Skip to content
Wellness Blog
One of the Best Ways to Boost Energy and Reduce Stress
In today’s fast-paced, performance driven world, many people struggle to keep up with the demands of their crazy busy lives. When they experience too much stress, many adopt unhealthy methods for coping with daily pressures. School– It’s well known that many students abuse Adderall or other attention medications to give them a boost when writing term papers or studying for finals. Sports– Taking steroids or other performance enhancing drugs has become an epidemic across many sports and includes both amateur and professional athletes. Work– Some adults use their children’s attention medication to give them a mental edge. Others turn to prescription medications, illicit drugs or alcohol to help lessen their pain. Still others use tobacco products or vaping to help soothe the stresses in their lives. These examples reveal a widespread demand for increased energy and a greater capacity to take on the challenges of the day. However, such detrimental coping strategies often produce the opposite effect of what the user had originally intended. Such short-sighted choices can end up doing more harm than good and lead to mental and physical hardships in the long run. Boost Energy Naturally At BrainMD, we believe that the best way to attain and maintain peak performance, both physically and mentally, is the natural way. We recommend supplements and nutrition first and foremost before putting medications or other harmful substances into your body. Our line of brain healthy vitamins and supplements are ultra-pure, clinical strength and brain directed. The ingredients in these high-quality supplements come from the finest sources, have undergone rigorous clinical testing and have been formulated for maximum absorption to boost energy and give you the nutrients you need to handle stress or mental strain. If you want to naturally improve your athletic, school or work performance, or just want more focus and energy to get you through the day, we’ve got just what you need... Focus & Energy It’s not uncommon for people to have periods where they feel tired or unfocused. BrainMD’s Focus & Energy was designed to promote sharpness, improve mental and physical productivity and prevent fatigue without lowering blood sugar.* Unlike many other dietary supplements, which claim to include adaptogens but don’t use valid ingredients, Focus & Energy provides nutritional and medicinal plant concentrates that are clinically proven.* Its potent green tea extract is high in EGCG and other polyphenol antioxidants and was chosen specifically to intensify oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain.* Three Stress-fighting Herbals Focus & Energy also contains three highly concentrated plant adaptogens: Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic medicinal revered over thousands of years for its mental sharpening benefits. Modern clinical research reveals it is also superb for coping with stress and occasional anxiety.* Rhodiola thrives in the most extreme Siberian climates and is a favorite in the East. This concentrate is doubly standardized and proven beneficial in many clinical trials.* Asian (Panax) ginseng leads all other ginsengs for its almost immediate mental focus benefits.* This concentrate is loaded with 15% brain-active ginsenosides and is proven from intensive research.* Focus & Energy is formulated specifically to reinforce the brain and body’s ability to fight fatigue and adapt to stress.* It also contains choline, a vitamin-like nutrient that helps the brain make the key transmitter acetylcholine and has other metabolic pathways that promote endurance and vigor.* If you’re looking for a natural energizer, Focus & Energy helps fortify your body with specially selected nutrients and medicinal plant substances that provide enhanced mental focus and sustained energy.* And unlike the energy rush you can get from your stimulant of choice (coffee, diet soda, caffeine pills), there’s no dramatic drop in mood and energy with this dietary supplement.* Focus & Energy is safe, natural and non-habit-forming.* To be successful in today’s world, you need a clear mind and sharp focus.* At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to give you the attention, focus, and energy you need to do the things you love.* At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about Focus & Energy and 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.
Learn more
3 Powerful Supplements to Kick-start Your New Year’s Resolutions
The New Year has finally arrived and now is the time to get serious about your health goals. Regardless of which resolutions you made, protecting your brain should be at the top of the list. Optimizing brain function and performance is absolutely essential for starting off the New Year on the right foot…and for maintaining healthy habits throughout the year. If one of your resolutions is to boost mental performance, getting nutritional support is a must. Using the most rigorous criteria for selecting high-quality nutrients, BrainMD offers a line of brain-directed, clinical strength supplements that can help improve your energy, memory and mood. 3 Powerful Supplements to Kick-start Your Resolutions Brain & Memory Power Boost Did you know that your brain requires at least 20 percent of your body’s total oxygen and blood sugar resources? Brain & Memory Power Boost is exclusively formulated to promote the brain’s versatile, intense energy generation and utilization, and to support the optimal functioning of its almost 200 billion cells. This supplement includes 7 brain boosters clinically proven to promote brain energy levels, support brain connectivity, guard against excessive free radical production, and function synergistically to improve mental performance. Together these brain boosters help power up mental sharpness and cognition, so you can think fast on your feet, retain information and be more productive at work and in life. Focus & Energy It’s not uncommon for people to have periods where they feel tired or unfocused. BrainMD’s Focus & Energy was designed to promote sharpness, improve mental productivity, and prevent fatigue without lowering blood sugar. This supplement features an incredible array of “adaptogens,” potent plant concentrates proven to improve mental performance when under stress. It also contains choline, a vitamin-like nutrient that helps the brain make the key transmitter acetylcholine and works through additional metabolic pathways to promote endurance and overall vigor. If you’re looking for a natural energizer that will help to improve your physical endurance, Focus & Energy is your best option. And, unlike the energy rush you can get from your stimulant of choice (coffee, diet soda, caffeine pills), there’s no dramatic drop in mood and energy with this nutritional supplement. Focus & Energy is safe, natural and non-habit forming. Serotonin Mood Support Our brain produces the naturally soothing neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin plays many important roles in the brain’s biochemistry and is involved in maintaining a healthy mood. Serotonin Mood Support was developed to promote serotonin activity in the brain. This formula includes: Vitamin B6 – Vitamin B6 is fundamental to healthy nerve