In our modern-day world, it seems too easy to get caught up in the daily worries, to allow them to consume us. It seems like we don’t have enough time to stop and slow down either, just wearing ourselves out. Ultimately, this leads to an abundance of stress. Many times, stress doesn’t just negatively affect your mood, though that becomes the most visible side effect. Stress also negatively affects the way your brain and body work. So, it is important to try to control your stress.
We know that stepping away from solving all the world’s problems is easier said than done. Instead of handling stress with alcohol, drugs, or emotional instability, we have a better recommendation. These two supplements have been shown in studies to help support your mood under stress. Try them along with practicing a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a supplement that is known to support the brain, adrenals, and thyroid, especially when coping with stress or intense mental strain. When stressed, your brain is depleted of DA and NE. So emotional intensity or stress stimulates the adrenals to release NE (norepinephrine), and E (epinephrine, adrenaline) that they make from NE. This NE helps the brain cope with the challenge. The adrenals also rely on DA (neurotransmitters dopamine) for their normal stress response. The healthy adrenal function requires ample l-tyrosine to sustain their production of DA, NE and E in order to support the brain under stress.
To see if supplementing with Tyrosine could help with the body’s responses to stress a study was performed. In a double-blind clinical trial, a 2-gram dose of tyrosine helped undergrad students perform better at multitasking, to "make the right choices" under mental challenge.
ProBrainBiotics
Our intestines hold trillions of bacterial cells that contribute to our overall health and wellbeing. We may not always realize it, but our gut and our brain are connected. When your digestion is not working properly, it affects the way you think, feel, and vis-versa. In a clinical trial, the same 2 strains of probiotics found in ProBrainBiotics, when taken for 30 days, was found to promote a healthy mood and provide a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by individuals affected by chronic stress. They also assisted in coping with occasional anxiety, likely related to occasional stress. Probiotics will also help your brain and body by:
Promoting positive mood and emotional balance
Promoting healthy digestion
Supporting mental focus while doing intense work
Supporting a healthy response to everyday stress
You can learn to manage your stress, but you can’t control everything and stress will happen. Arm your brain with the nutrients that are shown to help support your body and your mood when under stress, try Tyrosine and ProBrainBiotics.
Meet Our Expert
Dr. Parris Kidd
Dr. Parris Kidd, Ph.D., is a pioneering authority in nutritional medicine with a background in zoology and cellular biology from UC Berkeley. His work includes influential research on brain nutrients like PS and GPC, award-winning supplement formulations, and extensive publications. Formerly Chief Science Officer at leading supplement companies, Dr. Kidd is widely respected for his contributions to nutritional science and his commitment to integrity.
Vitamin D, which is technically a hormone rather than a vitamin, is a crucial nutrient. Unfortunately, many Americans – even those who eat a good diet – are deficient in vitamin D.¹
Though definitions of vitamin D deficiency can vary, experts agree that it has nearly reached epidemic status. Analysis of the ongoing national survey data from the US Centers for Disease Control indicates that a majority of Americans may not be getting sufficient vitamin D.
One way to get a natural vitamin D boost is from exposure to sunlight. But since we're wearing more sunscreen while outside and spending more time inside, our levels of vitamin D have fallen in recent decades. Why does that matter? Some research has linked vitamin D deficiency to serious, long-term health issues.²
Those who think of vitamin D only as the “sunshine vitamin” may fail to fully understand the significant ways vitamin D affects their brain, body and overall health.³
Let's take a closer look at how vitamin D works in key areas of the brain and body, as well as how to increase levels of this essential vitamin...naturally!
Here Are 9 Vital Functions of Vitamin D
Immunity
Vitamin D receptors are found all over the body, including the immune cells. Research has clearly shown that vitamin D deficiency is part of the seasonal nature of cold and flu outbreaks⁴ – less sunlight means less vitamin D, which can lead to lower immunity and more illness.
Bones
It’s well-documented that vitamin D is essential for the proper absorption of calcium, and it’s been shown to greatly reduce fracture risk in two ways. First, it helps with the formation of stronger bones; second, vitamin D helps improve balance and prevent falls by enhancing muscle contraction.⁵
Muscles
One of the byproducts of vitamin D’s breakdown, called 1,25(OH)2D, enters muscle cells and affects the nucleus. Once there, the vitamin D metabolite enhances the cell’s contraction ability. Since muscles work by contraction and relaxation, a muscle’s ability to contract is essential to its strength and response to outside forces. As such, vitamin D helps make muscles stronger in a very direct way.
Lungs
As many studies indicate, vitamin D plays a role in keeping our lungs healthy due to vitamin D possessing a range of anti-inflammatory properties – with greater concentrations of vitamin D resulting in greater lung health benefits.⁶
Heart
Research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels in the blood and high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension). In other words, the lower the vitamin D, the higher the blood pressure. The excess strain and resulting damage from high blood pressure can cause the coronary arteries serving the heart to slowly narrow and harden, greatly increasing the risk of a heart attack.
