Omega-3 fatty acids are one dietary component that has received a lot of attention. These fats, which are abundant in specific meals such as fish, enhance cognitive processes and are now thought to assist preserve the health and flexibility of brain synapses (1). Diets heavy in saturated fat, on the other hand, have been scrutinized for their potentially harmful impact on health (2).
Jonathan Wolfson and Mark Brooks are the cofounders and co-CEOs of Brainiac Foods, a firm that creates snacks for the entire family that are specifically designed to promote brain development. The healthy goods, which include nut butter and supplements, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, choline, and lutein. Little Brainiac, their latest line, assists parents as they transition their infants to solid foods by providing pouches containing significant amounts of brain nutrients.
After researching the value of omega-3s and other brain-boosting nutrients, both fathers, Wolfson and Brooks, were motivated to start Brainiac. They discovered that over 20% of American families do not consume the necessary amounts of brain nutrients. To produce Brainiac Foods, the cofounders collaborated with nutrition scientists, pediatricians, neurologists, and dietitians.
Brainiac Foods Founder’s Inspirational Shift to Brain-Nourishing Foods
“As a serial entrepreneur, I always ask: how do I do well by doing good?” said Wolfson in an exclusive interview with me. “What gets me up each morning is making a difference, creating companies that improve the lives of people and our planet.”
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Wolfson’s former company created a low-carbon advanced biofuel that was utilized in the first commercial eco-skies flight and also marketed Thrive, an algae-based, heart-healthy cooking oil. But the decision to launch Brainiac was extremely personal for him, as the inspiration came after his third kid was diagnosed with failure to thrive as a baby.
“My wife and I were very concerned and spoke to numerous experts to figure out what our son needed for proper development,” Wolfson says. “What became clear was that nutrition would help his brain and eye development. Then I discovered older kids and adults have large nutritional gaps for optimal brain health and performance. That was the driver for creating Brainiac.”
Entrepreneurial Journey of Brainiac’s Co-founders
Wolfson’s largest problem has been the development and streamlining of the actual physical manufacture of Brainiac goods. “Bringing an idea from intangible to tangible is often much more difficult than initially planned. The only way to overcome that is to understand that the process will entail failure. Failing is part of the process of making better-for-us and better-for-our-planet products.” Brooks adds that it is also challenging to find people “who believe in what you are doing and the positive impact that you can create together, and who thrive under uncertainty.”
Wolfson advises all aspiring entrepreneurs and changemakers to “save all of your rejections from colleges, jobs, investors, venture funds, pursued hires, etc. One day, when you’ve had some success, which if you are persistent you will, you can wallpaper a room with them and enjoy that room.”
“Have agility and be resilient,” says Brooks. “An overnight success takes five years. Building a business is going to take longer and be more expensive than you think. Also, be open to constructive feedback. The customer is really what matters.”
References:
- Witte AV, Kerti L, Hermannstädter HM, Fiebach JB, Schreiber SJ, Schuchardt JP, Hahn A, Flöel A. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults. Cereb Cortex. 2014 Nov;24(11):3059-68. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht163. Epub 2013 Jun 24. PMID: 23796946.
- Chianese R, Coccurello R, Viggiano A, Scafuro M, Fiore M, Coppola G, Operto FF, Fasano S, Laye S, Pierantoni R, Meccariello R. Impact of Dietary Fats on Brain Functions. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2018;16(7):1059-1085. doi: 10.2174/1570159X15666171017102547. PMID: 29046155; PMCID: PMC6120115.
Source: Medindia
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