Skip to content
Wellness Blog
How to Love Your Brain
Anyone who wants their body to be healthy and perform optimally realizes the need to supplement their healthy diet with nutrient concentrates. While the food we eat goes a long way toward supporting this goal, in this stressful day and age food unfortunately may not be the total answer. The brain, just like the rest of the body, needs to be nutritionally supported as well. Even adding just a few key brain nutrients into your daily regimen can go a long way in terms of helping to keep you focused and sharp. One that's absolutely critical is phosphatidylserine (PS). This nutrient is required for a great variety of the body's essential functions, based on its fundamental importance for the functioning of all the body's cells, and by extension for the functioning of the body as whole. So what exactly is PS? PS is a phospholipid, one of a unique molecular category that are essential building blocks for all our cells. Though PS is essential for every cell of the body, it is highly concentrated in the brain where it is crucial for information transfer between nerve cells at the synapses. It is also essential for the mitochondria, the cell’s energy generators. PS has been extensively researched in numerous double-blind clinical trials and found to support brain health across the human lifespan. Research has demonstrated some of the ways PS is critical to optimal brain function: Facilitating the actions of key neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Facilitating energy generation, so crucial to the brain's health and performance. Supporting numerous nerve cell functions including their maintenance and renewal Enabling efficient passage of electrical signals along nerve cells and across their connections (the synapses). Supporting other cell to cell communications in the brain via nerve growth factor, omega-3 DHA, and other messenger substances. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical research trials have shown that dietary supplementation with PS has measurable brain benefits. PS promotes attention, learning, and other cognitive functions. PS especially can enhance memory for words, faces, names, and numbers, and supports brain health not just in adults but in children as well.1-3 Outside the brain, PS is essential for healthy wound healing and for the immune system to dispose of dead cells. While the body can make PS, it also gets some from foods. However, unless you like eating lots of brains or other organ foods your best bet is to take a dietary supplement that provides PS. Supplemental PS has been most commonly manufactured from soy. This is bad news for those who are allergic to soy. That is why BrainMD Health is proud to announce that we have updated our Brain & Memory Power Boost to contain a high-quality PS derived from sunflower lecithin, a vegetarian source free from soy allergens. If you want to improve your mental focus and your memory for words, faces, names and numbers try adding PS to your supplement regimen. References: 1 Crook TH, Tinklenberg J, Yesavage J, others. Neurology 1991;41:644-649. 2 Kato-Kataoka A, Sakai M, Ebina R, others. J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 2010;47:246-255. 3 Hirayama S, Terasawa K, Rabeler R, others. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 2014;27 (Suppl. 2):284-291.
Learn more
What is Fair Trade? And Why Is It More Expensive?
If you’ve ever set foot inside any health food store, then you’re probably familiar with the term “Fair Trade”. Many higher-end products proudly display this badge on their packaging, but what exactly is Fair Trade? Does your mind just immediately assume higher prices? You’re not alone, but why is the price higher and why is it important? Paying More or Paying Fairly? Fair trade is both a market-based approach and a social movement committed to promoting safe, healthy working conditions, protecting the environment, enabling transparency, and empowering communities to build strong, thriving businesses. Fair trade is business with social responsibility. What is Ensures This socially responsible business practice ensures that suppliers of commodities, who are often in under-developed countries, receive fair pay and work in safe environments. It also restricts the use of pesticides and fertilizers and prohibits GMOs (genetically modified organisms), in order to protect farmers’ health and maintain the ecosystem. Another important guarantee when buying Fair Trade products is that children have not been forced into slave labor to lower the price of goods. Where the Money Goes In addition to providing adequate wages to workers, funds from fair trade sales are also set aside to improve local communities via programs such as school development, environmental protection, women’s rights, leadership training, and quality of life improvements. Before Fair Trade Recently, fair trade has gained greater prominence in the US, specifically for commodities like chocolate, coffee and tea. But it hasn’t always been that way; there have been labor issues on cocoa farms for as long as we’ve been consuming chocolate. These issues include poor compensation for labor, dangerous working conditions, even slavery and child trafficking. On occasion, these issues have been brought to the public eye and large chocolate companies have been forced to respond. Unfortunately, when they respond, it’s often to protect their public image; not to address or correct the real issues. Ask Yourself So when you consider the products you’re purchasing, even down to your chocolate bar, perhaps it is important to ask yourself some questions: Do I know that this product was sourced and produced ethically? Is it worth a little more money to know that these products are being sourced and produced ethically? Is saving a little bit of money worth the harm it may be causing to others? At BrainMD, we asked ourselves these questions when sourcing ingredients for our Brain in Love and Brain on Joy chocolate bars. We are incredibly proud to say that we use Fair-Trade chocolate in our bars. It is not charity, it is fair. And the cherry on top- it tastes great and is healthy too!