Kidneys
Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, it helps to regulate kidney function and plays a very beneficial role in treating serious kidney issues.⁷
Mood
When it comes to being happy, the scientific evidence is clear. The lower your vitamin D levels, the more likely you are to feel blue rather than happy. Vitamin D deficiency has long been associated with higher incidences of low mood. Interestingly, in a 2014 study, the positive effect of vitamin D3 on mood was comparable to the effects of the anti-depressants.⁸
Weight Loss
When you don’t have enough vitamin D, you can feel hungry all the time, no matter how much you eat. That's because low levels of vitamin D can interfere with the effectiveness of leptin, the appetite hormone that tells you when you're full. When vitamin D is replenished and back to normal levels, leptin’s actions are restored, thus creating feelings of satiety and aiding in weight loss.
Cognitive Function
In the past few years, many studies have linked shortage of vitamin D with cognitive issues in older men and women. Research has demonstrated that vitamin D has a variety of neuroprotective roles, including helping to rid the brain of beta-amyloid, an abnormal protein that is believed to be a major cause of severe memory issues.⁹ Other studies have shown that seniors with very low levels of vitamin D are at an increased risk of serious, long-term memory issues.
Recommended Daily Vitamin D
In the US, the current recommended daily dose of vitamin D is 600 IU. However, most experts agree that this is well below the physiological needs of most individuals. Some experts have suggested that all adults should take at least 2000 IU of vitamin D daily, but for many people, this daily dose doesn’t raise their vitamin D levels into a healthy range.
What Can Help?
BrainMD offers two high-quality, ultra-pure vitamin D formulas:
Vitamin D3 5000
Vitamin D3 5000 delivers 5,000 IU of your body’s preferred form (cholecalciferol) in one high-potency capsule—supporting brain function, emotional well-being, immune strength, and bone health.*
Vitamin D3 + K2
This powerful combination of vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) and vitamin K2 (as MK-7) helps strengthen bones, promote cardiovascular health, fight oxidative stress, support the immune system, preserve cognitive function and more.*
Let the Sunshine (Vitamin) In!
These powerful vitamins work hard to promote strong bones, support cognitive functioning, and maintain a healthy circulatory system.*
Try Vitamin D3 5000 and Vitamin D3 + K2 today!*
At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
References:
1. Cui, A., Xiao, P., Ma, Y., Fan, Z., Zhou, F., Zheng, J., & Zhang, L. (2022). Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001–2018. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 965376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.965376
2. Holick, M. F., & Chen, T. C. (2008). Vitamin D deficiency: A worldwide problem with health consequences. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(4), 1080S–1086S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/87.4.1080S
3. Aranow, C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 59(6), 881–886. https://doi.org/10.231/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
4. Cannell, J. J., Vieth, R., Umhau, J. C., Holick, M. F., Grant, W. B., Madronich, S., Garland, C. F., & Giovannucci, E. (2006). Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection, 134(6), 1129–1140. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268806007175
5. Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Dawson-Hughes, B., Willett, W. C., Staehelin, H. B., Bazemore, M. G., Zee, R. Y., & Wong, J. B. (2004). Effect of vitamin D on falls: A meta-analysis. JAMA, 291(16), 1999–2006. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.16.1999
6. Hughes, D. A., & Norton, R. (2009). Vitamin D and respiratory health. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 158(1), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.04001.x
7. Williams, S., Malatesta, K., & Norris, K. (2009). Vitamin D and chronic kidney disease. Ethnicity & Disease, 19(4 Suppl 5), S5–8–S5–11.
8. Spedding, S. (2014). Vitamin D and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing studies with and without biological flaws. Nutrients, 6(4), 1501–1518. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6041501
9. Banerjee, A., Khemka, V. K., Ganguly, A., Roy, D., Ganguly, U., & Chakrabarti, S. (2015). Vitamin D and Alzheimer’s disease: Neurocognition to therapeutics. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2015, 192747. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/192747
In our fast-paced world, there’s an overabundance of foods that are harmful to our health. While most people realize that eating a steady diet of hamburgers, French fries, and soft drinks isn’t beneficial for our health, the convenience of junk or fast food is a dangerous trap that many in our society fall into on a consistent basis.
The Diet Downfall
The standard American diet (SAD), or Western pattern diet (WPD), is filled with pro-inflammatory and allergenic foods, many of which are laced with artificial chemicals. This diet can damage and prematurely age your brain and increase your risk for many physical and mental issues.