function. It is an essential co-factor for enzymes that make serotonin and other key transmitters. Methylfolate – The pre-activated and most readily utilized form of the folate vitamin is methylfolate. Methylfolate is paired with methyl-vitamin B12 to help ensure the brain makes sufficient melatonin, the sleep hormone. Saffron – As the world’s most expensive herb, saffron has a long history of being used to promote happiness. Saffron has consistently improved mood in clinical trials. Lifestyle habits such as consuming smart carbohydrates in moderation and taking a dietary supplement like Serotonin Mood Support can work together to elevate mood and promote calm. Staying on track with consistent fitness can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. To optimize your chances of reaching your New Year’s goals, actively set yourself up for mind-body success. To help you achieve your resolutions, here are 5 helpful tips to optimize your brain and body in the New Year and all year long: 5 Helpful Tips to Optimize Your Brain Health This Year Be Realistic Goal-setting isn’t having a vague idea of something you’d like to obtain at some undetermined point in the future. The time to be intentional is now. Write down your resolutions in a calendar and then review them every day to track your progress. Establishing realistic goals that you can focus on daily will make a significant difference in your outlook on life. Know Your Numbers You can’t change what you don’t measure and having important health numbers at optimal levels is critical to brain function. Since it’s recommended that you get your numbers checked annually, why not do it at the beginning of the year when you’re already committed to achieving new health goals? Be sure to check your: Body mass index (BMI) – as your weight goes up, your brain function can go down. Blood pressure (BP) – as your BP goes up, it can damage blood vessels and negatively affect the functioning of your brain. Other important health numbers that can affect your brain – testosterone level, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), thyroid functioning, vitamin D level, fasting blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Get Adequate Sleep If you were one of the many people who sacrificed quality sleep to keep up with the increased demands of the stressful holiday season, now is the time to reset the clock and get back to a healthy sleep schedule. To ensure that you have the energy you need to fast-track your New Year’s fitness goals, it’s recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Find a Fitness Friend One of the best ways to achieve fitness goals is to exercise with a partner or in a group. Besides making a workout more fun and interactive, having a buddy to keep you accountable on days when you feel like slacking off can be a huge help. Plus, you’ll be less likely to hit the snooze button when your fitness friend is counting on you to join them at the gym or for a morning jog. Reward Yourself When establishing your exercise benchmarks, write down the reward you’ll get once you achieve that goal. Don’t fudge on your goals, but make sure they’re attainable. It’s important to celebrate your wins…they will help keep you motivated. Treat yourself to a sports massage or a movie night. You deserve it. Adopting these brain healthy habits can kick-start your New Year and help you meet, and exceed, your resolutions. 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.
Learn more
How to Help Your Students Study for Finals: Mind & Body Health
Students today face an incredible amount of pressure. The high prices of tuition are only the start, followed by fitting in with peers, attending classes, and figuring out how to perform their best on test day. It’s easy for parents to worry when their young adult heads off to college – they’re no longer under helpful supervision to watch for warning signs. A lot of learning and growing occurs at college, and a great deal of stress can come when finishing out a semester with seemingly endless papers and tests. For parents seeking to optimize the brain health of their students during finals week, here are a few recommendations for maximum mind and body health. 4 Ways to Improve Studying for Finals 1. Sleep A good night’s sleep shouldn’t be overlooked. Sleep deprivation directly affects your memory, and can play a crucial role in the way a student studies. Your brain uses sleep to process information and consolidate memories, making it a crucial step in any student’s study plan. For parents, convincing your child to get adequate sleep can be tough, especially from afar. Instead of telling your child to set a bedtime, help them manage their schedule well ahead of finals. Encourage them to take breaks during the week leading up to finals so that they don’t burn themselves out. Remind them to take a break every 30 minutes. Also, suggest an organized way of learning, such as with flash cards, so they can make the most of their study sessions. 2. Supplements Many of us have busy brains. Focusing on one task at a time can be challenging, especially in the age of technology. Putting the phone down and the video games aside can take an enormous amount of willpower for students. BrainMD’s supplement Focus & Energy helps promote a student’s concentration and attention, enhances energy levels without caffeine, and supports a healthy stress response. Ingredients include standardized concentrates of green tea, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, and the powerful Korean red ginseng, along with the nutrient choline to support the brain’s production of acetylcholine which is important for memory and attention. Together, these ingredients work to give a healthy boost to help study for finals. 3. Exercise Regular exercise plays an important role in boosting circulation, mood and brain health. When you exercise, your body releases natural chemicals to relieve stress, helping students feel more at ease and ready to take on challenges. Exercise also stimulates your brain by supporting its production of growth-promoting substances to help improve the nerve cell connections and pathways, grow new blood vessels, and even potentially improve the abundance and survival of new brain cells. Taking a study break to go for a run might help students during their routine leading up to finals. 4. Diet Sugary, high-carb and processed diets contribute to many health problems. This type of poor diet is often referred to as SAD (Standard American Diet) due to its prevalence in today’s normal routines. Students who are affected by attention issues especially benefit from improving their diets. By eating more proteins and fewer simple carbs, students are likely to experience less fluctuation in their blood sugar levels and a boost in concentration. Many factors to help study for a test come down to implementing healthy habits, and one way to give your student an extra boost is with Focus & Energy. As BrainMD’s essential product to help improve a student’s ability to perform, many people can take advantage of its powerful mix of nutrients and safe, clinically proven herbal concentrates to strive for excellence this semester. For more information about Focus & Energy or our full catalog of brain healthy supplements, visit the online store at BrainMD.
