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2 Products That Will Help Your Mood Under Stress
In our modern-day world, it seems too easy to get caught up in the daily worries, to allow them to consume us. It seems like we don’t have enough time to stop and slow down either, just wearing ourselves out. Ultimately, this leads to an abundance of stress. Many times, stress doesn’t just negatively affect your mood, though that becomes the most visible side effect. Stress also negatively affects the way your brain and body work. So, it is important to try to control your stress. We know that stepping away from solving all the world’s problems is easier said than done. Instead of handling stress with alcohol, drugs, or emotional instability, we have a better recommendation. These two supplements have been shown in studies to help support your mood under stress. Try them along with practicing a healthy diet and regular exercise. Tyrosine Tyrosine is a supplement that is known to support the brain, adrenals, and thyroid, especially when coping with stress or intense mental strain. When stressed, your brain is depleted of DA and NE. So emotional intensity or stress stimulates the adrenals to release NE (norepinephrine), and E (epinephrine, adrenaline) that they make from NE. This NE helps the brain cope with the challenge. The adrenals also rely on DA (neurotransmitters dopamine) for their normal stress response. The healthy adrenal function requires ample l-tyrosine to sustain their production of DA, NE and E in order to support the brain under stress. To see if supplementing with Tyrosine could help with the body’s responses to stress a study was performed. In a double-blind clinical trial, a 2-gram dose of tyrosine helped undergrad students perform better at multitasking, to "make the right choices" under mental challenge. ProBrainBiotics Our intestines hold trillions of bacterial cells that contribute to our overall health and wellbeing. We may not always realize it, but our gut and our brain are connected. When your digestion is not working properly, it affects the way you think, feel, and vis-versa. In a clinical trial, the same 2 strains of probiotics found in ProBrainBiotics, when taken for 30 days, was found to promote a healthy mood and provide a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by individuals affected by chronic stress. They also assisted in coping with occasional anxiety, likely related to occasional stress. Probiotics will also help your brain and body by: Promoting positive mood and emotional balance Promoting healthy digestion Supporting mental focus while doing intense work Supporting a healthy response to everyday stress You can learn to manage your stress, but you can’t control everything and stress will happen. Arm your brain with the nutrients that are shown to help support your body and your mood when under stress, try Tyrosine and ProBrainBiotics.
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SAMe and Betaine TMG – The Mood Enhancing Power Couple
When your brain gets sick or ages, it is never just one biological mechanism, such as blood flow, that fails us, it is generally multiple mechanisms, such as blood flow, toxic buildup, nutrient depletion and inflammation. This gives us the blueprint on how to help overall brain health – in multiple mechanisms that support healthy blood sugar, gut health, blood flow, antioxidant status and decreased inflammation. Single mechanism interventions, such as just taking ginkgo or vitamin E by themselves, have not consistently worked in large scale studies. But when we use smart combinations, in a multiple mechanism approach, their effectiveness significantly improves. Best Nutrients for a Healthy Brain For example, with my patients, I often use: Omega 3 fatty acids to support decreased overall inflammation Ginkgo and vinpocetine to boost cerebral blood flow Probiotics to support gut health … because the health of your gut affects the health of your brain Alpha lipoic acid to help stabilize blood sugar levels and protect against nerve cell damage Huperzine A and choline to boost acetylcholine levels, one of the main amino acids involved with learning and memory Phosphatidylserine to support nerve cell membrane fluidity N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) for antioxidant support and detoxification The science behind using natural supplements grows stronger every year, but we must stop looking for single bullet treatments, and instead help the brain in all of the ways it struggles. This multiple-mechanism approach is what we used in our published brain rehabilitation study with football players where 80% of the players experienced significant improvement…and it’s what we use to help the people who come to our clinics. The Power Couple Another area that can benefit from this multiple mechanism approach is your mood. One of my favorite supplement combinations to help support a positive mood is betaine (trimethylglycine) and SAMe (S-AdenosylMethionine). SAMe is a small, naturally occurring molecule which powers over 200 enzymes necessary for healthy cell growth, maturation, and specialization. In the brain, SAMe is required for nerve cells to make energy, maintain connectivity, and generate mood-related neurotransmitters. Taken alone, data from numerous clinical trials indicate SAMe strongly promotes positive mood. In fact, this nutrient has been so effective that it has been available by prescription in Europe for many years as an antidepressant. And now it can work even better! The Science Recent research demonstrated that taking betaine at the same time as SAMe potentiated the effects of the SAMe on mood. In the clinical trial, subjects who received SAMe (750 mg/day) plus betaine (375 mg/day) performed better than SAMe alone (800 mg/day) on measures of worry, helplessness and worthlessness, agitation, and physical efficiency. In yet another study, the efficacy of the combination of betaine and SAMe was tested against an antidepressant medication. After 6 and 12 months, both treated groups showed a noticeable improvement, although the group treated with SAMe plus betaine showed better results in terms of score on a depression rating scale, a number of individuals in remission, and side effects. If you are looking for a natural, safe, and effective way to promote a positive mood, give betaine and SAMe a try!
