Foods High in Phosphatidylserine (It's Mostly Brains)
You want to lower cortisol and improve memory with Phosphatidylserine (PS). Naturally, you want to get it from food first. But when you look at the list of dietary sources, you might lose your appetite.
The truth is, the modern diet is almost completely devoid of this critical brain nutrient. To get clinical doses of PS from food, you would have to eat like an 18th-century butcher.
The Top Sources (The "Offal" Truth)
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid concentrated in the membranes of neural tissue. Therefore, the highest sources are other brains and internal organs.
- Bovine Brain (Cow): 713mg per 100g (The Gold Standard)
- Mackerel (Atlantic): 480mg per 100g
- Chicken Heart: 414mg per 100g
- Herring: 360mg per 100g
- Eel: 335mg per 100g
- Pig Spleen: 239mg per 100g
Most people do not eat cow brains or chicken hearts. We eat muscle meat (steak, chicken breast). Muscle meat contains very low levels of PS. The average modern intake is estimated to be less than 130mg per day, while clinical studies for memory and cortisol control use doses of 300-800mg.
Are There Plant Sources?
Yes, but they are limited. The only significant plant source is the White Bean (Cannellini).
- White Beans: ~100mg per 100g
- Soy Lecithin: Varies, but naturally contains PS.
However, bioavailability is a concern. The fatty acid structure of plant-based PS is different from animal-based PS. While effective, you need to consume massive quantities of beans to match the potency of organ meats.
The Supplement Solution: Sunflower PS
Since eating cow brains is risky (Mad Cow Disease) and eating 3 cups of white beans daily is difficult on digestion, supplementation is the most practical route.
Modern science has developed Sunflower Phosphatidylserine. It is derived from sunflower lecithin but structured to be bio-identical to the PS found in the human brain. It provides a concentrated, clean dose without the cholesterol or "ick factor" of organ meats.
Summary
Unless you are on a "carnivore" diet eating organs daily, you are likely deficient in Phosphatidylserine. Supplementing allows you to get the brain benefits of an ancestral diet without the ancestral menu.
FOG OFF provides 200mg of clean Sunflower PS in every serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: In the 1990s, concerns over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ("Mad Cow Disease") led to a ban on cow-brain supplements. The industry shifted to soy and sunflower sources for safety.
A: No. Fish oil provides Omega-3s (DHA/EPA), which work with PS, but it does not contain Phosphatidylserine itself. They are different molecules.
A: Yes. It is equally effective but has the added benefit of being allergen-free and non-GMO.