The SAD diet is largely composed of unhealthy foods that Dr. Daniel Amen refers to as weapons of mass destruction. These foods are:
[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom=""]
Highly processed- essential nutrients lost
Pro-inflammatory- injurious to muscles, joints, and organs
Artificially colored and sweetened- toxic to the liver and other organs
High glycemic index- overworks the body’s sugar processing system
Low in fiber- robs probiotics of the food they need
Laden with hormones- can adversely affect the body’s delicate hormone balance
Pesticide sprayed- toxic to humans
Tainted with antibiotics- harmful to probiotics
[/wc_box]
This diet typically is high in sodium, refined sugars, omega-6 fatty acids, trans fats, and excess calories. It’s also low in the vitally important long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. People who maintain a diet loaded with simple carbohydrates (such as bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, fruit juices, and sugar) have an increased risk for problems with their digestive system, liver, pancreas, heart, circulation, and overall brain health.
A SAD Study
According to a recent study,¹ published by the Royal Society, consuming the SAD diet for just one week may decrease learning and increase desire to munch on junk food. For this trial, volunteers spent one week splurging on high-fat foods and sweet treats with high amounts of added sugar. The SAD diet led to worse performance on memory tests and an increased desire to overeat junk food after they had finished consuming a meal.
The researchers suggest that the typical Western diet – think high-glycemic foods like waffles and high-fat fare like milkshakes – can rapidly impair function in the region of the brain called the hippocampus. One of the brain’s major memory centers, the hippocampus is also involved in appetite regulation. Dysfunction in this area is associated with memory issues and troubles with appetite control.
This study is just the latest to confirm the strong relationship between what you put in your mouth and the moment-by-moment functioning of your brain. Its finding suggests a vicious cycle where eating junk food impairs hippocampal function and appetite control, which leads to craving more junk food, and so on. It helps explain why the SAD diet is contributing to widespread weight problems in America where approximately 70% of the population is overweight, and 40% fall into the obese category.
Fast Food, Low Mood
A fascinating recent study² revealed a new twist in the food/mood connection. Researchers went to two remote islands in Australia – one with plentiful fast food and lower fish consumption, the other without fast food, and higher fish consumption.
On the island with fast food, 16% of the people had moderate-to-severe mood issues, compared to only 3% on the island without fast food. That’s a 500% increased risk of low mood, based on diet. This study doesn’t prove fast food causes mood challenges, but it does suggest a suspicious connection.
Good Mood Foods
Making healthier choices in your diet can benefit your waistline, help lift your mood, and provide a long-lasting increase in energy and focus. Your brain requires foods that are high in vitamins, essential minerals, and other nutrients to help meet its huge energy requirements throughout the day.
Consider adding these good mood foods to your grocery list: fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, beans, free-range poultry, grass-fed meats, and wild-caught, cold-water fish. This diet tends to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, fiber, and many essential vitamins and minerals.
Brain Healthy Supplements
Due to the poor nutritional quality of the SAD diet, many people aren’t receiving proper nutrition from the foods they eat. Even those who eat a relatively healthy diet may find it challenging to get all the nutrients they need daily. By only eating foods, there will always be a gap in nutrition.
To help fill that gap, it’s essential to get energy-enhancing, stress-reducing nutrients. That’s where supplements come in. The reason they’re called supplements is because they supplement your diet with the nutrients you might be missing by fueling your body with food alone.
In a society where eating fast or processed food, consuming massive amounts of sugar, skimping on sleep, drinking too much caffeine and/or alcohol and not enough water, and consistently passing up on exercise has become the norm, supplements aren’t just a good idea, they’re critical to supporting and optimizing your health.
Daily Essentials
BrainMD has developed several products that are essential for everyone’s nutritional needs: our premium multivitamin, NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin, ultra-concentrated EPA and DHA fish oil, Omega-3 Power, and high-purity Vitamin D3 5000.
Our line of over 30 supplement products was designed to support a wide range of individual needs and is the only line of dietary supplements available today that was specifically developed to address the full spectrum of brain health concerns.
Never Too Late
Even if you’ve been eating the SAD diet your whole life, there is hope. Though eating junk food is bad for the brain, it’s never too late to start fueling your brain with healthy foods that boost brain function.
Feeding your brain and body with healthy foods, and high-quality, brain directed supplements, can provide tremendous nutritional health support for you and everyone in your family.
At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to improve your energy, focus, mood, stress, immunity, and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
References:
1. Stevenson, R. J., Francis, H. M., Attuquayefio, T., Gupta, D., Yeomans, M. R., Oaten, M. J., & Davidson, T. (2020). Hippocampal-dependent appetitive control is impaired by experimental exposure to a Western-style diet. Royal Society Open Science, 7(2), 191338. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.191338
2. Berger, M., Taylor, S., Harriss, L., Campbell, S., Thompson, F., Jones, S., Makrides, M., Gibson, R., Amminger, G. P., Sarnyai, Z., & McDermott, R. (2020). Cross-sectional association of seafood consumption, polyunsaturated fatty acids and depressive symptoms in two Torres Strait communities. Nutritional Neuroscience, 23(5), 353–362. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2018.1504429
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