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Exercise for a Healthy Brain, a Stronger Heart
Most of the healthy habits that keep your brain healthy also keep your heart healthy – and the Amen Clinic has been saying that for years. Now, Boston University Medical Center is pretty close to proving it. In one of the first studies of its kind, older adults who scored high on cardio fitness tests also directly performed better on memory tasks (than those who did not). Further, the more fit older adults were, the more active their brains remained during learning tests, and beyond. Healthy young adults were tested (18-31 years) along with older adults (55-74 years) during a wide range of fitness tests involving walking and jogging on a treadmill. At the same time, researchers assessed their cardiorespiratory fitness by measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. After exercise, study participants also underwent MRI scans which collected images of their brain while the study participants learned and remembered names that were associated with pictures of unfamiliar faces. Researchers found that older adults, when compared to younger adults, had more difficulty learning and remembering the correct name associated with each face. Age differences in brain activation were observed with older adults showing decreased brain activation in some regions. However, the degree to which older adults demonstrated age-related changes in memory performance and brain activity also largely depended on their fitness level. Fit Seniors Can Pack More Brain Power Than Sedentary Young Adults “High fitness” older adults in these studies showed better memory performance and increased brain activity patterns compared to their low-fit, younger peers. The increased brain activation in the high fit older adults was observed in brain regions that show age-related decline, suggesting regular exercise may contribute to brain maintenance. Higher fit older adults also had greater activation than young adults in some brain regions, suggesting that physical fitness and brain power are linked, agrees Scott Hayes, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. "Importantly, cardiovascular fitness is a modifiable health factor that can be improved through regular engagement in moderate to vigorous sustained physical activity such as walking, jogging, swimming, or dancing,” says Dr. Hayes. Therefore, starting an exercise program, regardless of age, can not only contribute to the more obvious physical health factors, but may also contribute to better memory performance and brain function," he adds. You Are Never Too Old to Salvage Your Brain Our own Dr. Daniel G. Amen has been saying that for years. An avid exerciser himself, Dr. Amen says cautions, “While maintaining high levels of fitness through consistent physical activity will not entirely eliminate or cure age- or Alzheimer's related symptoms, it may slow down the mental decline associated with it.” Beyond more blood flow to the brain and heart during exercise, additional research is needed to explore the specific mechanism of how physical fitness enhances brain structure and function, says Dr. Amen. "We also need to clarify the impact of specific exercise programs (weightlifting versus walking, for instance) and their frequency and optimal intensities," he says. [wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left"] Dr. Amen’s Weekly Fitness Regimen 3 days per week, power walking briskly for 60 minutes 2 days per week, weightlifting for all major muscle groups 3 times per week, playing table tennis intensely [/wc_box] In addition to regular exercise, many different healthful foods and natural supplements are all related to maintaining brain health as you age. Read Dr. Amen’s new book, The Brain Warrior’s Way, for more savvy brain strategies.