Learn more
6 Common Attention Issues & Solutions for Staying Focused
Do you have trouble concentrating in class or during meetings? Do you get antsy when listening to a speaker for an extended period? Does your mind drift from one random thought to another, never really focusing on the topic at hand? Did you stop to check your cell phone at any point while reading this paragraph? In today’s busy world, giving our complete focus to one thing or person is becoming increasingly difficult…and is somewhat of a lost art. Attention issues not only impact performance in school, work, relationships and daily tasks, they also affect the way we function as human beings and how we perceive the world. And lest we think that the rapid rise of attention problems only afflicts the young, a growing number of adults are finding it harder and harder to remain organized, stay on task, and complete projects. Short attention spans are a national health crisis that continues to grow – yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and incorrectly treated maladies today. Here are some common complications for those who struggle with their attention and focus... Do You Have Any of These 6 Common Attention Issues? Impulsivity Impulsivity can cause serious predicaments at school and work. Blurting out answers, speaking tactlessly or disrespectfully, and saying things without thinking are typical for impulsive people. For those who struggle with impulsivity, the mouth is often engaged before the brain, which can cause a whole host of problems. Distractibility Inability to focus while reading, participate in small groups, follow what teachers or other public speakers are saying, or perform well at tasks can all have negative effects on school, work and relationships. Having a short attention span and being easily distracted can affect nearly every aspect of your life. Restlessness Overactivity in kids can cause many complications in the classroom: children can be restless, disruptive, and annoying to other kids (not to mention the teacher). Restlessness in little kids, teens and adults can be a distraction to others in the class or at work who notice their constant movement (i.e., legs shaking, shifting weight in a chair, etc.). Forgetfulness This prevalent struggle can cause hardships in the classroom, office or at home. Forgetting to bring books home, leaving your laptop at work, and forgetting where you placed your keys are common complaints of absentmindedness. Shifting Attention Some people have trouble shifting their attention from one thing to another. They tend to get stuck or over focus, which can interfere with their ability to effectively take notes, track what’s being discussed in a lecture, or keep up with the normal flow of conversation among a group of friends. Procrastination Many people with attention issues wait until the last minute to complete their tasks for school or work. If it isn’t the night before, they can’t get their brain engaged enough to get the work done. Procrastination can cause work to be done poorly, partially or not at all. Poor attention isn’t just a single and simple issue. Coping is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Here’s a look at the worst and best ways to improve your attention: Worst Ways to Cope with Attention Issues Tough It Out Unaddressed attention challenges can have alarming consequences and are associated with higher incidences of academic problems, low self-esteem, job failure, incarceration, obesity, and divorce. Medication Fix Attention concerns can be aggravated by a variety of factors, including diet, environmental toxins, and limited physical activity. People who solely rely on medications to treat their attention problems might only find temporary relief of their symptoms or might even encounter side effects. Overcommit Yourself Filling your schedule with too many activities or distractions can make the condition worse. Simplify your schedule and develop an effective treatment plan that will work best for your lifestyle. Best Ways to Cope with Attention Issues Educate Yourself Learn more about attention issues and determine which ones you’re dealing with. Get professional help if necessary. This will assist you to accurately identify the areas that you’re struggling with so that you can take the appropriate steps to solve the problem. Find Quality Care What works for one person with attention concerns might not work for another – or could even make symptoms worse! Make sure you’re working with a qualified practitioner that truly cares about your individual health and well-being. Comprehensive Strategy to Optimize Attention and Focus Address your complaint comprehensively, including proper testing, diet, supplementation, and therapy. Find professionals open to the most comprehensive options for providing you with the support you need using the least toxic, most effective means possible. There are many things you can do today to have better focus and energy. One of the best ways to support your attention is with high-quality, brain-healthy supplements… Focus & Energy Every now and again, everyone feels tired or unfocused. BrainMD’s Focus & Energy was designed to gently prevent fatigue without making you feel drained later, to promote mental sharpness, and to improve your mental (and physical) productivity and endurance. This supplement features a high potency green tea extract that intensifies oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain, as well as an array of highly energizing traditionally proven herbs. This breakthrough supplement features standardized concentrates on an incredible array of "adaptogens," traditional plants proven to improve mental performance when under stress. Sensoril® ashwagandha has multiple impressive clinical trials. Rhodiola grows in the most extreme climates, and this concentrate is the most clinically validated. Asian (Panax) ginseng often is felt almost immediately, and this concentrate is loaded with brain-active ginsenosides. Focus & Energy is formulated by BrainMD's MD-PhD team specifically to reinforce the brain and body’s ability to fight fatigue and adapt to stress. It also contains choline, a vitamin-like nutrient that helps the brain make the key transmitter acetylcholine and has other metabolic pathways that promote endurance and vigor. If you’re looking for a natural energizer, Focus & Energy helps fortify your body with specially selected nutrients that provide enhanced mental focus and sustained energy. And unlike the energy rush, you can get from your stimulant of choice (coffee, diet soda, caffeine pills), there’s no later dramatic drop in mood and energy with this dietary supplement. Focus & Energy is safe, natural and non-habit-forming. To be successful in today’s world, you need a clear mind and sharp focus. We’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to give you the attention, total focus, and energy you need to do the things you love. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about Focus & Energy and 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.
Learn more
Healthy Strategies for Fighting Fatigue and Exhaustion