Learn more
One Secret for Keeping Your 2nd Brain Healthy
You have likely heard about the many health benefits of probiotics. But what about PREbiotics? Although many people think that prebiotic is just a misspelling of the word probiotic, they are actually two very different things! While a probiotic is a living microorganism (such as lactobacillus or bifidobacterium) that when consumed (as in a food or a dietary supplement) maintains or restores beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract; a prebiotic is defined as a “nondigestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating growth and/or modifying the metabolic activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species in the colon that have the potential to improve host health.”1 Simply put, prebiotics are the “food” for probiotics. They act as a fertilizer for the good bacteria – helping them grow and improving the good-to-bad bacteria ratio. Research has demonstrated that this ratio has a direct correlation to your health and overall wellbeing, from your gut to your brain. In a 2008 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with healthy volunteers, gastrointestinal discomforts thought to be related to occasional stress were noticeably improved by a combination of Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175 taken daily for three weeks.2 Another double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with this very same combination of probiotic strains, at the very same dosage, was published in 2011. Taken for 30 days, it was found to measurably promote healthy mood and to assist in coping with occasional anxiety likely related to occasional stress.3,4 The strains used in BrainMD Health’s ProBrainBiotics are the very same as those that proved beneficial in these two double-blind clinical trials. However, in order to fully reap these benefits, the probiotics must be well “fed”. So where are prebiotics found? Most prebiotics are a form of fiber called soluble fiber. Our body does not digest the fiber, but the bacteria in our gut do. In order for a food ingredient to be classified as a prebiotic, it must: not be broken down in the stomach or absorbed in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract be selectively fermented by potentially beneficial bacteria in the colon alter the makeup of the colonic microbiota towards a healthier composition induce effects that are beneficial to the host health5 Rich sources of prebiotics include: Nuts: almonds, cashews, and pistachios Fruits: bananas, apples, pomegranates, cherries, kiwi, berries, and nectarines Vegetables: Jerusalem artichokes, wild yams, jicama, green peas, leeks, asparagus, chicory, broccoli, kale, garlic and onions Legumes: lentils, chickpeas, and red kidney beans Whole grains and seeds: oatmeal, flaxseeds, and chia seeds Unlike probiotics, where supplementation is recommended, you don’t need to go out of your way to get prebiotics so long as you’re eating a varied, healthy diet, you should be getting enough soluble fiber to keep your beneficial bacteria happy. If you take good care of your gut, it will take good care of you! References: Ashwell M. Concepts of Functional Foods (ILSI Europe Concise Monograph Series Ed Walker, R) 2002. Available at: https://www.ilsi.org/europe/publications/c2002con_food.pdf. Diop L, Guillou S, Durand H. Nutrition Research28:1 (2008). Messaoudi M, et al. British Journal of Nutrition105:755 (2011). Messaoudi M, et al. Gut Microbes2:256 (2011). Gibson GR. Dietary Modulation of the Human Gut Microflora Using the Prebiotics Oligofructose and Inulin. J Nutr. 129:1438S-1441S (1999).
