Danielle Niecey

Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, Hearth Restaurant. Manhattan, New York —What if I told you 40,000 people in the US know of a clinically tested way to boost memory, learning, focus, reasoning, accuracy, concentration and mental alertness in one dose of a naturally sourced dietary supplement? Well, they have, and I am here to share the secret with you.

It’s been determined through a national study of 40,000 American shopper’s that Neuriva is the Most Innovative Product in Wellness Supplements of 2024. Championed for its efficacy in enhancing cognitive performance, each capsule of Neuriva contains naturally sourced ingredients that include, Neurofactor (Coffee Berry, 100 mL) a natural extract derived from Coffea arabica coffee cherries that contains a unique profile of polyphenols shown in clinical studies to stimulate production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a vital neuroprotein involved in overall brain health; and Plant Sourced PS (Phosphatidylserine, 100 mL) a compound now made from cabbage or soy. Phosphatidylserine, Plant Sourced PS, is used for Alzheimer disease and normal age-related decline in memory and thinking skills.

To celebrate its launch, Neuriva, the leading brain health supplement, along with renowned TV Personality, Food-Scientist, Cinemotographer, Voice Actor and Chef, Alton Brown, hosted the “Neuriva 30-Day Brain Health Challenge Kick Off”, an intimate dinner party highlighting brain-boosting foods at the Hearth Restaurant in Manhattan, New York. Chef Alton Brown, a longtime user of the brain-support supplement, partnered with the brand to support the 30-Day Brain Challenge  by highlighting his favorite Butterfield Chicken recipe and some of the best brain-boosting foods to add to our diets.

Before our brain nutrient rich dinner began, Alton and I sat to discuss his new partnership with Neuriva, and what it meant to him to be a part of the mission to fuel the 7 major indicators of brain health.

Danielle Niecey, The Knockturnal: What does Brain Health mean to you and how did you come to partner with Neuriva?

Chef Alton Brown: Brain health means to me, ‘being able to continue working; working better; working more efficiently and working more creatively,” more so now that I moved into my 60’s’. I started thinking, especially since I’ve worked so much in nutrition, and coming to a full understanding of what food does to the body, I realized that I’d never done anything for my brain besides feed it alcohol on a regular basis. And it’s [my brain] has held me up thus far, so I thought, maybe it’s time that I ask my brain what it wants.

I delved into research, because that’s the thing I do, and I began reading a lot of purity papers and learning how to say words with 10 syllables, [laughing], so by the time Neuriva knocked on the door and said, “Hi!” I could say back to them, “Hey, I know what’s in there [referring to the Neuriva’s Brain Health Dietary Supplements], because I’d seen the same ingredients in the papers.” So I was able to get with their science officers, and quickly move through large amounts of technical research and white papers, and all of their compiled research. I realized, almost immediately, ‘Neuriva, you’ve done your due diligence’. 

There were two supplemental substances that I wanted for my brain. The first, Neurofactor, Coffea Arcabica coffee cherries, not from the seed, but from the fruit. It is a highly tested and well documented activator for making mental synapsis and aiding the traffic flow of the brain, so that it works well. And the other one is, Plant Sourced PS (Phosphatidylserine, which used to be taken out of pig brains)…it’s kind of a bummer, from their brains to our brains. Its different now, it’s plant-based now. But it helps to maintain and rebuild cell membranes; especially the ones in the brain. I told them, I want that [the Neuriva supplement],  and that was the Original Neuriva Formula that had that. Then they added Neuriva Plus, with an addition of vitamin B6 and B12, supporting 6 functions that indicate brain health; and now, more recently, the launch of Neuriva Ultra, which fuels the 7 indicators of brain  health that include: memory, learning, focus, reasoning, accuracy, concentration and has a new clinically tested ingredient, CogniviveTM, which helps support mental alertness from just one daily serving!

Danielle Niecey, The Knockturnal:  That’s incredible! I am so excited to try these supplements for myself. What tips can you share with The Knockturnal readers on how to incorporate brain-boosting ingredients into everyday meals?

Chef Alton Brown: Welp, our first line of defense is our food. There’s no way around it, our medicine is our food. So first thing, we’ve got to lay off the crap. Can you occasionally have some potato chips? Of course you can! But, you cannot live off of them. I mean you can, but not well, and likely, not very long. 

Chef Alton expounded on the The MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), created in 2015,  that combines the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet to create a dietary pattern, focusing specifically on brain health. The MIND Diet emphasizes increased consumption of fruit and green leafy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts, poultry and fish and reduced intakes of fats. 

Chef Alton, continuing, states: The diet recommends more consumption of dark fruits, especially blueberries; olive oil was noted to be amazing for the brain; green leafy vegetables, the darker, the better; and this diet actually puts chicken over fish…

Danielle Niecey, THE KNOCKTURNAL: That’s surprising!  Fish is always praised as the ‘king’ of proteins because of the omega-3’s and its brain boosting compounds.