Stress is a normal and unavoidable part of living. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or station in life, no one is immune from the busyness of modern living. From work or school to shopping and paying bills, or just doing the many things that are required of us just to make it through the day, the list of demands on our time and attention can feel insurmountable. But what happens if you start falling behind in your chores or daily tasks? Is there a way to catch up if you find yourself struggling to complete yesterday’s (or last week’s) to-do list? And if so, how much energy will it take just to get back to a state of status quo? If it feels like your stress levels are being pushed to the limit, you may be developing a real fatigue problem. Everyday fatigue differs from everyday stress in both intensity and duration. If you have a major project at work or paper for school that’s due tomorrow, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, if that level of stress affects your daily life over a sustained period, you may have a fatigue problem. Everyday fatigue can contribute to serious mood, or sleep difficulties. Long-term fatigue can also contribute to other health challenges around blood sugar or blood pressure, and even affect your mental focus and recall. Many of the things people do to support their focus and energy end up backfiring. Nicotine, caffeine, and sugar-laden, fat-filled treats provide a quick high probably by increasing dopamine levels, soon followed by a low as dopamine production plummets, which might have negative long-term effects. As an alternative to the many harmful coping strategies that exist in today’s fast-paced society, here are some of the top tips for reducing stress and fatigue: 10 of the Best Ways to Reduce Stress & Fatigue 1. Admit It The first step in getting help for everyday fatigue is admitting that it’s affecting your life. Once you’ve recognized the problem, you can start working on effective strategies that can help reduce your stress and fatigue so that you can focus on what matters most in life. 2. Get Regular Exercise Physical exercise is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain healthy. Exercise can boost blood flow and other positive nutrients to the brain, helping the brain generate pleasurable and calming that can effectively lower your stress. Walking can help you clear your mind, lower your anxious thoughts, improve your mood and burn some calories all at the same time. 3. Reach Out Though isolating yourself during tough times may feel like the safest option, closing yourself off from the world can aggravate your feelings of negativity. Resist the urge to shut out the individuals who can offer you encouragement and support. Let friends and family know when you’re emotionally overwhelmed. Seek professional help if necessary, but don’t fight your battles alone. 4. Meditate Daily Make time for yourself every day. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh your mind. Clearing your mind and slowing your breathing can help restore inner calm. Repeating simple words like “May I be safe and secure” can increase positive emotions and decrease negative ones. Loving Kindness Meditations (LKM) can reduce pain and improve other mental health challenges. 5. Just Smile Did you know that it takes less effort to smile than to frown? Not only can smiling make you feel better about yourself and your situation, but it can also spread positivity to others who also might be going through hardships. 6. Keep a Journal The process of journaling gives stressful thoughts another place to live beside your brain. Once those concerns have been expressed, they often lose their intensity and urgency which will allow you to relax mentally. Writing in your journal 10 minutes before you go to bed can help release the stresses of the day and put you in a restful state of mind. 7. Prioritize Your Goals If working on all your goals at once becomes overwhelming, set up a hierarchy. Select a few things you absolutely must accomplish, several things you want to complete and many things that would be nice to finish in the future. Not only will this pyramid structure allow you to focus on the essentials, but it will also help to reduce the debilitating pressure of trying to juggle so many objectives at one time. 8. The Attitude of Gratitude Did you know that practicing gratitude actually makes your mind work better? People who express gratitude on a regular basis are healthier, more optimistic, make more progress toward their goals, have a greater sense of well-being, and are more helpful to others. Write down three things that you’re grateful for every day. Then experience the joy that gratitude can bring. 9. Listen to Relaxing Music It’s no surprise that listening to music can increase pleasurable feelings, improve mood, boost energy, probably raise dopamine levels and help with focus and concentration. Remaining in a blissful state of mind is easier to accomplish when you have a happy tune running through your head. Listen to brain-enhancing music specifically composed to increase gratitude, motivation, and inspiration. 10. Try Deep Breathing Typically when people experience anxious feelings, their breathing becomes shallow, rapid and erratic. Since the brain is the most metabolically active organ in your body, any state that lowers oxygen can trigger more fear and panic. By taking slow, deep breaths, you’ll boost oxygen to your brain and start to regain control over how you feel. One way to practice deep breathing is by learning how to breathe from your diaphragm – the area of the body that tends to get “clenched” when we’re anxious. In addition to these practical tips, here are 3 powerful supplements that can help reduce the effects of stress and exhaustion: Focus & Energy It’s not uncommon for people to have periods where they feel tired or unfocused. BrainMD’s Focus & Energy was designed to gently prevent fatigue without lowering blood sugar, to promote mental sharpness, and to improve your mental productivity by performing at a higher level particularly under stress. This supplement features an incredible array of “adaptogens,” traditional plant concentrates proven to improve mental performance when under stress. It also contains choline, a vitamin-like nutrient that helps the brain make the key transmitter acetylcholine and works through additional metabolic pathways to promote endurance and overall vigor. If you’re looking for a natural energizer and mental sharpening supplement, one that likely will also improve your physical endurance, Focus & Energy is your best option. And unlike the energy rush, you can get from your stimulant of choice (coffee, diet soda, caffeine pills), there’s no dramatic drop in mood and energy with this nutritional supplement. Focus & Energy is safe, natural and non-habit forming. Restful Sleep If you aren’t getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, you’re setting yourself up for a host of issues. When you’re sleep-deprived the many things that the brain needs to do to renew itself can become compromised. Habitual lack of sleep is associated with: Lowered overall blood flow to the brain Negative effects on your cognition, mood, and memory Greater appetite due to increases of the hormone ghrelin, known to affect obesity Loss of focus and willpower Low mood and occasional anxiety A marked decline in capacity to make good decisions. Quality sleep actually helps all the cells in the body repair and renew. It gives the brain a chance to wash away toxins that build up during the day, and helps keep the nerve cell connections and pathways active and constantly self-renewing. Restful Sleep from BrainMD contains melatonin to keep you sleep throughout the night. It also includes the calming neurotransmitter GABA, as well as magnesium, vitamin B6 and valerian. BrainMD uses authentic GABA (Gamma-AminoButyric Acid), chemically identical to the body’s GABA. Together, these nutrients produce a soothing, sedative effect that helps you ease into peaceful sleep and get a long uninterrupted period of rest. Brain & Memory Power Boost Did you know that your brain requires at least 20 percent of your body’s total oxygen and blood sugar resources – and even more when it’s in “overdrive?” Brain & Memory Power Boost is exclusively formulated to promote the brain’s versatile, intense energy generation and utilization, and to support the optimal functioning of its almost 200 billion cells. This supplement includes seven brain boosters clinically proven to promote brain energy levels, support brain connectivity by sharpening synaptic functioning, guard against excessive free radical production, and all together work in synergy to improve mental performance. Together these brain boosters help power up mental sharpness and cognition so you can think fast on your feet again, and retain information so that you can be as productive as can be. 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.
