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Do You Really Need Supplements? Think Before You Buy.
Ask yourself…do you: Spend the majority of your time outside where you breathe only fresh, unpolluted air? Drink only pure, clean water? Sleep 8-9 hours every night? Exercise every day? Experience little to no stress? Have no exposure to environmental toxins? Eat wild, fresh, organic, local, non-GMO food grown in virgin mineral- and nutrient-rich soils that has not been transported across long distances and stored for weeks, or even months, before you eat it? If you answered yes to ALL of the above questions, then congratulations—you may not need to take supplements to support your brain and body health! For the rest of us, however, living in a fast-paced society where we too often get food to-go, skip meals, eat too much sugar, buy processed foods, experience stress, are sleep-deprived and dehydrated, drink too much caffeine, and don’t find enough time to exercise regularly, supplements are critical to supporting and optimizing our health. Supplements are NOT a cure-all. They can’t replace important health-supporting habits such as a healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and stress relief. But supplements CAN pick up where food and good health habits leave off, giving our bodies some of the extra firepower they need to fight disease and protect us from the everyday assaults of the toxins that surround us, such as air pollution and pesticides. Supplements can also help reduce inflammation, protect our DNA, boost our immune system, improve our moods, and contribute to brain health. So now that you understand why you can really benefit from supplements, where do you start? There are a lot of supplements out there—if you’ve ever walked down the supplement aisle of your local health food store or pharmacy, you know how many choices there are. Even grocery stores sell supplements these days. The key is to know which supplements to take and in what quantity. Taking the wrong amounts of the wrong supplements is not only a waste of money, but can be harmful to your health. That’s why I developed Brain & Body Power (and Brain & Body Power Max with a double boost of key nutrients for brains that need it). Brain & Body Power and Brain & Body Power Max deliver almost 60 vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and other nutrients to support optimal brain and body function in a convenient packet that you take twice daily—and at a much better price than if you were to buy all the nutritional supplements separately! We want to provide you with the highest quality, science-based products and Brain & Body Power and Brain & Body Power Max are just that. In fact, there are over 150 clinical trials that have been done on the nutrients contained in Brain & Body Power and Brain & Body Power Max which provide solid evidence about the breakthrough effects that these nutrient combinations can have on brain function. “Of all our supplements, my favorite is Brain & Body Power. I take it every day to support my need and desire for high level performance.”—Daniel G. Amen, MD We are really proud of BrainMD's supplement line, and we want them to work for you. That’s why we offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not fully satisfied.
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How Acetyl-carnitine Helps Produce Energy
November marks a BIG month for brain health! We observe National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month as well as Veterans Day, which bring to light some fairly alarming brain health statistics. Currently, an estimated 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's, according to the latest information from the Alzheimer’s Association. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its correlated symptoms affect hundreds of thousands of veterans. The Brain Trauma Foundation reports that based on existing data, veterans’ advocates believe that between 10-20% of Iraq veterans, or 150,000 and 300,000 people, have some level of TBI. Among wounded troops, the rate of TBI rises to 33%! While no cure yet exists for Alzheimer’s, and cases of TBI can only be managed, there are ways to support brain health, naturally. We can let Alzheimer’s and the prevalence of TBI among our veterans be reminders to us all that it’s critical to be proactive in caring for our brains. Let’s not forget that our brain is the control center of our body—and to a large extent, the determinant of our individual well-being! The Little Known Standout Brain Health Supplement While getting plenty of nutrient-rich whole foods in your diet is extremely important for brain health, there are standout nutritional supplements that are showing promising results in scientific research. While many have heard of the blood flow and memory support herb Ginkgo biloba, a lesser-known supplement called acetyl l-carnitine is also showing promise in research studies—and it’s worth your attention. