Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk

Get your hands dirty + your brain will thank you.

Here’s the wild part: the soil itself might be doing you good.

Mycobacterium vaccae, a friendly bacterium living in healthy organic earth, has been studied for links to serotonin pathways and stress resilience. Translation? Digging in real dirt may be quietly tuning your microbiome + nervous system toward calm. 🧠✨

And the food? Vegetables you grow yourself get eaten fresher, which means more of the nutrients that start degrading the moment produce is picked. You also move more, stress less, and reconnect with where food actually comes from.

Organic, living soil = more microbial diversity underfoot, fewer synthetic inputs on your plate, and an ecosystem that feeds you back. Your gut microbiome loves variety, and your garden can deliver that variety 🥕🍅

So plant. Touch the earth. Enjoy the harvest. Even if it’s a little garden box in your apartment. You are built to thrive in connection with the wonder of the living world🌍💚

The connection between nutrition and brain health is one of the most exciting areas of research in cognitive wellness today. The foods we eat influence inflammation, energy metabolism, neurotransmitter function, and the brain's ability to adapt and repair itself over time. That's why I often encourage patients to think about food not just as fuel, but as information for the brain and nervous system.

One dietary approach that has gained attention for its potential cognitive benefits is the KetoFlex 12/3 diet.

In this reel, I explore what makes this approach unique and why researchers are interested in its potential role in supporting brain health and healthy aging. If you're curious about nutrition strategies that may help optimize cognitive function while supporting long-term wellness, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Blueberries are one of the most researched foods in brain health. Their deep blue colour comes from anthocyanins, plant compounds studied for their role in helping support healthy blood flow, reducing oxidative stress, and supporting the environments that help brains age more well over time. Some studies even suggest benefits for memory and cognitive function.

And rhubarb brings more than tartness. Traditional medicine has long valued tart and bitter foods for supporting digestion. Modern science tells us digestion, the microbiome, and brain health are deeply connected — another reminder that caring for the brain starts far beyond the brain itself.

Brain health is rarely built from one miracle food; it grows from daily micro patterns.

Fibre.
Colour.
Polyphenols.
Nourishing your gut.
Supporting your metabolism.
Feeding your brain, one blue and red choice at a time.

Blueberries + rhubarb + a little maple syrup = brain care that tastes like summer. 🫐✨

Your brain is constantly responding to the foods you eat every single day. Nutrition plays a major role in cognitive function, mood, memory, focus, and even how resilient your nervous system feels under stress. When we consistently fuel the brain with supportive nutrients, we create a stronger foundation for long-term brain health and healthy aging.

That’s why I’m so excited to talk about one of the most well-researched approaches to nutrition for cognitive wellness: the Mediterranean diet.

In this reel, I break down why this style of eating is so beneficial for brain health and what makes it so effective for supporting longevity, reducing inflammation, and protecting cognitive function over time. If you’ve been looking for a sustainable way to nourish both your body and brain, this is a great place to start.