Learn more
Top 10 Healthy Snacks for Studying
So, you’re trying to hit the books…but does it feel like they’re hitting back? Maybe you’re studying for a major exam but just can’t seem to retain any information. Or perhaps you have a ten-page paper due tomorrow and just can’t get motivated to sit down at the keyboard. If you’re experiencing a mental block, caused by a lack of focus or low energy, don’t be discouraged. Hitting a wall happens to everyone. Here Are the Dos and Don'ts of Snacking Don’t Do This: Many of the things people do to support their focus and energy end up backfiring. Nicotine, caffeine, and sugar-laden, fat-filled treats provide a quick high probably by increasing dopamine levels, soon followed by a low as dopamine production plummets, which might have negative long-term effects. Avoid the quick fix of consuming junk food and energy drinks, which only provide a temporary boost in energy. Do This Instead: If you struggle with attention and concentration, eating a proper diet built on high-quality protein, omega-3 and other healthy fats, and high fiber) can help your focus, energy and other higher brain functions. It’s especially important to eat protein with each meal and snack, which helps to stabilize your brain energy levels and maintain focus. Eating the right foods can help you have more energy, a better mood, and more mental sharpness, which is a recipe for success in every area of your life. The next time you feel yourself dragging during a study session, dump your coffee or energy drink, toss your sugary snacks, and pick up one of these foods to get the natural lift in energy you need: Top 10 Healthy Snacks for Studying 1. Well-balanced Snack For an energy enhancing snack, eat two slices of lean deli turkey and a dozen grapes. This well-balanced snack is high in protein and antioxidants and should tide you over until your next meal. 2. Eat More Edamame Replace finger foods like Skittles or M&Ms with shelled edamame (which is roughly the same size as those candies). Edamame is high in protein and fiber and is the perfect low-calorie snack for when you get the munchies. 3. Dip Your Apples As a healthy alternative to eating chips and dip, slice up an apple and dip the wedges into almond butter for an appetizing anytime snack. For variety, use any organic, sugar-free nut butter as a great-tasting, protein-packed dip. 4. The Smooth Way to Study Instead of sipping on coffee or a sugary soda, make a brain-healthy smoothie that can provide essential nutrients while curbing your hunger. With a variety of fruits and vegetables to choose from, there are countless possibilities for customizing a healthy smoothie. Add a scoop of protein powder to turn your smoothie into a meal. Here are recipes for two delicious smoothies: Cherry Mint Blast Smoothie and Vanilla Tahini Protein Shake. 5. Pack a Snack If you’re heading off to the library to do research for a paper or to join a study group, bring along some healthy snacks so that you won’t be tempted to seek out a vending machine. Emergency rations can be a lifesaver if your blood sugar drops and you get a snack attack. Examples of healthy snacks are low-sugar dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, and cherries), vegetables (baby carrots, celery, and snap peas), and nuts (almonds and walnuts). 6. Disguise Healthy Snacks If you have kids who naturally gravitate toward chips, cookies and candy bars for their after-school snack, it’s time to reclaim their taste buds. Even the pickiest eaters are more willing to try new foods when they’re disguised as something fun. Here’s how you can create a tasty penguin snack. 7. Go Nuts Over This Snack Almonds and cashews are an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help balance blood sugar levels. They’re also packed with magnesium, a mineral that plays a key role in converting food into energy. Walnuts have more plant omega-3 fats than other commonly consumed nuts such as almonds, peanuts, and pistachios. 8. An Egg-cellent Source of Protein One of the few foods considered to be a complete protein, eggs contain all nine essential amino acids that the body can’t create on its own, and a really impressive total amino acid profile. Additionally, eggs are full of vitamins needed for the body to produce energy, such as thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and B12. That gold yolk color also provides carotenoids that help the eyes keep working and very likely also help with mental processing. 9. Eat Like a Bird Protein-rich foods like seeds and nuts take longer to digest, which may help satiate your hunger until your next meal. A handful of tasty pumpkin seeds contains more protein per ounce than almonds. 10. Healthy Chocolate Bars For some people, eating a chocolate bar is a near-euphoric experience. Chocolate has no end of blissful, health-promoting properties that support a positive mood and the ability to think clearly and focus. Unfortunately, most chocolate bars are burdened with harmful ingredients like sugar (lots!), dairy and synthetic flavors that virtually cancel out chocolate’s powerful health benefits. Instead of chewing on a sugary candy bar, reach for a nutritious chocolate bar instead—one that will sustain your energy rather than making it crash after a brief spike. BrainMD offers two delicious chocolate bars that are sugar, dairy and gluten free: Brain In Love and Brain In Focus (which has plant-source omega-3 DHA in it and tastes great). Stock up so that you’ll never be tempted to eat an unhealthy chocolate bar.* In addition to healthy snacks, supplements can also help support attention and mental stamina. Focus & Energy It’s not uncommon for people to have periods where they feel tired or unfocused. BrainMD's Focus & Energy was designed to gently prevent fatigue without lowering blood sugar, to promote mental sharpness, and to improve your mental productivity by performing at a higher level particularly under stress.* This supplement features an incredible array of "adaptogens," traditional plant concentrates proven to improve mental performance when under stress.* Unlike many other dietary supplements claiming to provide adaptogens, Focus & Energy provides concentrates that are clinically proven from clinical trials.* Its high potency green tea extract is very high in EGCG and other polyphenol antioxidants and was chosen specifically to intensify oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain.* Then there are three other highly concentrated adaptogens, and choline to make the attention neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic medicinal revered over thousands of years for its mental sharpening benefits.* BrainMD chose the Sensoril® standardized concentrate because of the multiple clinical trials that establish its use.* Rhodiola thrives in the most extreme Siberian climates and is a favorite in the East. This concentrate is doubly standardized and clinically validated.* Asian (Panax) ginseng leads all other ginsengs for its almost immediate mental focus benefits, and this concentrate is loaded with 15% brain-active ginsenosides.* If you’re looking for a natural energizer and mental sharpening supplement, one that likely will also improve your physical endurance, Focus & Energy is your best option.* And unlike the energy rush you can get from your stimulant of choice (coffee, diet soda, caffeine pills), there’s no dramatic drop in mood and energy with this nutritional supplement.* This formula, like all of BrainMD's other supplement products, is safe, natural and non-habit-forming.* Try it 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.