Learn more
Improve Mood and Movement with SAMe
Do you ever feel: Short on energy? That your body isn't working the way you'd like it to? Less than fully positive about life? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may consider trying SAMe. SAMe (S-Adenosyl-Methionine. Pronounced “sammy”) is a naturally-occurring, hard-working molecule that is found in almost every tissue and fluid in the body. It is organically produced in our bodies from the amino acid methionine in the presence of the cofactors B12 and folate, and is critical to brain and body health. Healthy levels of SAMe support both mental well-being and healthy joints as SAMe plays a role in the synthesis of: Neurotransmitters, critical to proper brain function Melatonin, important to healthy sleep rhythms and outlook Phospholipids, a major component of cell membranes Polyamines, a manager of cellular growth Additionally, it plays a key role in the biological process called methylation. Methylation is a key process that is essential for almost all of your body systems and it occurs billions of times every second. It helps repair your DNA on a daily basis, controls unhealthy compounds that can damage blood vessels, helps recycle molecules that are needed for detoxification, helps maintain your mood, and keeps inflammation in check. And without SAMe, there could be no methylation as we know it. Normal aging, certain medications, toxins, daily stress, and various nutritional inadequacies in your diet (like poor protein intake) can deplete the body’s SAMe reserves and diminish the body’s production of SAMe. Watch this short video featuring Dr. Amen and BrainMD Health’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Parris Kidd, to learn more about the ways in which BrainMD Health’s SAMe Mood and Movement 400 promotes positive mood and emotional balance, enhances energy levels, and supports joint health and movement. SAMe has been intensively researched for over half a century. Numerous controlled clinical trials support its benefits for mood, cognition, the joints, the liver, the gastrointestinal system, and the other organs. Supplementing with the blister-packed tablets in SAMe Mood & Movement provides the S,S form of SAMe preferred by our enzymes, and helps ensure the body will have adequate SAMe for its needs.
Learn more
7 Simple Ways to Optimize Your Brain
In July 2007, Anthony Davis came to see us. AD, as his friends call him, is a College Football Hall of Fame running back from the University of Southern California, who played professional football for 8 years. He wanted to make sure he was doing everything he could to keep his brain healthy. AD fully embraced a brain-healthy program that included, as one of its components, using supplements that targeted multiple mechanisms, such as blood flow, blood sugar stabilization, antioxidant support, nutrient loading, and more. Within 5 months of starting his brain-healthy program, he reported improvements in his energy, focus and judgment. AD said of his progress, “It’s amazing how much I have improved. My memory has improved, as has my reading comprehension.” Most people don’t realize that your brain gets sick or ages in many different ways. When we get sick or age, it is never just one biological mechanism, such as blood flow, that fails us; it is generally through multiple mechanisms, such as blood flow, toxic buildup, nutrient depletion, and inflammation. Single mechanism interventions, such as just taking single supplements like ginkgo or vitamin E by themselves, have NOT consistently worked in large scale studies to effectively promote and enhance optimal brain health. Therefore, in order to support your brain, it is absolutely critical to use multiple interventions that target different processes like blood sugar levels, gut health, inflammation, blood flow, and more. When we use smart combinations to fight the war for brain health on multiple fronts our effectiveness significantly improves. Here is an example of what types of supplements, when taken together, would be extremely useful in supporting your brain and body health in a multiple mechanism approach: Omega 3 fatty acids to decrease overall inflammation Ginkgo and vinpocetine to support healthy cerebral blood flow Alpha lipoic acid to help stabilize blood sugar levels and protect against nerve cell damage Vitamins B, C, and D for nutrient loading Huperzine A and choline to boost acetylcholine levels, one of the main amino acids involved with learning and memory Phosphatidylserine for nerve cell membrane fluidity N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) for antioxidant support and detoxification As you can imagine, if you purchased each of these supplements separately, it would cost you an astronomical amount! Not to mention the amount of time it would take to separate out and take each daily dose. BrainMD Health’s very own Brain & Body Power Max makes it easy, quick, and economical for you to put robust brain/body health right in the palm of your hand! This all-in-one daily supplement system makes it simple to stay healthy on the go with easy-to-carry packets for your purse or pocket. You can keep them in your desk, or take them with you when you travel to be sure that you’re keeping energetic and healthy wherever you go! You get the following three top-selling BrainMD Health supplements in every serving of Brain & Body Power Max: NeuroVite Plus – A multivitamin like no other! Contains more than 50 vitamin, mineral and plant nutrients in their most active forms, and the only source of Dr. Amen’s proprietary Brain Boosting Blend of clinically researched brain nutrients. Omega-3 Power – Contains a whopping 3.2g of omega-3 fatty acids from a high quality, ultra-purified fish oil source. Brain and Memory Power Boost – Formulated with 7 brain boosters which help promote brain energy, protect circulation, boost brain circuit function, support important neurons, defend against free radical damage to the brain, and promote mental sharpness. “Brain & Body Power Max is perfect for people who want the very best whole brain/body supplement support in one easy-to-take packet." – Daniel G. Amen, MD
