It has always been in my nature to find patterns in life, to draw connections between things, and to find significance in that which might otherwise go overlooked.
At times this inherit attribute to over analyze every facet of my life can feel burdensome...like, too much time in my own head. But at other times I view my analytical tendencies as a character strength. Drawing something meaningful from that which others may cast aside as unimportant or mundane is what makes me me. And in fact, this whole brand is really built on a series of interlocking synchronicities.
Where am I going with this?
Last week I revealed the latest product in the line of Big Brain superfood snacks.
Big Brain Butter
This week I feel compelled to share more about how this product came to be and the inspiration behind each unique flavor; I can assure you - none of came together by accident.
As I wrote last week, I have always been a nut butter person. I find few snacks more satiating or satisfying than a spoonful of nut butter. Eating a spoonful on the go is enough to quiet the hangry monster and provide me with the energy I need to continue through my day. In a biological sense, this is probably due to the fact that nuts are great sources of healthy fats, protein, and fiber which provide the digestive system plenty of fuel to burn in a compact little package. A little nut butter goes a long way when it comes to supplying clean energy to our bodies and brains. But for me there is also an element of nostalgic comfort in indulging in a spoonful of creamy nut butter. It takes me back to my childhood and the plain peanut butter sandwiches my dad used to pack in my lunch boxes to take to school. Never soggy or smelly. Just sticky and sweet. And always reliable and safe.
Since I have always been a nut butter lover, it was natural for me to develop my
own nut butter to enjoy. And when it came to developing the personalities of each of the the Big Brain Butters, I drew upon myself and Omar, the Big Brain creators, for inspiration.
Cinnamon Swirl is me in nut butter form.
I mean, I am covered with freckles from head to toe it looks like I've been sprinkled with cinnamon! And no one can agree whether I am more spicy or sweet. I'm a little bit of both just like this powerhouse spice that reminds me both of the warmly rich flavor of my yiayia's savory bolognese sauce and the delightfully sweet smell of a piece of cinnamon raisin bread freshly toasted and smeared with a smooth spread of Skippy peanut butter or the sticky sweetness of the Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls my family would bake and eat each year on Christmas morning.
Spicy and sweet, in addition to being good to eat, cinnamon is also regarded as a superfood. It's loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and has been shown to lower blood sugar levels. I remember when I was in middle school one of my teachers told my classmates and me to keep cinnamon on our desks during standardised testing days because the smell of cinnamon would supposedly help to improve our focus. Sure enough, there are a number of scientists who have investigated the relationship between cinnamon and cognitive function. Many studies purport that cinnamon might be effective in reducing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia and may help to improve memory and focus. I can't say for certain whether or not cinnamon is truly supporting my brain health, but I'm all about preventive medicine and cinnamon doesn't seem to be hurting anything.
When it came to formulating my recipe for Big Brain Butter I chose to lean into the sweeter side of cinnamon by adding a touch of stevia extract. Stevia is my favorite alternative sweetener as it is derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant, a small shrub native to parts of South America. I was first introduced to stevia rebaudiana during a plant biology class I took during my time as a student at UMass Amherst. Stevia grew in one of the green houses on campus and I always
enjoyed nibbling on the sweet green leaves that brought about a pleasant tingling sensation on my tongue. I prefer stevia because it is a naturally sweet and calorie free alternative to sugar that does not cause spikes in blood sugar and only a very small amount of it is needed to add that perfect little touch of sweetness.
As a lover of ingredients that are both functional and flavorful, maca root powder also made its way into Big Brain Butter. Maca root, also known as "peruvian ginseng" is a cruciferous vegetable native to the the high Andean region of Peru and has become a favorite adaptogen in the house of Ohm. We use maca root powder in our Big Brain Bars and Cocoa de Myco hot cocoa blend both for it's qi increasing medicinal qualities and for it's malty, toasted-caramelly sweetness. Maca has shown to be effective as a mild stimulant. But unlike caffeine which makes me feel anxious and jittery, maca is more grounding by nature (it is a root) I enjoy taking maca root powder as I find it to be beneficial for boosting my energy and enhancing my mood. Maca root is also supposed to be supportive for improving my sexual health and libido, so hey-o! What's not to like?
And of course, it couldn't be Big Brain Butter without our proprietary "big brain" blend of cordyceps and lion's mane mushrooms for the added brain boosting benefits.
Full of function and flavor, Cinnamon Swirl is the first thing I eat when I wake up in the morning before jumping into my workout. The active compounds in the superfoods bind to the healthy fats in the nuts and seeds making all the medicinal constituents more bioavailable for the body to absorb and for the organs to utilize all the while tasting like the sweetest childhood memories swirled into a jar.
The second the Big Brain Butter, full of function and flavor, is the dark and delicious Chocolaty Goodness, a flavor inspired by none other than my dark and delicious husband who has always had an uncontrollable sweet tooth. Omar was the inspiration behind Chocolaty Goodness due to his desire for a dessert that he could enjoy "guilt free."
The decadent Chocolatey Goodness is just the thing... but don't go eating the whole jar at once! Nut butters (even sugar free) are not low calorie foods, and should be enjoyed in moderation (one to two tablespoons at a time). And Big Brain Butter does pack an energizing punch between the maca powder, the cordyceps, and cocoa powder so we don't recommend eating more than a teaspoon or two (or three!) after dinner time due to the stimulating quality of these superfood ingredients.
Omar enjoys indulging in a spoonful of Chocolaty Goodness as it is reminiscent of the chocolate cream filled churros he loves to treat himself to on trips to Mexico City and of the Nutella he used to sneak spoonfuls of as a young boy.
We consider Chocolatey Goodness a more elevated and refined version of Nutella with notes of vanilla extract and a hint of cinnamon to enhance and add depth of flavor to the dark cocoa powder used in this Big Brain Butter. With a pinch of sea salt tossed in at the end, this is truly the chefs kiss.
Just like in Cinnamon Swirl, superfood superstars maca root powder along with lion's mane and cordyceps extracts are included in every jar of Chocolatey Goodness for their adaptogenic and nootropic qualities.
And each Big Brain Butter is grounded with a base of almond, brazil nuts, cashews, and pumpkin seeds with chia seeds folded in at the end for a snappy little crunch that we love. Is your mouth watering yet?
We are still waiting on approval from the California Department of Public Health and the Ventura County Environmental Division but as soon as we get those permits signed off Big Brain Butter will be available for purchase through our website.
And in the meantime we wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to our GoFundMe Campaign. We sincerely appreciate the financial support and the encouragement that it has given us to keep going.
We can't wait to be able to share more of the goodness with you all. Stay tuned!
As always, Be well and Stay Curious!
With so much love from
Chrissy Dasco-Uribe
Once again, a very informative and fun to rad bog post! Science made delicious!