Learn more
Learn How Natural Sleep Aids Can Improve Your Health
Are you getting enough sleep? Do you have difficulties turning your brain off at night? Do you have irregular sleeping patterns that leave you tired all the time? Do you have harmful habits that prevent you from getting to bed at a decent hour (like eating unhealthy snacks while binge-watching your favorite TV show)? If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you’re not alone. According to research, as many as 70 million Americans have ongoing sleep problems which interfere with their daily functioning. And it’s progressively getting worse with the proliferation of gadgets and bad habits. Risks of Sleep Deprivation Skimping on sleep can affect your health in more ways than you might imagine. Sleeping less than six hours a night is associated with: Lower overall blood flow to the brain Negative effects on your cognition, mood, and memory Greater appetite due to increases of the hormone ghrelin, known to affect obesity Loss of focus and willpower Low mood and occasional anxiety Sleep issues also may contribute to mental unbalances. People with lack of sleep are four times more likely to develop feelings of melancholy compared to those with healthy sleeping patterns. Benefits of Quality Sleep Sleep helps all the cells in the body repair and renew. It gives the brain a chance to wash away toxins that build up during the day and helps keep the nerve cell connections and pathways active and constantly self-renewing. Having high-quality sleep is essential to wellness. If you have healthy habits, such as avoiding caffeine later in the day and getting regular exercise, but still have problems falling asleep, a scientifically formulated and safe dietary supplement that promotes healthy sleep may give you the relief you need. The 4 Most Common Sleep Issues & Solutions 1. Too Wired to Sleep Perhaps you’re the life of the party who always seems to have an endless supply of energy. Or maybe you’re the kind of person who enjoys movie marathons or all-night video game binges. With so many exciting things to see and do, it can be a challenge to dial back the adrenaline and calm down long enough to fall asleep. Suggested Supplement: Restful Sleep If you aren’t getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, you’re setting yourself up for a host of issues. When you fall behind on your sleep blood flow to your brain decreases, and you are much more likely to make bad decisions. Scientists have discovered that the brain has a special “waste management system” that works to get rid of toxins while you sleep. This includes deposits thought to contribute to age-related memory issues. Without healthy sleep, the cleaning crew doesn’t have enough time to do their job and trash builds up, causing brain fog and memory problems. Restful Sleep contains melatonin to keep you asleep throughout the night. It also includes the calming neurotransmitter GABA, as well as magnesium, vitamin B6 and valerian. Together, these nutrients produce a soothing, sedative effect that helps ease you into a peaceful sleep and get a long uninterrupted period of rest. 2. Too Stressed to Sleep Maybe you have a looming deadline for a project at work or just remembered that you have a twelve-page paper due tomorrow for one of your classes. Or maybe you’re intently focused on a job promotion or simply enjoy working hard. Among workaholic Americans, there’s a prevailing mindset that it’s socially acceptable — and even a badge of honor — to get less rest. They may participate in work binges and settle for 4 to 5 hours of sleep per night, which simply isn’t an adequate amount of brain rest. Suggested Supplement: Everyday Stress Relief To stay healthy in today’s fast-paced world, you need to be more resilient to stress. Everyday Stress Relief replenishes your body’s levels of nutrients that can be depleted during times of excessive stress AND has herbal extracts clinically proven to have calming and antistress effects. This formula includes: Magnesium, a mineral important for calm, balanced and mentally focused demeanor. The vitamin-like nutrient taurine that has versatile benefits for electrical transmission in the brain and supports the adrenal glands which are crucial for coping with stress. Holy Basil, revered in the East for improving adaptation to occasional anxiety, feelings of exhaustion, forgetfulness and other problems related to stress. L-theanine from green tea reduces tension and promotes rest without diminishing alertness. Relora® is a unique mix of two herbs that can enhance healthy management of the stress hormone cortisol while easing anger, negative mood, and confusion. These well-studied nutrients and herbals support your body’s coping with stress on multiple levels. At the end of a stressful day, Everyday Stress Relief can help you stay calm so that you can drift off to a peaceful sleep. 3. Too Distressed to Sleep Perhaps you’re dealing with significant emotional issues like losing a job or a loved one. Or perhaps your life just hasn’t turned out quite as you’d planned. Repetitive or automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), can take their toll on you mentally and prevent you from getting consistent and quality sleep. Suggested Supplement: Serotonin Mood Support Our brain produces the naturally soothing neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin plays many important roles in the brain’s biochemistry and is involved in maintaining healthy mood and promoting feelings of calmness. Serotonin also can help control late-night appetite. This supplement is highly geared to promote serotonin activity in the brain. It contains 5-HTP, a nutrient that the brain can readily convert into serotonin on demand. It also contains saffron, the world's most expensive herbal with a long history of traditional use for "inducing happiness". Saffron has consistently improved mood in a number of clinical trials. Vitamin B6 is an essential cofactor for enzymes that make serotonin and other key transmitters. This formula also includes methylfolate, the pre-activated and most readily utilized form of the folate vitamin. Methylfolate is paired with methyl-vitamin B12 to help ensure the brain makes sufficient melatonin (our sleep hormone) AND has the biochemical tools for renewing and maintaining its almost-200 billion cells. Lifestyle habits such as daily exercise, consuming “smart” carbohydrates in moderation, and taking a dietary supplement like Serotonin Mood Support can work together to elevate mood, promote calm and facilitate sustained and deep sleep. 4. Too Worried to Sleep Do you get overwhelmed easily or have difficulty coping with new or challenging situations? Do you anticipate the worst and worry about every detail of your life… and the lives of your family and friends? If so, you might have a case of “monkey mind.” Monkey mind is a term used to refer to the chatter of worry, fear, and doubt that can be heard inside your head. Whether directed at yourself or others, monkey mind can rob you of joy, peace of mind, and a good night’s sleep. Suggested Supplement: GABA Calming Support Taming your anxious thoughts is integral to your happiness. When you’re calm and collected, you’re much less likely to overreact to the inevitable frustrations of life—and far more likely to think clearly and respond appropriately. If your hectic schedule is causing you too much aggravation, frustration, and irritability, take a deep breath and try GABA Calming Support. GABA Calming Support helps stimulate the production of calming brain waves which promote relaxation. This formula provides a generous allowance of authentic GABA, identical to the transmitter the brain makes. GABA is the brain's main calming transmitter. Vitamin B6 and magnesium facilitate GABA's transmitter actions while having calming effects of their own. Lemon balm is a European herb that likely helps the brain conserve GABA. Clinical studies indicate it improves mood, and feelings of calmness. Tips to Help You Establish a Healthier Sleep Routine In addition to nutritional support, here are 5 additional tips that can help you establish a healthy sleep routine: Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule Regardless of how much sleep you got the night before, go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning, even on weekends. Create a Restful Environment Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, not too hot or cold. Also, keep your room as dark as possible while sleeping. Use soothing nature sounds, soft music or even a fan to induce a relaxing mood that can lull you to sleep. Don’t Take Naps This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make if you experience extreme wakefulness. Daytime naps will disrupt your nighttime sleep cycle. Get Regular Exercise Physical exercise is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain healthy. Exercise not only boosts blood flow to transport nutrients to the brain, but it also stimulates the brain to make new cells and tune up existing cell networks that help the brain self-regulate and calm down. However, be careful about exercising within four hours of the time you go to bed; for some people, vigorous exercise late in the evening generates so much energy it can keep them awake. Write It Down Keeping a journal gives stressful thoughts a home, another place they can live instead of in your brain. Once those thoughts have been written down, they often lose their intensity and urgency, which will allow you to relax mentally. Writing in your journal 10 minutes before you go to bed can help release the stresses of the day and put you in a restful state of mind. Lack of sleep is hazardous to your health. Protect your sleep as if it were one of the most important things you ever do—because it is! These 4 supplements provide safe and clinically proven ingredients that help you cope with stress, relax, fend off negative thoughts and anxieties, and get that great night's sleep that your brain - and body - need. 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.