Learn more
Simple & Fun Ways to Help Kids Develop Healthy Habits
Every child in this country should be physically active, well-nourished, and healthy. Unfortunately, that is not the case. In fact, childhood obesity has increased from 4% in 1982 to 32% in 2015, an 800% increase. Obesity increases inflammation, a low level fire in the body that destroys our organs, and is a risk factor for over 30 medical illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obese youth are more likely to have: risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes bone and joint problems sleep apnea social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem Additionally, research has indicated that obesity is associated with poorer academic performance beginning as early as kindergarten. Evidence shows that students who eat right and are physically active learn lifelong habits and are better equipped to succeed academically. In celebration of Every Kid Healthy™ Week, here are simple and FUN ways to help kids develop healthy habits: Play with food – Even the pickiest of eaters are often more willing to try new foods when they are disguised as trains, boats, cars, bees, butterflies, or cows. To make a penguin, dip ½ of a banana in a melted Brain In Love dark chocolate bar, add raw almonds to make a beak and feet, and finish with a little shredded coconut for snow and eyes. Plant a family garden – Kids are far more likely to try new foods if they have been involved in choosing what to plant, mulching, watering, weeding, and eventually harvesting. Caring for a garden also teaches them about responsibility and physically working a garden is a great form of exercise! If you are short on space, try a community garden or plant some tomatoes or spinach in a container. Get the whole family moving – Exercise is one of the most critical ways of supporting healthy development. Make time for everyone to get moving together. Go swimming, take walks, ride bikes (make sure everyone wears appropriate helmets), or try geocaching together. The exercise and time together will benefit the overall health of everyone in the family. Tell a story – Reading aloud to your children is one of the most effective ways of building the “language” neural connections in their growing brains. Additionally, when you read to your child, he learns to use logic, to understand cause and effect, and how to think in abstract terms. He learns the consequences of actions, and the basics of what is right and wrong. For those that are able, have your child read aloud to you. Research additionally indicates that reading together is one of the most powerful ways to develop bonds with your child. “Fatten” their brains – With omega-3 fatty acids, that is! The human brain goes through tremendous growth in childhood and it is critical that kids consume adequate amounts of specific types of essential omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, in order to support their brain’s rapid development. BrainMD Health offers Coromega’s unique omega-3 supplement – a full daily dose in delicious lemon-lime or orange flavored creamy, pudding-like packets with no fishy aftertaste. Who knew that taking fish oil could be this much fun? Eat the rainbow – This does NOT mean Skittles or jelly beans. It means teaching your children to choose healthy foods in a variety of different colors, such as blueberries, spinach, pomegranates, yellow squash, and red bell peppers, at every meal. Eating foods of different colors isn’t just fun—it has health benefits too. Help your kids understand the nutritional value of including a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetable in their regular diet. Make a game of challenging them to eat a meal that consists of every color of the rainbow. Look at Labels (Food, Not Clothes) – Although your kids (especially tweens and teens) may care most about the label on their clothes, it is important to teach them to pay more attention to food nutrition labels. Show kids how to read the labels that actually affect their health. Focus on a few key parts of the label (such as the amount of trans fats, and grams of sugar or sodium) to avoid overwhelming them. Be curious, not furious – Model for your children how to be resilient. It’s easy for kids to get discouraged when things don’t go their way. Show them the importance of staying positive and learning from their mistakes. Help your kids develop healthy self-esteem and a positive mindset by teaching them they are unique, lovable, and capable no matter what challenges they experience. Make it a practice to take turns at dinner talking about things each person is grateful for. Play every day – Show your child that exercise can be fun rather than a chore! Have a hula hoop contest, play Dance Dance Revolution together, build an obstacle course, play freeze tag or hide-and-seek, throw a Frisbee, toss a ball, or jump on a trampoline. Aim for 30-60 minutes of movement each day, but it does not have to happen all at once. Several small bursts of active play can add up to a healthy kid!
