The major goal of the present book is to make you think that in our professional lives, our main asset is not the knowledge we have gained from our Universities, certified by the gained degrees. Our main asset is not the experience we have gained from our involvement in the continuously changing environment in the market-place. It is not even the people we have met all these years as customers, policy-makers, vendors, or other stakeholders. Our major asset is our brain and the functions it serves. The way the brain processes the information required, acquired, collected, chosen, used, interpreted, and disseminated is essential for the direction of the business companies we lead and of course our own career path.
The major goal of this book is to make you understand that we have to take care of the asset we possess and make you turn to an ultimate machine that produces good decisions even in stressful situations.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The Research Questions
2. At work
2.1 At work
2.1.1 Support
2.1.2 Working environment
3. Neuroticism
3.1 Neuroticism
3.2 Memory and Retention of Information
4. The Brain
4.1 The Brain
4.1.1 Brain Fitness
4.1.2 Brain Feed, Energizing the brain and its functions
4.1.3 Convert Brain to a Harvester
4.1.4 Lowering the Glycemic Index Effect
4.1.5 Understand the Fats and their Effects on the Brain Function
4.1.6 Self-knowledge and Knowledge of the Brain Functions
4.1.7 Brain Fog Symptoms
5. Working-out and the Effects on Productivity
5.1 Working-out and the Effects on Productivity
5.1.1 Regular Working-out Benefits
5.1.2 Rush Workout
5.1.2.1 Rush workout vs. Weightlifting Training
5.1.2.2 Baseline Aerobic Fitness
5.1.2.3 Boosting the Aerobic Capacity
5.1.2.4 Reduce Belly Fat Approach
5.1.3 Subcutaneous Fat
5.1.4 Differences between Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat
5.1.5 Leptin Connection
6. Executives on the road
6.1 Executives on the road
6.1.1 Know your personal stress response
6.1.1.1 Exercise
6.1.1.2 Health factors
6.1.1.3 Stress breaks
6.1.1.4 Rethink the work
6.1.2 Professionals
6.1.2.1 Set boundaries
6.1.2.2 Stop usual responses to stress
6.1.2.3 Executives Managing Stress
6.1.3 Healthy Eating for Executives on the Run
7. Executives Diet, while on the road
7.1 Executives Diet, while on the road
7.1.1 Detoxify.
7.1.2 Free radicals
7.1.3 Forms of Fasting
7.1.4 History of Fasting
7.1.5 Physiological Reactions to Fasting
7.1.6 The Complete Fast
7.1.7 Safely of the Fast
7.1.8 Symptoms of the Fast
8. Intermittent Fasting
8.1 Intermittent Fasting
8.1.1 Body weight and body fat during fasting
8.1.2 Glucose, Creatinine and hormones levels during fasting
8.1.3 The physical performance of athletes during fasting
8.1.4 Fed vs. Fasted
8.1.5 Insulin Resistance
8.1.6 Fat Adaptation
8.1.7 Metabolic Exercise
8.1.8 Less Feeding, More Fasting
8.1.9 Avoid Carbohydrates
8.1.10 Exercise Helps
9. Fasting
9.1 Fasting Myths
9.2 How To Fast Intermittently
9.3 Coffee is Amazing
9.3.1 Caffeine’s strengths
9.3.2 Coffee and cardiovascular system:
9.3.3 Coffee and addiction:
9.4 Caffeine sources
9.5 Tips for Blood Sugar Control
Objectives & Core Themes
This work explores the essential relationship between nutrition, fasting patterns, and the cognitive performance of corporate executives in high-stress environments, aiming to provide a practical guide for maintaining health and productivity.
- Optimization of brain function through specific dietary habits
- The application of Intermittent Fasting as a tool for cognitive clarity
- Management of workplace stress and stress-induced behavioral patterns
- Strategies for physical maintenance and fat loss for busy professionals
Excerpt from the book
Brain Feed, Energizing the brain and its functions
The brain weight very low if we have it compared to the weight of the rest of our body. Although, the brain is almost 2 percent of the total body weight, it manages to absorb about 20 percent of our daily calorie intake. The brain can be seen as a busy consumer of calories that demands a continuous supply of glucose that is mainly obtained from carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. The brain predominantly uses other substances for fuel.
