Every Brain Supplement I Take to Keep Quality Words Flowing

Your brain is a muscle. Feed it.

Hudson Rennie

Jul 30, 2024

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I realize this newsletter is dedicated to helping you earn more money from your words. But, truthfully, the most lucrative habit I’ve ever adopted is treating my brain like a muscle.

No, this doesn’t mean flaunting my cranium on Instagram. 🤳

Or, flipping over large tires with my head. 🧠

But, instead, giving my brain what it needs to succeed. Because, at the end of the day, writing is hard work. And, your ability to push quality words across your screen puts dollars directly in your bank account.

Here’s what I feed my brain to perform at its best. And, what brain food you should avoid…

There’s a structured path to creativity.

When I first started writing online, I likened myself to an artist.

I would wait for inspiration to strike. When it did, I would drop everything to step into my creative portal, often staying up into the wee hours of the night.

But, once I started charging for my work, I realized this wasn’t effective.

I’d receive message pings from clients asking for same-day tweaks. And, was only able to meet deadlines by working myself into the ground.

Through years of burnout and piles of self-help books, I realized I was taking the scenic route instead of a linear path.

To quote one of my favourite books, The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield,

“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”

As much as writing can feel like an out-of-body experience, it is bound by the physical laws of the universe. And, to earn a consistent income writing, you must master the art of consistency.

For example, sitting down to work at the same time every day primes your brain to produce quality thoughts on a schedule. And, eating cleanly gives your brain clean fuel to burn.

Words are the embodiment of your thoughts — both in value and efficacy. 💰🧠

So, to convey your most valuable ideas, you must nurture healthy thoughts. Which, can only be developed in a healthy environment.

Here’s every brain supplement I take to produce my best-quality words…

Every brain supplement I take.

Last week, I went out to pick up “a few things” and returned home with a $330 grocery bill.

Although I desperately wanted to blame inflation (as I often do), the bill merely highlighted my emphasis on brain health.

Writing is a holistic endeavour. 🙌 🙋

This means, to produce healthy quantities of words, you must take care of your mental, physical, and emotional health. Not to get too nerdy, but I like to organize each day into 4 sections:

Health
Wealth
Love
Fun (also family & friends)

If I can invest 2-4 hours into each of these pillars per day, that day is a success. And, I find myself able to write clearer, quicker, and more concisely.

Which, ultimately, puts dollars in my bank account…

#1. Fish oil

Fish oil is one of the most essential brain supplements there is. Although it won’t give you creative superpowers like a fresh cup of coffee, consuming omega-3s has been shown to improve brain function, memory, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

It also aids in joint health and reduces muscular inflammation, which is incredibly beneficial for general well-being.

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend adding fish oil to your daily vitamin regimen.

#2. Caffeine

One of the most surprising revelations I’ve had since beginning my writing journey, is how divided the world is on certain topics:

Health
Politics
Religion
Coffee

My first viral Medium article sparked an impassioned debate in the comments after I called coffee “highly acidic”. And, over the past 5 years, the topic of coffee has accounted for 20% of my highest-earning stories.

Personally, I drink coffee because…. well, I like it. ☕️⚡️

Truthfully, it’s the one drug I let myself consume regularly.

With that said, when used in moderation, caffeine can improve your mental health, help you get more done, and reduce symptoms of depression.

🍄 If you don’t like coffee, there are many great alternatives out there. Personally, I’ve recently started taking a mushroom-based productivity shot called Magic Mind. If you use code ‘hudson20’ at checkout, you’ll save 20% on your order.

However you take it, caffeine can be a great tool for lighting up your prefrontal lobe, helping you feel motivated, focused, and churning out inspired words.

#3. Mushroom supplements

But for a few summer days back in high school, I was never one for mushrooms. I would tolerate them on pizza, but never really saw the appeal.

That is, until I became an adult.

Over the past decade, certain species of mushrooms have been shown to have profound benefits on:

Gut health
Mental health
Reducing stress
Cognitive function

… the list goes on.

Personally, I take lion’s mane and cordyceps supplements every morning to help improve my mood, energy, and focus. And, can tell a noticeable difference in my word recall when I don’t.

💌 If you’re enjoying this post, become a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscriber perks include unlimited posts and 24/7 access to my personal DMs.👇

#4. Creatine

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, my goal is not to build an inflated, bulbous brain. But, instead, to cut the fat and help my brain perform at its best.

So, although creatine is definitely helpful for packing on muscle, the main reason I take it is for its mental benefits. Creatine has been shown to increase memory recall, boost overall brain function, and reduce the risk of contracting neurodegenerative diseases.

Creatine is particularly valuable if you don’t eat meat, as it is only naturally found in animal products such as fish, beef, and dairy.

#.5 L-arginine

Before your eyes gloss over at the sight of these next 3 sciency words, l-arginine, citrulline, and carnitine are amino acids with varying benefits.

L-arginine is part of a cocktail of white powders I consume before exercise. Aside from aiding in physical performance and recovery, it helps lower anxiety levels and aids in sleep. Which, is the basis of deep thought and learning.

#6. Citrulline

Similar to L-arginine, citrulline is a naturally occurring amino acid and vasodilator — meaning it helps promote blood flow throughout the body.

It’s also been shown to counteract symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Fun fact: the word “citrulline” comes from the Latin word “citrullus”, meaning watermelon. And, yes, watermelon contains citrulline.

#7. Carnitine

Lastly, carnitine helps convert fat into energy to aid in physical strength, recovery, and boosting brain function.

There are many different forms of carnitine. But, I take these two:

Acetyl-L-carnitine: best for brain function
L-tartrate: best for physical exercise

👉 Here’s a full breakdown of dosage and benefits.

Avoid these types of brain food.

Something I love about writing is how it forces you to live a balanced life.

If something is bothering you, your thoughts will come out jumbled and disjointed. And, by simply taking care of your physical health, you’ll notice your words come out faster and more robust.

So, although your lifestyle will inevitably differ from mine, I recommend avoiding these substances.

If for nothing else, to produce your best quality words:

Excessive stimuli — silence is a writer’s best friend. It allows for your million-dollar ideas to be heard.
Isolation — as much as writers (myself included) tend to be introverted, we need to be around other humans. If the cogs in your brain feel stuck, get outside and lubricate them with some human contact.
Negative content — if you feel like the world is a negative place, you may just be fixating on the negativity in life. Focus on the good and you’ll see more good.
Processed food — everything in life is connected. If you feel slow, sluggish, or foggy-brained, it could simply be a matter of what you’re fuelling your brain with.

Final thoughts: everything is connected.

This post may feel abstract.

But, if you’re fuelling your brain with healthy food, healthy thoughts, and healthy actions, you’ll create a machine capable of delving out healthy words every time you sit down to write.

In the words of Thomas Edison,