Learn more
Why Your Brain is Like The Universe
Your brain is the most complex, mind-blowing organ in the universe. It is estimated to have over 100 billion neurons (also called nerve cells or brain cells), which is about the number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Each neuron is connected to other neurons by up to 40,000 individual connections (called synapses) between cells. Multiplying 100 billion neurons times 40,000 synapses is equivalent to the brain having more connections in it than there are stars in the universe. A piece of brain tissue the size of a grain of sand contains 100,000 neurons and 1 billion synapses, all communicating with one another. A neuron’s main job is to generate an electrical signal called an “action potential” which it does if sufficiently “excited” by other neurons. The action potential of a single neuron is like a lightning bolt that can stimulate other neurons. The stimulated neurons can then generate their own signals that travel to and stimulate yet other neurons to which they are connected, creating a network of neurons that perform a specific brain function. Another way neurons communicate with each other is through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. There are many different neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, GABA, adrenaline, noradrenaline, glutamate, and norepinephrine to name a few. Your brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest. They can also affect mood, sleep, concentration, weight, and other problems when they are out of balance. Neurotransmitter levels can be depleted many ways. Stress, poor diet, genetic predisposition, drugs (prescription and recreational), alcohol and caffeine use can cause their levels to be out of optimal range. But when your neurotransmitters are balanced you can think more clearly, feel happier, and experience greater well-being. You’ll feel less worried, enjoy a more positive outlook and cope more effectively in stressful situations. The good news is: there are ways you can help balance the neurotransmitters in your brain! Beyond removing stress, maintain a perfect diet, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine, the supplements from BrainMD Health provide nutrients to support the brain’s neurotransmitters. Here are a few products and the neurotransmitters they are designed to support. Top Supplements For Nourishing Your Neurotransmitters Serotonin Mood Support: supports serotonin which plays an important role in mood, sleep and appetite. GABA Calming: contains GABA to help provide a sense of calm. Everyday Stress Relief: among its multiple mechanisms to support your body’s response to stress is the use of Taurine, to help balance GABA in order to promote relaxation. NeuroLink: helps to balance many neurotransmitters including adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, and serotonin for overall balanced brain chemistry. Backed by decades of experience, our clinical research team incorporates the latest scientific findings in creating a wide array of specialized formulas that support brain function, energy, memory and learning, mood, stress reduction and sleep. Better brain chemistry = Better quality of life
Learn more
Overcoming Cravings: The Ultimate Guide
craving (n.): an intense, urgent, eager, or abnormal desire or longing; yearning. Most people experience cravings on a daily basis. At 9 am, that donut looks delectable. At 1 pm, that hot, greasy slice of pizza seems irresistible. At 5 pm, you can’t wait for a glass of wine. At 10 pm, the ice cream is calling your name from the freezer. And so on. It requires hard work every day to resist these temptations and then we blame ourselves if we succumb to them. Like many people, you probably think that being a slave to your cravings is a sign of weakness. In reality, your cravings may be an indication that your brain’s reward system has been hijacked. What is the brain’s reward system? It is an intricate network of brain systems and neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that are critical to human survival. It drives us to seek out the things we need to stay alive and carry on the human race. However, many things that are not necessarily crucial to our survival also activate the reward system, such as listening to music, having a massage, or watching a good movie. Then there are substances and behaviors that are actually detrimental to our health and well-being that cause the reward system to kick into high gear—cocaine, alcohol, gambling, and yes, even chocolate cake, salty potato chips, and chronic overeating. There are four primary neurotransmitters that play important roles in your brain’s reward system. Neurotransmitters act as the brain’s chemical messengers, relaying information within the brain. The strength or weakness of each of these neurotransmitters plays an important role in your ability to control your cravings. Brain Chemicals Involved with Cravings Dopamine is a feel-good chemical. Whenever we do something enjoyable, it’s like pressing a button in the brain to release a little bit of dopamine to make us feel pleasure. If we push these pleasure buttons too often or too hard, we reduce dopamine’s effectiveness. Eventually, it takes more and more excitement and stimulation to feel anything at all. Cocaine, methamphetamines, alcohol, nicotine, sugar, and high-fat, high-calorie foods all cause an increase in dopamine that makes these substances highly desirable. Serotonin is thought of as the happy, anti-worry, flexibility chemical. Many of the current antidepressants work on this neurotransmitter. When serotonin levels are low, people tend to be worried, rigid, inflexible, oppositional and argumentative, and suffer with anxiety, depression, obsessive thinking, or compulsive behaviors. Serotonin is raised in the brain by its amino acid precursors, l-tryptophan or 5HTP. Simple carbohydrates increase l-tryptophan in the brain, which is why some people can get hooked on cookies, bread, potatoes, and sugar as a way to boost their mood. GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms or helps to relax the brain. If you have suffered an emotional trauma or you are under a lot of stress, GABA may be depleted and your emotional or limbic brain may become excessively active, making you feel anxious, uptight, or sad. This can make you eat in an attempt to calm your limbic brain. Endorphins are the brain’s own natural pleasure and pain-killing chemicals. They are the body’s own natural morphine or heroin-like substances. These substances are heavily involved in addiction, cravings, and the loss of control. So if you’ve been told that cravings are “all in your head,” in a sense, it’s true! If you feel like your cravings are running your life, be sure to check out this article with tips on how to deal with your cravings. Additionally, you may consider trying BrainMD Health’s very own Craving Control, which contains six clinically studied ingredients that complement each other to help manage cravings in the brain, support healthy blood sugar levels and promote a positive mood.