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7 Ingredients for Brain Health: When More is More
Your Brain is Elegant and Complicated Your brain is one of the most complicated machines in the world. It works through many different mechanisms, and it's because of this diversity that our Brain & Memory Power Boost supplement has been so effective at improving cognitive function for so many people. Our Brain & Memory Power Boost utilizes seven intensively researched, key ingredients to improve these many different mechanisms in order to get the best brain-boosting results. Ingredients for Brain Support Two of these ingredients, Vinpocetine and Ginkgo Biloba Extract, work together to support healthy blood flow to the brain, which is vital considering your brain requires 20 percent of your body’s total oxygen and blood sugar resources. In addition, the issues associated with cognitive decline during aging often stem from a lack of proper blood flow. We always say, "Some of the prettiest brain scans we have seen at Amen Clinics come from people who take Ginkgo." Another ingredient, PhosphatidylSerine (or PS for short) works at the synapse, or the connections between brain cells. PS works with your brain cells to help them communicate quickly and efficiently for longer periods, as opposed to slowing down. To ensure your brain has enough energy to function throughout the day at high levels, we incorporated both Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) a key nutrient for creating energy in our nerve cells, and Alpha-Lipoic Acid, which influences the enzymes that help produce more energy in the body. And as if all this weren’t enough, we added N-AcetylCysteine (NAC), the brain’s most useful antioxidant that works to help your nerve cells stay balanced, keeping conditions optimal. In addition to NAC, we included Huperzine A, an extract from Huperzia serrata (club moss), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, that supports your acetylcholine system, a key brain neurotransmitter. A Multiple-Mechanism Approach to Memory Loss The ingredients in Brain & Memory Power Boost work to support multiple mechanisms in your brain. This multiple-mechanism approach is how we think about formulating supplements. As with health in general, no single approach will help you reach your goals but rather a combination of techniques and habits to contribute to better health. That’s why we always recommend a healthy diet, exercise, plenty of sleep, and good relationship habits to accompany your supplement regimen.
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Can You Be Born With a Bad Memory?
Is Bad Memory Due to Genetics? Can it be Fixed? No one quite knows how memory works, and although researchers are getting closer to figuring it out, there is conclusive evidence that you can be born with a poor memory – but you can also fix it. Some evidence in adults shows that hormonal birth control, for one thing, can negatively affect memory retention. The good news is that the effects are not permanent and only affect temporarily while they are taking hormones. How Can You Be Born with a Poor Memory? A recent research study published in the journal of Neurology shows a strong correlation between birth weight and the number of weeks in gestation, and memory and attention problems as an adult. After studying adults who were born prematurely, studies indicate that those with the lower birth weight still score lower on their attention and visual memory tests when compared with those born full term. Although the study didn’t conclusively pinpoint what exactly happens in the womb during those crucial weeks, research indicates the longer a baby is in the womb, the better for his or her brain. Some studies show that this could be because of the development and maturity of the hippocampus, part of the brain that is essential for developing contextual memories. When the structure of the brain itself was studied, Amen Clinic’s SPECT brain imaging showed that the maturity of the hippocampus at birth and memory function as an adult were associated. Those born prematurely appear to have significantly smaller hippocampus’ than full-term babies, and this may explain why specialists find weaker memories in preemies later in life. How Can You Improve Your Memory Now? Poor memory can also be caused by a variety of things, not just hormones or being born prematurely. The most common sources of poor memory tend to be from very preventable conditions: Stress Lack of sleep Traumatic brain injuries By developing routines that can help to alleviate these issues, and using natural supplements to increase blood flow and circulation, your memory can improve over time. BrainMD Health’s Brain and Memory Power Boost was developed for exactly those reasons. With seven powerful brain boosters – including Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, and Vinpocetine – Ginkgo Biloba and Vinpocetine work synergistically to increase blood flow to the brain, promoting increased circulation. Huperzine A, a medicinal herb, improves the function of acetylcholine, a brain neurotransmitter that plays a central role in memory. The Amen Clinics are committed to promoting, optimizing, and supporting brain health naturally. Your memory is what allows you to treasure and revisit the most special moments in your life. Make sure you fortify your brain with the nutrients and supplements that can strengthen and restore it.
