By Jamahl Hokstam

Most of us have heard the term “you are what you eat”.

It’s usually said light-heartedly in conversation, most of the time and there’s no second thought after hearing this phrase.

But what does this really mean ? 

This topic has always been on my mind and I’ve come to realize how this simple life hack can have a multitude of benefits in your life. So I decided to give this topic some attention.. 

In my readings I came across the Lewin’s equation, B = f(P, E), which is  a heuristic formula proposed by psychologist Kurt Lewin as an explanation of what determines behavior.The formula states that behavior is a function of the person and their environment:[1]

B=f(P,E)

Where B is behavior, P is person, and E is the environment.

Lewins focus was mainly on the psychology of an environment and how that affects behavior 

Tie that together with a study done at Harvard by Eva Selhub MD “your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel. Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and protects it from oxidative stress — the “waste” (free radicals) produced when the body uses oxygen, which can damage cells.”

So we now have this formula (Protein + Environment = Reaction) . This is true because there have been many times where I made poor choices because I lacked the right fuel to process information properly. 

Unfortunately, “just like an expensive car, your brain can be damaged if you ingest anything other than premium fuel. If substances from “low-premium” fuel (such as what you get from processed or refined foods) get to the brain, it has little ability to get rid of them.”  by Eva Selhub MD 

Even our perception is somewhat controlled by the proteins we digest. A healthy diet means a healthy brain, which means healthy decisions. 

Every action and reaction we have toward something stems from the original environment we gained our knowledge and protein.

If a person is placed in an environment that isn’t conducive and they take in food/ protein which has no nutritional value, this person’s outcome wouldn’t be the best.

A healthy diet leads to higher brain function which in term changes your behavior. So it’s in our best interest to eat as healthy as possible in order for us to notice the change we are seeking in our life.