Learn more
6 Ingredients to a Healthy, Balanced Brain
Do you struggle to stay focused? Are you easily irritated? Do you struggle with your mood? Are you just feeling a bit “off”? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it is possible that your brain chemistry needs a tune up. To be your best self, you must have a brain that works at its best. The brain is the supercomputer that runs your life. When your brain works right, you tend to be effective, thoughtful, creative and energetic. But when your brain function is out of balance, you may have problems with mood, stress, work performance, impulsivity, anger, inflexibility, memory, and your relationships. It is estimated that your brain has one hundred billion cells, with each one connected to other cells by up to ten thousand individual connections. This would mean that you have more connections in your brain than there are stars in the universe! These cells communicate through electrical and chemical signals. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers responsible for transmitting information between brain cells. Chemicals such as serotonin‚ dopamine‚ and GABA play key roles in healthy brain functioning‚ which is so essential to healthy behaviors and decision making. Since your brain and life are inseparably linked, when your neurotransmitters are out of balance, you may experience difficulties in school, at work, at home, in relationships, or within yourself. The great news is that the brain is adaptable and able to change how it functions. BrainMD Health’s NeuroLink is exclusively formulated to support balanced brain chemistry... naturally. Watch this short video featuring Dr. Amen and BrainMD Health’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Parris Kidd, to learn more about the ways in which this supplement promotes concentration, focus, positive mood, emotional balance, and a tranquil body and mind. Additionally, you will hear about Dr. Amen’s very personal reason for creating NeuroLink and the entire BrainMD Health line of supplements. Here’s what you get with NeuroLink: Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate) - a water-soluble vitamin essential in the production and function of various neurotransmitters. It is also essential for early brain development. Vitamin B6 is also needed by at least 100 enzymes that help the body utilize amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. L-Tyrosine - an amino acid required for the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. The adrenal glands work together with the brain to manage stress, and also use tyrosine to make these same three transmitters. Your brain needs tyrosine to promote mental clarity during times of stress. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) - an amino acid that regulates the excitability of nerve circuits in the brain, and is considered the brain’s main “calming” neurotransmitter. GABA tightly regulates the activity of synapses but also remains important for the growth of new nerve cells. Low levels of GABA are associated with brain hyper-excitability, untypical behavior, cognitive difficulties, and mood challenges. L-Glutamine - an amino acid important in the synthesis of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, and the calming transmitter GABA. Glutamate is a near-universal neurotransmitter, present in 80 percent of the brain’s nerve cells. It is an important regulator of learning and memory processes and is involved in healthy mood management. L-Taurine - an amino acid that fulfills important regulatory roles in the brain, the eyes, and the other organs. It helps stabilize our nerve cell electrical activity, and protects against calcium overload that can kill brain cells. Taurine is also essential for healthy mitochondria, the tiny energy generators of all our cells, and promotes optimal performance of the GABA and glutamate transmitter systems. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) - a modified amino acid that, in the brain, is easily converted into serotonin. 5-HTP helps maintain mental and emotional well-being, reduce occasional feelings of anxiety, support behavioral self-control, promote calm and relaxation, and facilitate going to sleep. It’s also a powerful brain antioxidant. When your brain transmitters are balanced you can think more clearly, feel happier, and experience greater well-being. Let BrainMD Health’s Neurolink support and promote balance in YOUR brain! Better brain chemistry = Better quality of life
Learn more
Supercharge Your Memory
