Blog Why Brain Bran Exists: Clearer Thinking Starts in Your Gut
Why Brain Bran Exists: Clearer Thinking Starts in Your Gut
Mid-career pro? I fixed my afternoon crashes and brain fog with healthy meals, proven supplements, hydration, and sleep. Get brain–gut tips for all-day energy.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Statements on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Learn More
As a busy Silicon Valley tech exec in my 40s, my career had stalled. Not because of a lack of talent or opportunity. It was something much more insidious:
Every day at 2:17 p.m., I used to fade — just a hard crash and, most days, a nap. Even on my few good days, I had nothing left for the evening. Something desperately needed to change.
⭕
Somewhere I read: “The brain runs the show, but the gut feeds the brain.”
Since mood, cognition, and behavior depend on hormones, I started with labs to check hormones. Then I learned how food, sleep, and a few smart supplements support healthy hormone levels.
I kept meals simple—mostly one-ingredient foods. I walked 6–8k steps a day, stayed on top of hydration, and guarded my sleep. Weight came down. Bloat calmed. My head cleared. Energy skyrocketed.
With the brain–gut link restored and steady, everything moved. Energy lasted through work and into the night. Work wins piled up. Promotions followed. New friends, a real social life.
My kids were heading off to college. The house was quieter. I chose to build something useful for people like us.
Brain Bran is a plain-English guide to better brain function through gut health. Factual posts. Clear steps. Reviews that match claims to research. No hype. Just moves that fit a busy life.
Who this helps. Mid-career and later adults who carry real responsibility. Founders. Leaders. Parents. People who want their brain to show up at 2 p.m. and still be there at 8 p.m.
The Problem You Feel
Afternoon crashes that wipe out the rest of the day.
Brain fog during key meetings.
Focus that slips the second a task gets complex.
Bloating or a knot in your gut after lunch.
Food sensitivities that derail your plans.
I lived all of this. My calendar didn’t care. My gut was texting my brain in all caps.
The Better State You Can Reach
Steady mental energy from morning through evening.
Crystal-clear focus when decisions matter.
Memory and processing speed that keep pace.
Calm, predictable digestion.
Better stress resilience and a steadier mood.
This isn’t magic. It’s biology you can work with.
What Worked for Me
Check hormones. Get labs. Aim for healthy ranges with help from your clinician.
Eat simple. Mostly one-ingredient foods. Protein and fiber early in the day.
Move a bit. 6–8k steps daily. A short walk after meals.
Hydrate. Keep water within reach.
Protect sleep. Regular times. Dark, cool room.
Use supplements with a plan. Basics first: probiotics, prebiotics, omega-3s, magnesium glycinate, creatine, L-theanine, B vitamins. Dose and timing matter.
“Naps are great on Sundays, not every weekday.”
“Snacks can’t manage projects.”
How Brain Bran Helps
Brain–gut axis in plain words. How the microbiome signals the brain through the vagus nerve and messengers like short-chain fatty acids.
Daily levers that move the needle. Meal timing, morning light, brief movement after meals, stress resets, better sleep windows.
Workday design. Guardrails for deep work, smarter meetings, and a plan for the 2 p.m. window.
Supplement reviews that respect your wallet. What to try, what to skip, and where dosing lands in real studies.
Simple tracking. Notice patterns. Keep what works. Drop what doesn’t.
Start Here: One Week Reset
Day 1–2
Front-load protein and fiber at breakfast. Get daylight within an hour of waking. Walk ten minutes after lunch.
Day 3–4
Eat dinner earlier. Dim screens at night. Keep water on your desk.
Day 5–7
Watch the 2–4 p.m. window. If energy dips, try a 12-minute walk or light mobility instead of lying down. Note meals, timing, and stress. Patterns show up fast.
Fewer crashes. Clearer thinking. A calmer gut. Better calls under pressure. Work that moves—and a social life that still has gas after 6 p.m.
If that’s your aim, you’re home. Read the focus and energy guidenext, pick one action for this week, and tell me how it goes. This place runs on real outcomes and honest feedback.
I’m a longtime Silicon Valley tech executive whose life and career took off after I transformed my health, sharpened my cognition, and restored my energy. Seeing firsthand how evidence-based healthy choices can rewrite a life, I now focus on brain–gut health and high-performance aging. Through Brain Bran, I share science-backed, practical guidance for mid-career and older adults who want clearer thinking, steadier energy, and a longer healthspan.
A comprehensive comparison of magnesium glycinate and L-theanine for anxiety and stress relief, examining mechanisms, clinical evidence, and which supplement delivers calm focus without sedation.
A comprehensive guide exploring the bidirectional relationship between sleep and gut health, featuring 3 evidence-based solutions to improve both simultaneously.
Tired of brain fog? Get a clear, evidence-based guide to the top supplements that can help busy professionals boost focus, memory, and cognitive performance.