The frontal cortex which behaves as the Director of the brain is principally sensitive to decreasing glucose levels. As the glucose level drops it causes the symptom of confused thinking (Gibson, 2003). On the other hand, this fact does not suggest that we should frequently consume sugar to keep our brains functioning optimally. The reason for keeping away from sugar is that the high glucose levels slowly damage the cells of the body, including the brain cells (Montminy, 2000).
The brain reacts to excess food as if these were pathogenic factors (Dongshen, 1997), resulting into an immune response, which may cause cognitive deficits such as those associated with Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, high blood sugar, coupled with a cognitive task, is associated with elevated cortisol. Cortisol in high doses, is a hormone that damage memory (Gibson, 2003).
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Presents the primary goal of the book, which is to position the human brain as the most critical asset for executives and stresses the need for proper maintenance for better decision-making.
2. At work: Examines the role of social support in the workplace and how the professional environment impacts employee stress levels and overall organizational performance.
3. Neuroticism: Discusses the impact of neurotic traits on an individual's adaptability in innovative, fast-changing business environments and the importance of memory retention.
4. The Brain: Analyzes the biological requirements of the brain, the impact of glycemic index on cognitive function, and the identification of symptoms related to "brain fog."
5. Working-out and the Effects on Productivity: Explores the connection between movement, aerobic fitness, and mental clarity, including specific training protocols like the "Rush Workout."
6. Executives on the road: Offers strategies for managing stress while traveling, including identifying personal stress responses and establishing healthy boundaries for professional longevity.
7. Executives Diet, while on the road: Provides nutritional and detoxification strategies specifically tailored for executives to maintain health despite demanding schedules.
8. Intermittent Fasting: Details the metabolic benefits of fasting, including fat adaptation and the physiological changes that occur during fasted states to improve endurance and health markers.
9. Fasting: Debunks common fasting myths, offers practical guidance on implementation, and discusses the use of coffee and blood sugar control agents to optimize performance.
Keywords
Executive performance, Intermittent Fasting, Brain Fog, Cognitive Function, Stress Management, Fat Adaptation, Nutritional Habits, Metabolic Health, Blood Sugar Control, Corporate Productivity, Workplace Stress, Cortisol, Insulin Resistance, Caffeine, Professional Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The book focuses on how executives can optimize their brain function and productivity by managing their physical health through specific dietary interventions, movement, and fasting protocols.
What are the central themes discussed?
The core themes include the impact of nutrition on cognitive processes, the strategic use of intermittent fasting, methods to combat workplace-induced stress, and the science of maintaining metabolic health in a demanding corporate career.
What is the main goal or research question?
The primary goal is to explore how reinforcement and specific lifestyle practices can assist executives in navigating stressful situations to achieve better decision-making capabilities and improved health.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author integrates organizational behavior theory with biological and medical research findings, including studies on metabolic adaptation, endocrinology, and cognitive psychology.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main sections cover the physiological requirements of the brain, the benefits of exercise on neural connections, the science behind intermittent fasting, and practical tips for controlling blood sugar and managing stress on the move.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include executive health, brain function optimization, intermittent fasting, metabolic exercise, stress management, and corporate productivity.
How does fasting affect the brain of a busy executive?
Fasting can help the brain transition to utilizing stored body fat for fuel, which often clears "brain fog," increases focus, and boosts alertness by managing glucose and insulin levels more effectively.
Is coffee considered beneficial in this book?
Yes, the author considers coffee an effective tool for cognitive performance when consumed in small, frequent amounts, though he emphasizes the importance of avoiding dependency and managing intake to prevent stress-related side effects.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Professor Dimitrios Kamsaris (Autor:in), 2015, Executives’ eating patterns. Health and high productivity levels, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/355366