Can’t find your phone? Don’t remember what’s on your grocery list? Forget the name of your personal trainer? You're not alone. Everyone forgets things occasionally. However, if it is happening more than every once in awhile, it is time to pay attention. Memory problems need to be taken seriously at any age! Losing your memory or developing brain fog in your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, or even 80s is NOT normal. Just because it happens to so many people doesn’t mean that it’s optimal or healthy. Did you know there is no such thing as a "bad memory"? Rather, there is a trained memory and an untrained memory. With a simple plan you can dramatically improve your brain’s ability to think and remember. Here are some immediate tips to implement in your life. Use mnemonics. These triggers to aid memory are a great way to boost your brain while developing a system to remember things. When memorizing a list, associate it with the craziest picture you can think of to help your brain recall it later. No one sees the image you are holding in the privacy of your mind, so be creative and have fun with it. To remember names, repeat the name, use it once or twice in natural conversation, visualize the name as a picture (perhaps on the person’s forehead) and use their name when saying good-bye. Exercise your brain. Cognitive skills tend to dip after we graduate from college or retire from work. Don’t stop challenging your brain on a daily basis! The world is endlessly fascinating for those who never stop learning, and it helps your brain thrive. No matter what your age, mental exercise has a global, positive effect on the brain. Take note. Note-taking increases comprehension and retention. When you read, take notes in the margin of a book. If it is a textbook that you cannot mark in, or a library book, keep a notepad handy as you read. Jot down notes on the strips of paper then tuck them in the pages where you found the quote or point you liked. Find your style. Everyone has a preferred learning style. Do you learn best by reading, hearing, talking, writing or doing? Or some combination? Try to learn something new via your best learning style. If you are an auditory learner, listen to a book on tape. If you a kinesthetic learner, take a class where you’ll have hands-on experiences. Get still. Meditation has been shown to boost activity in the prefrontal cortex and sharpen your mind. Just a few meditative minutes a day can make a dramatic difference in your mental abilities. Choose smart supplements. BrainMD Health’s Brain and Memory Power Boost is formulated with seven brain boosters which help promote brain energy, support important neurons, and defend against free radical damage to the brain. Together they help power up mental sharpness and cognition so you can think fast on your feet again. Stay childlike. Did you know that preschoolers ask between 300 and 400 questions a day? Not only should we never stop asking questions, but we should be actively curious. Ask yourself, “What if?” or “I wonder?” and then seek out the answers. Get a good night’s sleep. The brain has a special waste management system to help eliminate toxins that build up during the day, including the plaques thought to be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. During the day, your brain is so busy managing your life that this cleaning system is pretty much turned off. Without healthy sleep, the cleaning crew does not have enough time to do their job and trash builds up, causing brain fog and memory problems. Balance your stress. Whenever you’re exposed to a flood of stress hormones, it not only disrupts your sleep, but it can damage your immune system and actually shrink the memory centers in your brain. Drink. Water that is. Being dehydrated by just 2% impairs performance in tasks that require attention, immediate memory skills, and physical performance. It is also associated with brain atrophy (shrinkage), poor concentration, memory difficulties, diminished school performance, and increased sensitivity to pain. Cut the sweets. Refined sugar is devoid of minerals needed for enzymes and can cause mineral deficiencies. It interferes with the actions of calcium and magnesium, increases inflammation, and erratic brain cell firing, and has been implicated in aggression. In brain imaging studies it increases “slow brain waves,” and a study at UCLA showed that sugar alters learning and memory—not for the better. Quit multitasking. Can't find your keys? It's probably because you weren't paying attention when you put them down. When you're juggling too many things, you're bound to forget. As it turns out, the brain doesn't actually multitask. Instead, it switches focus from one thing to another, which is why it is difficult to read a book and hold a conversation at the same time. Multitasking will slow you down, so make it a point to concentrate on the task at hand. Jog your memory. Literally. Physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body—including your brain—and helps keep your memory sharp. Exercise delivers extra oxygen to the brain and also appears to stimulate the growth of new cells and blood vessels in the brain. Even though getting older isn’t optional, having a brain that looks and feels old is!
