Perimeter Shopping

Perimeter shopping is a concept that more and more people are becoming aware of. During some of my lectures, I will ask whether people have heard of it. At first, I didn’t see much acknowledgment, but now I see hands going up all over the place!

As the name implies, perimeter shopping is about going into the supermarket and focusing on buying food from the outer aisles and cases.

The outside aisles of a grocery store are filled with fresh produce, meats, and dairy. Almost all grocery stores are set up this way because it provides convenient access to refrigeration and allows grocery store employees to restock fresh goods quickly.

These products, like meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables, haven’t been changed much from their sources. So we call them whole foods. The term "perimeter shopping" refers to the area of a supermarket where whole foods are most likely to be found. There are implications: some things may not be as healthy as they could be, but by and large, whole foods are nutrient-dense.

Access to whole foods and how they fit into your lifestyle can vary depending on where you live. People living in inner cities or in small rural communities tend to have a small selection of whole foods to choose from. In some areas, access to fresh produce might be limited by the season or by how often it is rotated due to decreased demand. People who grew up in these areas often consume more processed foods.

What makes this concept really important is that your brain is driven by energy. The brain essentially runs on sugar and oxygen. Sugar comes from the foods that we eat.

Processed foods, which tend to be found in the interior of the supermarket, are made either by breaking down whole foods or by using ingredients extracted from them. Most of these products incorporate chemical processes or chemical preservatives to extend their shelf life. As a result, processed foods tend to have lower nutrient density and lower-quality sugars. These are foods you usually find in boxes, cans, or bags.

The further something is from the original source, or its original form, the harder it is for our body to break down and our brain to get adequate fuel from that food.

Shop The Perimeter!

The whole foods found at the supermarket perimeter are the most efficient, readily available sources of fuel for our brains. If we intend to train our brains with any degree of success, we need to make sure we have the right fuel in the tank.

Contributor Author: Dr. Michael Trayford is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and Founder of APEX Brain Centers in Asheville, NC. For more information, please visit our Author's page.

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