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Why Multiple-Mechanisms are Better for Your Memory
Your brain gets sick or it ages in many different ways, and that is exactly how we assess and optimize it. Assessing and targeting multiple processes like inflammation, blood flow, cell membrane health, and more can make a radical difference in your brain function. Single-mechanism interventions, such as taking just single supplements like chromium or vitamin E by themselves, have not consistently worked in large-scale studies to stave off cognitive impairment. But when we use smart combinations to fight the war for brain health on multiple fronts our effectiveness significantly improves. One such combination formula is BrainMD’s Brain & Memory Power Boost. This is the supplement formulated to help in our brain enhancement work with active and retired NFL players. When used in conjunction with a brain healthy program, we demonstrated significant improvement in memory, reasoning, attention, processing speed and accuracy. It was so effective that I take it every day. Brain & Memory Power Boost includes the super-antioxidant N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), phosphatidylserine to maintain the integrity of cell membranes, huperzine A and acetyl-l-Carnitine (ALC) to enhance acetylcholine availability, alpha-lipoic acid to improve cellular energy production, and vinpocetine and gingko biloba to enhance blood flow. This is a novel combination of powerful antioxidants and nutrients essential in enhancing and protecting brain health. It supports overall brain health, circulation, memory and concentration. Some of the prettiest looking brains I have seen through our imaging work are those on ginkgo. Ginkgo extract comes from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree, the oldest living tree on the planet, dating back roughly 200 million years! It is a powerful antioxidant that is best known for its ability to enhance circulation, memory, and concentration. Studies show that ginkgo extract supplementation supports healthy cerebral blood flow, which brings more oxygen to the brain, promoting cognitive health. However, as I mentioned earlier, single-mechanism interventions are not nearly as effective as multiple-mechanism interventions. This proves true for ginkgo as well – thankfully, clinical research supports that the effectiveness of ginkgo is substantially increased when combined with phosphatidylserine. Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid, one of a unique molecular category that are essential building blocks for all our cells. Though phosphatidylserine 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. Furthermore, ginkgo biloba has been shown to improve working memory when combined with vinpocetine, an alkaloid compound prepared from the periwinkle plant (Vinca minor). If you want a mind that's clear, sharp and powerful, consider trying Brain & Memory Power Boost – an all-star lineup of potent nutrients that protect circulation in your brain, boost brain circuit function, and promote mental sharpness. [wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left"] Don’t just take our word for it! Here is a recent testimonial to the power of Brain & Memory Power Boost: “Yesterday my husband and I had a fun revelation about your Brain and Memory Power Boost. We ran out about 3 weeks ago. Confession time....we have both REALLY noticed that there has been a drop in focus and memory. Just a little edge has been removed. I can hardly wait to get back on track. Last year at this time I stopped taking them for about month just to see if I noticed anything and boy, oh boy, did I! My husband and I are feeling the same thing again. We will never go without a big supply of Brain and Memory Power Boost again!! NEVER NEVER NEVER!!” - Jill C. [/wc_box]
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Chronic Insomnia Triples Your Risk of Death
If you have followed my work, then you likely know that I recommend three simple strategies to achieve optimal brain health. Develop brain envy (you have to really care about it) Engage in regular brain-healthy habits Avoid anything that hurts your brain But did you know that one of the fastest ways to hurt your brain is to get less than seven or eight hours of sleep at night? That’s right! In fact, chronic insomnia triples your risk of death from all causes and is related with cognitive decline. We are in the midst of an insomnia epidemic. According to the National Institutes of Health, 30% of the population has chronic sleep problems and 10% are affected by symptoms of sleep deprivation during the day. The prescriptions for sleep medications, such as Ambien and Lunesta, have skyrocketed in the past decade. In 1900 Americans, on average, got 9 hours of sleep a night. In 2008, we got only an average 6 hours of sleep at night. Our brains were not designed to have a 33% decrease in sleep in such a short period of time. Getting less than 6 hours of sleep has been associated with lower overall brain activity, which affects mood, focus, productivity, weight, health, physical safety, and memory for days after. Lack of sleep lowers brain activity in the temporal lobes, which are involved in learning, memory, and mood stability. This makes it harder to pay attention, solve problems, and