Learn more
A Sugar-Free, Caffeine-Free Energy Boost
You’re halfway through your long road trip and feel your eyes getting heavy. It’s 2PM and your ability to focus on work seems to have completely escaped you. After a less-than-optimal night’s sleep you just can’t get your brain going to knock out that to-do list. Have you ever been there? What do you do? It’s in these moments that most people reach for a caffeine-packed energy drink or giant (probably sugar-filled) cup of coffee. Don’t be too proud if you use a sugar substitute instead, that may not be much better for you. What if there was another way to boost your energy and focus without adding calories to your diet or harming your brain? Meet: Rhodiola rosea. What is it and where is it from? Rhodiola rosea is a plant that is found mainly in arctic environments and high altitudes in the northern hemisphere including parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. The underground stem contains the nutrients commonly used in supplementation. Many different cultures have used rhodiola, historically referred to as “golden root,” for centuries, to help with energy, fatigue, and a variety of other health issues. How can Rhodiola Help You? Rhodiola rosea has been studied for many different benefits including physical performance and mental performance, and has been shown to have immense therapeutic potential. Rhodiola rosea's consistent benefits include countering fatigue, sharpening attention, and increasing mental capacity. It doesn’t just help your brain though; it has also been shown to help energy levels when exercising. This incredible root has even been found to have a beneficial effect on mood. Additionally, rhodiola has strong antioxidant properties to fight free radicals and has been shown to be a powerful adaptogen which helps the body adapt to and resist stress. Where can you get it? Think this energy-supporting, wonder-root sounds too exotic to get your hands on? Think again. Rhodiola rosea can be found at a clinical dose in BrainMD’s Focus & Energy. Supported by rhodiola rosea and four other ingredients like the powerful Asian ginseng root extract and decaffeinated green tea extract, Focus & Energy can help to promote concentration, energy and a healthy response to stress. So next time you hit the road, or the afternoon wall, reach for Focus & Energy instead of those unhealthy beverages.
Learn more
How To Reset & Balance Your Brain
Your brain is an incredibly complicated machine. No one knows exactly how complex it is, but scientists estimate you have roughly 86 billion neurons and 85 billion nonneuronal brain cells. That means that in a piece of brain tissue the size of a grain of sand, you will find around 100,000 neurons, with over a billion synapses communicating with each other. Because of this, neuroscientists are faced with the incredible challenge of making sure this complex machine runs smoothly. This is often much easier said than done. Due to the brain’s complexity, many pharmaceutical drugs on the market today try to fix problems with a wide-brush approach, increasing levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin across the whole brain. Why Balance Is Important However, while this sweeping, pharmaceutical approach will often help in the battle with complex problems like depression and anxiety, there are almost always side effects. For a happy brain, more important than the levels of any one neurotransmitter is the overall balance of neurotransmitters in the brain as a whole. With such a massive amount of neurons and synapses firing at once, we need to ensure they are all working together properly, and that means making sure each brain cell has all the ingredients it needs to run smoothly. But, the balance of these incredibly important ingredients depends on a large number of factors; from your genes to your diet, to how much time you spend outside. And sometimes, especially in young people, this balance isn’t quite perfect. This can make life much more difficult, leading to irritable, anxious, unfocused parents and kids. What You Can Do There are some things you can do to help balance your brain; one way is through supplementation with nutrients that support the production and function of neurotransmitters. Here are some suggestions. GABA – an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps calm overactive neurons, enhances mood and helps support restful sleep. 5-HTP – an extract from the African plant Griffonia Simplicifolia, 5-HTP is the precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a role in mood, sleep and appetite. L-Tyrosine – an important amino acid for the synthesis of many neurotransmitters, it is the precursor to norepinephrine and dopamine, which are important in balancing mood and energy. L-Glutamine – an amino acid important for the brain to make glutamate and GABA neurotransmitters. Glutamate is present in 80% of the brain’s nerve cell and plays a role in learning and memory processes as well as healthy mood management. Taurine – an amino acid that helps stabilize our nerve cell electrical activity and also promotes the performance of GABA and Glutamine neurotransmitter systems. There are also other essential vitamins and amino acids that will help your brain establish a healthy equilibrium. Look for products that combine multiple nutrients for a well-rounded approach to brain health, and make sure you buy from quality-driven brands. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to give you the focus and energy you need to do the things you love most in life. For our full list of supplements, visit us at BrainMD.
