Prof Jan, you have raised a brilliant question. Yes life has passed through different phases, you have nicely described in question. In the present era, when it comes to boosting-brain power, there are some foods and nutrients that science shows have an edge for keeping people sharp and fueled for the day. In the present time we speak about  heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, good homocysteine levels through vitamin E and folate, antioxidants in diet, minerals etc. It seems that it is not steady grow but present challenges demand for more and tends us to quickly  respond to changes therefore demand is emerging for supercharger foods for pleasing our dissatisfied brain.

Prof Jan, you have raised a brilliant question. Yes life has passed through different phases, you have nicely described in question. In the present era, when it comes to boosting-brain power, there are some foods and nutrients that science shows have an edge for keeping people sharp and fueled for the day. In the present time we speak about  heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, good homocysteine levels through vitamin E and folate, antioxidants in diet, minerals etc. It seems that it is not steady grow but present challenges demand for more and tends us to quickly  respond to changes therefore demand is emerging for supercharger foods for pleasing our dissatisfied brain.

Yes, dear Suresh, you have pointed to some of the matter that fuels our minds during the day.

You call it not at "steady grow" as I first suggested, but a challenges demand for more. Nevertheless, the latter does not diminishes the supercharged foods for the dissatisfied brain, but increases it instead , which I have called a steady growth.

Once we accept this, the next question will be: Is their a limit to this search for brain-pleasing new food, because how we can keep up with inventing new foods in the future?

Prof. Gunneweg,

I believe this phenomena belongs mostly to the developed world, and it may be more of a social issue than anything else. So-called developing countries are not really victims of this tendency, as in most of these regions people are content with their staple foods, and eating could be considered a social activity. Making changes in diet once in a while are considered huge treats for these people, although they can also be in for a surprise. On a personal account, people I knew had no idea cheese could melt and thought they were being fed plastic.

Finally, to answer your question, another question must be asked. Do we really need to set new limits?

One safe way to cope with these issues is the use of fusion cuisine, a product of multiculturalism, whereby chefs and/or the food industry bring us new flavors by importing culinary ways of other countries. Indeed, people living in the city get tired of the same food and need new flavors to provide a "kick" to their everyday lives. In the end, I believe it is a matter of self-discipline. Making small changes a few times a week can eliminate our need of imposing new limits. This would be similar to taking a vacation in order to forget problems at work or home.

The question must also be raised, whether it is the food industry imposing new paradigms or is it ourselves (out of feeling dissatisfied)? TV ads for the food industry are also guilty in this search for new limits, and once again, self-discipline is the true answer to not follow these ads blindly.

Cheers.

Dear Joseph,

When I mentioned the word " food" in the original question, I also mention extreme sports and the use of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, which-- if I see around me--,are no phenomena only typical to the developed world, as you seem to have understood; quite the opposite.

Drugs and extremism are also food that the modern brain requests and my question remains the same: What is the limit for that type of hunger. There is a limit, even if we don't apprehend it and that was exactly the goal of my original question.

Who or what will trigger the final moment that our mind understands that it has reached the limit.

I also do not see the role that any type of education will play in this brain-hunger phenomenon, since the human brain will work against any use of brakes to set a man-made-intellectual limit for our brain,

Prof. Gunneweg,

Sorry, I did not realize you had answered. Yes, I understand drugs have found a place everywhere (no misunderstanding there!). I deal with it every day in some cities I have to visit. I chose to focus on traditional food and its social value.

Now, visiting the drugs realm, that is a more difficult question. I would call it a multifactorial phenomena. Growing up in a bad neighborhood, growing up in broken homes, not having a job, having uncaring parents, all of these will certainly have an impact on brain-hunger. Growing up in the countryside will offer cigarettes and alcohol, but perhaps not harder drugs. Life in the cities will set new paradigms for this brain-hunger you talk about.

A trigger for a final moment could be some sense of morality or guilt, and also an extremely bad experience could be the moment where one chooses to change, if given the opportunity. Don't show them the drugs, and they won't need them (as in my case when growing up), would be an easy solution if things weren't so messed up by now.

It's a big game of if and when, I suppose. As I mentioned at the beginning, it is multifactorial.

Cheers.