remember important information, and it makes you more likely to make mistakes. Sleep-deprived people are definitely not smarter. They are not happier either. People who are tired from lack of sleep tend to feel irritable and cranky. In one study, 44 percent of American workers admitted that when they are sleep deprived, they are more likely to be in an unpleasant or unfriendly mood. Teenagers who average an hour less sleep than their peers have a higher incidence of depression and suicide. When you sleep less, you eat more and are more likely to be obese. The negative effects of sleep deprivation are so great that people who are drunk outperform those lacking sleep. Fascinating new research has shown that the brain actually cleans or washes itself only during sleep. The brain has a specialized fluid system that helps to rid it of toxins that build up during the day, including beta-amyloid plaques thought to be involved in Alzheimer’s disease. During the day the brain is so metabolically active managing our lives that this cleaning system is inactive. It only turns on when we’re sleeping. Without healthy sleep, this waste clearance system doesn’t have enough time to operate, thus allowing toxins to build up over time, which can cause cognitive and emotional problems. Think of sleep deprivation’s effect on your brain as what your home or office might look like if no one bothered to take out the trash for a month. Make sleep a priority and strive to get seven to eight hours a night. So what do you do when you are lying awake with a restless mind struggling to get sufficient quality sleep? If only counting sheep worked! While there are many causes of sleep disturbances, a good nutritional supplement that supports your body’s natural relaxation response and healthy sleep cycle can make all the difference. BrainMD Health’s Restful Sleep is one such supplement. Dr. Amen’s formula eases you into sleep, helps you stay asleep all night, and wake up feeling great, not groggy. “Good sleep makes an incredible difference to health and quality of life. Restful Sleep works gently with your body to help you get the sleep you need.” – Daniel G. Amen, MD
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Focus on Choline: Improve Focus & Memory
Believe it or not, summer is coming to an end. It is the back-to-school and, for a lot of people, back-to-work, time of year – a time requiring focus, concentration, and memory. Plenty of people struggle with those…and if you are one of those, it is time to pay attention to choline. Choline? Many have never even heard of it before, let alone been aware they needed to pay attention to it. So what is choline? Although not technically a vitamin by strict definition, it is an essential nutrient required for many functions of the body, especially for brain function. It is also involved in healthy liver function, nerve function, and muscle movement, as well as supporting energy levels and maintaining a healthy metabolism. One of the primary functions of choline is helping brain cells in the production of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter for mental focus and learning. A choline deficiency can result in poor concentration, poor memory, mood changes and other cognitive impairments, especially as someone ages. Additionally, choline plays an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of cell membranes and for cholinergic neurotransmission, which is responsible for memory, mental clarity, focus and concentration. Choline has been shown in research to be helpful in improving cognitive performance in a young, cognitively healthy, community-based population of 1,391 subjects. Furthermore, choline is a major dietary source of methyl groups, which the brain needs for making the neurotransmitter epinephrine, the sleep hormone melatonin, and the myelin insulation of its nerve cells. Our neurons and all our other cells also require methyl to make and maintain their DNA, to manage their healthy gene activity (epigenetics), for growth and maintenance, regulation of potentially toxic homocysteine, and for numerous other life functions. While our bodies are able to make a small amount of choline on their own, we must obtain the rest from food sources. Choline can be found in foods including egg yolks, liver, beef, salmon, cod, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and peanut butter. You may have heard eggs referred to as “brain food” because they are so rich in choline. Research indicates that a large percentage of women, children, and older men are not receiving adequate choline in their diets. Choline is especially present in animal products, so vegetarians and vegans are more prone to experiencing a deficiency in choline. Although eating a varied diet increases the likelihood that you are consuming enough choline, you may want to consider trying a supplement that contains choline – especially if you find yourself struggling with memory, focus, attention, or learning. The nutritional ingredients in our BrainMD products are specifically designed for the health of the organ that controls everything we do, think and feel—the brain. Focus & Energy and Attention Support both contain Choline for improved focus. Read more about these two different products on the BrainMD website to better understand how they may benefit you.
