather, such as breadfruit. Scientists are studying hardy plants in order to emulate them (through genetic engineering) in our favorite fruits and vegetables. But we may see breadfruit and other similar foods appeal to early adopters with a mindful lifestyle, similar to how lab-grown meat enthusiasts have championed artificial meat as visionary and good for the planet.


Psychobiotics

Fermented foods consumed to stabilize mental state and mood are called psychobiotics. The term refers to the fairly new medical finding that treating gut bacteria can improve mental wellbeing. The idea that gut bacteria can feed on certain probiotics to balance the mind means that natural, side effect-free treatment could be delivered in the form of food. This could eliminate barriers to being treated for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other common issues that have resulted from experiences during the pandemic. Counselors might recommend certain foods to complement talk therapy. Restaurants and grocery stores could create campaigns around mental health-enhancing options, or they could be integrated into the menu for wellness retreats.



With these signals on the horizon, we might expect future societies to see food as more than fuel, but a key to a strong, peaceful, and healthy mind.