Chef Alton Brown: Yes, extremely surprising!  But Chicken contains choline, a chemical substance that we do not make ourselves but it sustains our brain structure and function. These nutrients are crucial for memory retention, cognitive function, and mood regulation. Above all else, eat real, whole foods; if it has a  strong color, eat that; oh, and take a shot of olive every day, it’s good for you!

Danielle Niecey, The KNOCKTURNAL:  How can our readers join the Neuriva’s 30-day Brain Health Challenge to redefine their cognitive potential?

Chef Alton Brown: Oh, It’s super easy. It’s actually an app with super addictive games that are a lot of fun! You can download it on the App store or Google Play and the games track your progress.

Danielle Niecey, THE KNOCKTURNAL:  Last question, what are some brain-friendly ingredients that make up your favorite brain healthy recipes?

Chef Alton Brown: Well tonight, the main course we’ll be having  is one of my recipes, the Butterfield Roasted Chicken. Its a butterflied chicken, slow roasted and served with sesame glazed greens. That’s an example of finding fun ways to feed my brain; I’m not going to eat something that tastes like crap, just because it’s good for my brain and that’s what my brain wants. I like dark leafy greens, but I don’t want to sit down and eat a bowl of just kale. I just don’t. But I’ll eat kale with some sauteed quinoa with some other type of grain. So, I’ll usually take the things I am not crazy about and marry it to the thing I am crazy about. Then I can get what I like, with what I need. Because, hey life’s short! 

The cuisine starters, compliments of Hearth Restaurant, consisted of slices of whole grain french bread with a cold-pressed olive oil dipping. Bread, and the pastas served, both carbohydrates, have been proven to increase serotonin levels which contribute to feeling happier; a great boost for our dopamine addicted culture. The olive oil, on the other hand, contains oleic acid, a compound that protects the brain, improves memory and reduces Alzheimer’s biomarkers.

Presented next was, Ribollita, a hearty and savory Italian soup, consisting of a tuscan bean and vegetable soup with breadcrumbs and thyme further complimented the bread and oil pairing. Encouraging us to take the in the scent of the aromatic dishes before indulging, Chef Alton Brown drew our focus to the brain boosting luteolin, found in the thyme, carrots and celery, all  ingredients in the Ribollita soup, that benefit cognitive abilities, aiding in memory. Next on the list, the Pizzocheri pasta, mushrooms (a nerve boosting food), cabbage (a vegetable that aids in the proper functioning and conditioning of the brain, nervous system, and endocrine system), and a light dusting of fontina (a cheese rich in calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12 that stimulates brain function).

The main dish consisted of Alton Brown’s Butterfield Chicken with Aleppo and Za’atar and lemon sesame glazed-greens. Chicken, Alton’s favorite protein, has also been known to be one of the best proteins for the brain, along with fish and beans. Chicken, he states, has been known to support healthy brain function and development; it also includes choline and vitamin B12, a key ingredient found in the Neuriva  and is packed with nutrients that are crucial for memory retention, cognitive function, and mood regulation. The savory dinner came to a close with a dessert of Tangerine Almond Cake, dressed with kumquats, whipped creme fraiche. Besides being absolutely satisfying, the health benefits pack a punch as Almonds, the main ingredient in the cake, contains L-carnitine and riboflavin that helps in the growth of brain cells; and kumquats which are high in vitamin C and aid in overall brain health. The meal was paired with dark red and white wines, Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi, brunori “san nicolo,” 2022, Marche, Italy; and Etna Rosso, villagrande, 2021, Sicily, Italy. Resveratrol, found in wine, increases the level of serotonin in the brain, which might help reduce the symptoms of depression. Other compounds contained in wine may regulate serotonin transmission within the brain, a mechanism that tends to malfunction in cases of mood disorders.

After the end of our informative and delightful meal, guest were given gift bags containing a stress brain ball, a complimentary supply of Neuriva PLUS Dietary Supplements, a Star Puzzle – a Wooden Puzzle Brain Teaser from Kiyuba Games and the Author of the New York best-selling GOOD EATS Series, Alton Brown’s, “GOOD EATS 4” the fourth Good Eats cookbook installment in his series, compliments of  Neuriva and Chef Alton Brown.

So, here’s how you can get into your Brain-Health bag for 2024 with Neuriva:

1. Choose Neuriva Original, Plus or Ultra (I’m currently reaping the brain boosting benefits of Neuriva Plus)
2. Take the Neuriva daily dietary suuplement to support the 7 indications of brain health, including memory
3. Download the Neuriva Brain Gym app and play stimulating Brain Games daily (this includes 30 + games and personalized training plans; assessments to receive your brain age and cognitive score; earn points, climb in ranks and  track your progress to achieve various levels of cognitive  mastery
4. Most importantly, embrace a healthier lifestyle by following up with Neuriva’s assessment tips and tools

For more information, visit www.Neuriva.com and download the Neuriva Brain gym App available in the Apple and Google Play app stores.