Learn more
9 Easy Ways To Boost Your Focus
The Focus Struggle Are you easily distracted when driving? Do you struggle to pay attention to boring tasks? Do you generally have problems focusing, or know someone who does? If so, you are not alone! Can you believe that research shows that humans have an attention span of only 8 seconds? This is less than a goldfish which loses focus after about 9 seconds It seems like evolution may be going in the wrong direction. In 2000, the human attention span average was estimated at 12 seconds, which is not great; but losing a third of our attention span in fifteen years is alarming! 9 Easy Ways to Boost Your Focus In today’s fast-paced, demanding, multi-tasking world, you need to be able to focus and pay attention in order to be successful. The good news is that there are countless strategies you can use to become more focused and have better attention – start with these 9. 1. Good, healthy food is brain medicine. For people who struggle with attention and focus, a healthy fat, high fiber, quality protein, low glycemic diet can have a powerfully positive effect on brain function. The sugar-filled, pesticide-laden, high glycemic Standard American Diet (SAD) leads to increased distractibility, decreased energy, and illness. It is especially important to eat protein with each meal and snack which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain focus. 2. Drink lots of water. Your brain is 80 percent water. Anything that dehydrates it, such as too much caffeine or alcohol, decreases your thinking and impairs your focus and judgment. Make sure you get plenty of water every day. To know you are drinking enough water for your brain, a good general rule is to consume half your weight in ounces per day unless there is significant obesity and then usually not more than 120 ounces a day. 3. Calm and focus your mind on mindful exercise. Yoga, tai chi, and other mindful exercises have been found to reduce anxiety and depression and increase focus. 4. Decades of research have shown that prayer, meditation, visualization, and self-hypnosis can calm stress; improve focus, mood, and memory; and enhance overall brain function. Taking 5 to 10 minutes twice a day to focus on your breathing, gratitude, a beautiful scene in nature, or scriptures is simple, yet can have a powerful effect on your life. 5. Used properly, music is medicine. Music can soothe, inspire, and help you focus. That is why Dr. Amen has teamed up with best-selling author and Grammy Award-winning composer, Barry Goldstein Music to compose pieces specifically designed to enhance mood, memory, energy, and focus. Other music to consider in order to improve focus is: “Just the Way You Are”: Bruno Mars Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448: Mozart “Silk Road”: Kitaro 6. Neurofeedback has been shown to help improve focus, impulse control, and memory along with other cognitive functions. It helps your brain function better by retraining certain brainwave patterns. You essentially get to play a video game using just your mind. While doing it, a computer continuously monitors your brain’s function and provides feedback. It is through repetition that the brain can retrain itself; therefore, a neurofeedback program will involve multiple sessions, but it’s worth it. 7. Boost your attention span with BrainMD’s Attention Support containing natural focus boosters. All its ingredients were picked for their clinically proven benefits to attention, concentration, calm, and overall self-control. Working through multiple action pathways in the brain, Attention Support’s nutrients and herbals help your distractible brain stay on track. 8. Give yourself regular breaks. Many people equate taking breaks with wasting time, but research demonstrates that taking breaks actually improves our focus and efficiency. Our cognitive control system can often begin to fail after a while of focusing on a task. By switching our attention to something else briefly – in other words, by taking a break – we can then return to our original task refreshed and focus on it once again. 9. Get rid of distractions when you prepare to focus – close your email, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Put your phone on airplane mode and turn off anything that blinks, dings, buzzes, or vibrates. Although multitasking may seem like the best way to get things done, research shows that even people practiced at multitasking don’t do it very well.
Learn more
Best and Worst Ways to Cope with Attention Issues
Attention Issues are not just a single and simple problem; therefore, coping is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Attention is a national health crisis that continues to grow—yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and incorrectly treated issues today. Here are a few tips to help you understand and cope. Best Ways to Cope with Attention Issues: Learn more about ADD. A good place to start would be to learn about the 7 types of ADD and identify if this might be what you're dealing with. This will help you create the proper approach to your treatment. Customize your approach. One size does not fit all: What works for one person with attention may not work for another—or could even make the symptoms worse! Listen to your body and make sure you are working with a practitioner that truly cares about your individual health and wellbeing. Address your condition comprehensively, through proper testing, supplementation, therapy and diet. The Amen Clinics Method, developed through 26 years of clinical practice, uses a detailed clinical history, brain SPECT imaging to understand brain function, neuropsychological testing and laboratory studies to target treatment specifically to your brain using the least toxic, most effective means. Worst Ways to Cope with Attention Issues: Neglect treatment and push through the disorder alone. Unaddressed attention issues can have alarming consequences and is associated with higher incidences of: Academic problems, Low self-esteem, Job failure, Incarceration, Obesity, Divorce. Rely on pharmaceuticals alone. Attention issues can be aggravated by a variety of conditions, including diet, environmental toxins, and limited physical expression. “For example, the European Union (EU) requires that foods containing certain food color additives include a statement on the label that this color "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." says the Mayo Clinic. Overload yourself with to-dos, commitments, and activities. Filling your schedule or your child’s schedule with too many distractions and stresses can make the condition worse. Simplify your schedule and your life while you develop a strong treatment plan and see that it’s working for you. As you can see, there are many simple tools that you can use to manage attention issues at home. Hopefully, with these tips, you now have a good starting point!
Learn more
Sex and Your Brain
When you think of love or falling in love, romantics tend to connect those emotions to the heart, which may be the wrong organ entirely… In time for Valentine’s Day, potential lovers everywhere can start shifting their thinking, and begin to understand that true love – and all of the magnificent mind-body benefits of a soulmate sort of love – stem from your brain. “Your brain is the main organ of loving, learning, behaving, and is the largest sex organ in your body,” says Daniel G. Amen, MD. When you are in a loving, safe and committed relationship, it pays to take full advantage of sharing this soul-nurturing, healthy, heart-opening experience. In fact, good sex and romantic love are two of the most important advantages of brain health. Great Sex Equals a Longer, More Fulfilling Life Many studies have investigated the relationship between healthy sexual activity and longevity. Some studies do suggest that, by choosing to thoughtfully and intimately connect with your partner, may enhance your longevity, immune system function, joy, pain management, and sexual reproductive health. If reading this doesn’t do enough to make you want to commune with your partner (or go out and find a likely candidate!) then consider this: Regular sexual activity may be a preventative measure against the two leading causes of death in the United States: heart disease and cancer. Good Sex Makes Life More Joyful and Intimate Here are some tips to help your libido. This will help spice up your love life and jumpstart your overall brain health: Exercise: Not only does exercise lower stress levels, boost endorphins, increase blood flow and treat depression, it also boosts your confidence and self-esteem. This also helps serotonin levels, lifting your mood and promoting feelings of calmness. Without getting all these benefits of exercise, sexual performance can decrease. Try something new: Do something that you and your partner can enjoy together. Change the scenery, take a sexy vacation, or try another type of connection, by unplugging and setting aside time for one another, Dr. Amen suggests. Make a commitment to take a daily walk with one another to improve your face-to-face communication, making your more in synch as a couple under the sheets – and out of them. Chocolate: This decadent treat naturally increases “feel good” hormones, especially dark chocolate. Notably called the love drug because it produces delight for both brain and body, try not to overindulge anyway. Try Amen Clinics’ chocolate protein powder or Dr. Amen’s Brain in Love Bars instead. This velvety combination will help support a positive mood, the ability to think clearly, and an efficient cardiovascular system. Not only does committing to having more sex with a partner create positive room for growth between the two of you, but it allows your brain to grow and flourish as well. BrainMD is committed to helping you transform your life for the better by focusing on improving the health of your brain. Find more expert love tips from the Amen Clinics and Dr. Garrett Halweg on our Facebook Live Chat called, “Let’s Talk About Sex”.”
Learn more