Learn more
EPA and DHA Are Essential to Your Brain Health
Most people know that omega-3 fatty acids are good for us because of their benefits to heart and joint health. But did you know? Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for brain health—and here’s why. What is EPA and DHA? Omega-3 fatty acids are comprised of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Every living cell in the body needs these essential fatty acids. They are required for rebuilding and producing new cells. While both EPA and DHA are components of cellular membranes throughout the body, they each have specific functions in our health. EPA plays a critical role in supporting the healthy regulation of cellular inflammation, while DHA is the most abundant omega-3 found in the brain and is important for maintaining nerve cell structure and function. This makes EPA and DHA the essential building blocks for healthy cell membranes. These cell membranes provide critical support for the brain connectivity that supports: Healthy memory Healthy cognition Emotional well-being Additionally, DHA and EPA promote healthy blood flow, which is essential to optimal brain function and memory retention. Think of omega-3 fatty acids as high quality motor oil for the finely-tuned engine that is your brain. Watch this short video featuring Dr. Amen and BrainMD Health’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Parris Kidd, to learn more about how a daily intake of omega-3s with high levels of EPA and DHA is essential to brain health. The EPA and DHA Ratio to Omega-6 The optimal ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is 2 to 1, and not higher than 3 to 1. Most people get far too little omega-3s in their diet. In fact, research consistently indicates that the majority of Americans have just slightly more than half the amount of EPA and DHA in their tissues than they need for optimum brain and body health. This is partly due to a high dietary intake of unhealthy fats combined with an inadequate intake of EPA and DHA. BrainMD Health’s very own Omega-3 Power makes it super easy to get the right amount of brain healthy omega-3s. Each serving provides 1,440 mg of DHA and EPA from ultra-purified, high-quality fish oil. Omega-3 Power’s high potency helps to ensure having healthy tissue levels of DHA and EPA within weeks to a few months of taking it. Omega-3 Power is sourced from anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. These fish roam mostly in the mid-level of the ocean and have relatively short-lived lifespans. Because of this, they tend to accumulate fewer toxins. In addition, the fish oil in Omega-3 Power is put through the most thorough purification processes available. It includes screening for more than 250 potentially toxic chemicals, and at the same time, eliminates the “burpy” effects of crude fish oils. The result is the highest quality omega-3 supplement available on the market today. "Omega-3 fatty acids play such an important role in brain and body health that I suggest most people take them every day, regardless of their brain type or age. Taking Omega-3 Power is insurance that your body gets the nutrients it needs to be at its best." -Daniel G. Amen M.D.
Learn more
6 Ingredients to Increase Your Focus
Is it hard for you to sit still? Do you have trouble concentrating? Are you finding it difficult to focus when you need to? If so, you are not alone! Disturbing new research reports that humans lose their concentration after about 8 seconds, while the simple goldfish loses its focus after about 9 seconds. It seems like evolution may be going in the wrong direction. In 2000, the average human attention span was estimated at 12 seconds, which is not great; but losing a third of our attention span in 15 years is alarming! This rapid rise of attention problems is due to many factors, including low-fat, low-fiber, high-glycemic diets, increased use of electronics, decreased exercise, and diminished sleep. While supplements can’t take the place of important health-supporting habits such as eating right, exercising, and sleeping, BrainMD Health’s Attention Support can help mind the gap. Watch this short video where Dr. Amen and BrainMD Health’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Parris Kidd tell you all about Attention Support and how its winning combination of clinically researched ingredients can help our distractible brains stay on track! “I’ve seen the attention of my patients go down over the last 30 years with the constant distractions we all face from the Internet and multiple gadgets. I designed Attention Support to give children and adults something natural that would actually help support their attention in multiple ways.” – Daniel G. Amen, MD Here’s what you get with Attention Support: PhosphatidylSerine – a natural building block for cell membranes that supports healthy cognitive function Pycnogenol® – a powerful antioxidant that promotes delivery of blood to the brain demonstrated to help with attention through over 100 clinical trials Choline – vitamin-like nutrient that supports the brain’s production of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter for mental focus Zinc – an essential mineral clinically proven to benefit attention in kids Magnesium – the most bioavailable form of this critical mineral that helps assure a calm, even mood and good mental focus Vitamin B6 – involved in the metabolism of all of the neurotransmitters that have to do with attention In order to be successful in today’s world, you need to be able to focus and pay attention. Support your maximum potential through multiple mechanisms with BrainMD Health’s Attention Support.
Learn more