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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.
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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!
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Boost Your Brain Power
Did you know the fountain of youth is between your ears? It is your brain that makes the decisions that keep you healthy, happy and on track to live a long time. Likewise, it is your brain that makes the bad decisions that ruin your health and send you off to the undertaker early. If you want to live a long, happy life, the first place to start is by having a better brain! Through the imaging work done over the past 26 years at Amen Clinics with tens of thousands of patients from around the world, it is very clear that you have a choice: You can either accelerate the aging process and make your brain look and feel older than your chronological age, or you can decelerate it and have a brain that looks and feels much younger than your age. Even though getting older is not optional, having a brain that looks and feels old is! The brain is the most complicated organ in the universe and thus the most vulnerable to damage and aging. It is estimated that your brain has one hundred billion neurons (brain cells), with each one having by up to ten thousand individual connections to other cells. This means that you have more connections in your brain than there are stars in the universe! As you can probably imagine, all of these cells and connections need a tremendous amount of energy in order to function. So even though your brain is only about 2 percent of your body’s weight (about three pounds), it uses 20 to 30 percent of the calories you consume, 20 percent of your body’s blood flow, and 20% of the oxygen you breathe – and even more than that when your brain is on “overdrive”! BrainMD Health’s Brain and Memory Power Boost is exclusively formulated to promote healthy brain metabolism and optimal functioning of its staggering amount of cells. 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 supports memory, learning, attention, mood, and behavior. 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. Brain and Memory Power Boost contains: PhosphatidylSerine – a natural building block for cell membranes that supports healthy cognitive function Acetyl-L-Carnitine – an amino acid which helps protect against mental fatigue and can enhance mood N-AcetylCysteine – an amino acid that supports healthy cognition and mood and enhancing coping Alpha-Lipoic Acid – a potent antioxidant that protects against cell damage Ginkgo Biloba Extract – helps ensure reliable and sufficient blood flow to the brain Vinpocetine – works with ginkgo to support healthy brain blood flow Huperzine A - improves the actions of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system, which plays a central role in memory and behavior If you are looking for a brain-boosting formula that will provide you with an all-star lineup of potent ingredients to support your brain’s energy, connectivity, and overall performance, look no further than Brain and Memory Power Boost. “This is one of the best brain-health supplements available, offering support for a wide range of cognitive functions including focus, memory and mental clarity.” – Daniel G. Amen, MD
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Why DHA & EPA Are Essential For Your Brain to Function Optimally
It has been scientifically demonstrated that your brain needs specific types of essential omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), to function optimally. These fats are called essential for a reason—our bodies need them, and the only way to get them is through foods or supplements. But what else does science say about how omega-3 fatty acids can support our health? Here is a review of some exciting discoveries: Enhancing Mood New research published in the journal Biological Psychiatry found that omega-3 fatty acids can help lift mood. The researchers noted inflammation has been linked with low moods and found that omega-3 fatty acids had a marked impact on inflammation-induced mood issues. Most of the subjects who took the omega-3s felt better after just two weeks. Supporting Memory Scientists in Rhode Island studied 819 men and women, 117 of who were taking fish oil supplements. The researchers found that those who were taking fish oil scored higher on tests of memory and thinking than those who were not. Also, the brains of those taking fish oil were larger than the subjects not taking it, particularly in two brain structures critical for memory and thinking. A larger brain is generally a sign of better cognitive health. Promoting Focus Research published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that omega-3 fatty acids helped improve focus in children. The subjects who got the omega-3 supplement were rated as more attentive by their parents. What to Look For when Choosing an Omega-3 Supplement If you want the health support benefits that taking a quality fish oil supplement can bring, keep these tips in mind when shopping for omega-3s: Because fish can accumulate toxins such as mercury, dioxins, and PCBs, it’s extremely important that the product be highly purified. Fish oil spoils easily; look for a product that is manufactured according to the highest quality standards. Choose a product that has high amounts of EPA and DHA (at least 500 mg of each). Some inferior quality brands are lacking in one or the other, or sometimes both.
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