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) is an amino acid that’s produced naturally in the body and helps the body produce energy. However, it is also a powerful antioxidant and can cross the blood-brain barrier where it plays a role in the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine as well as supports healthy blood flow to the brain. ALCAR’s role in supporting healthy acetylcholine levels in the brain makes all the difference. That’s because acetylcholine is integral to healthy memory, learning, computation, analysis, perception and a host of other cognitive functions. Increased acetylcholine levels can translate to increased synaptic flexibility and memory formation, which are both indicative of healthy brain function. Nice in theory, but let’s take a look at some of the research. One promising study examined aged subjects that supplemented with ALCAR over a course of time. The researchers observed increased acetylcholine levels as well as indications of increased synaptic transmission and improved learning capacity after supplementation. While ALCAR supports healthy acetylcholine levels, it’s believed that its antioxidant activity benefits the brain as well by helping to reduce the signs of oxidative stress and helping to remove toxins from the brain. One study, conducted by Dr. Daniel Amen and a team of researchers that was published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, examined the results of an outpatient protocol designed to help improve brain function in retired NFL players with brain injuries. While only a component of the entire program, the participants were given a daily brain-directed nutritional supplement containing acetyl l-carnitine. Overall results showed improvements in the majority of participants. If you are looking to support your brain health, a supplement containing ALCAR appears to be a great way to go. Of course, before taking any new supplement, it’s strongly advised that you consult your medical doctor. Here’s to taking steps to protect your brain health! References: White, HL, et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine as a precursor of acetylcholine. Neurochem Res. 1990 Jun;15(6):597-601. Kobayashi, S, et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine improves aged brain function. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2010 Jul;10 Suppl 1:S99-106. Gavrilova, SI, et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine (carnicetine) in the treatment of early stages of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2011;111(9):16-22. Zhou, P. et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine attenuates homocysteine-induced Alzheimer-like histopathological and behavioral abnormalities. Rejuvenation Res. 2011 Dec;14(6):669-79. Goo, MJ, et al. Protective effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on neurodegenarative changes in chronic cerebral ischemia models and learning-memory impairment in aged rats. Arch Pharm Res. 2012 Jan;35(1):145-54. Jiang, X, et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine ameliorates spatial memory deficits induced by inhibition of phosphoinositol-3 kinase and protein kinase C. J Neurochem. 2011 Sep;118(5):864-78. Amen, DG, et al. Reversing brain damage in former NFL players: implications for traumatic brain injury and substance abuse rehabilitation. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2011 Jan-Mar;43(1):1-5.
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Brain Healthy Foods
We all want to feed our children healthy, well-balanced meals loaded with healthy protein, grains, fruits and vegetables. But there are…uh…“things” that sometimes get in the way—like having a picky eater. Getting any nutrition at all into a picky eater is an achievement in itself! And unfortunately, healthy food is not very fashionable among most youngsters. They like the junk that they see their friends having at school. Even when a parent makes an awesomely healthy lunch, it often boomerangs home barely touched. Then there’s that “thing” called modern living. With more working parents—and single working moms and dads than ever before, who has the time and energy to shop, prepare meals and lunches—and clean up afterwards day in and day out? It’s no wonder that parents rely on takeout and school cafeteria lunches to feed their children at least some of the time. Last, there’s the very real issue of soil depletion yielding fruits and vegetables with fewer and fewer nutrients and the advent of processed foods…oh, but let’s not go there! As much as we’d like these “things” not to factor into nutritional deficiencies, they undoubtedly do. Studies show that a high percentage of children in North America and other developed countries eat less than the minimum daily allowance of many essential nutrients. Chances are pretty high that our children’s brains are not getting all the nutrients they need to function optimally. Time for a Supplementation Intervention Don’t worry or waste energy feeling guilty! If you want to gain some peace of mind, simply take out some “nutritional” insurance with a quality children’s supplement. It will of course need to taste good and be free of artificial colors, sweeteners or additives. But most important of all, make brain health a priority and look for adequate amounts of nutrients for the brain. While conventional brands may give you a smattering of vitamins and minerals, they typically overlook providing the amounts needed for optimal brain health support. In choosing a multi, be sure you get these vitamins at 100 % recommended daily allowance or more: B Vitamins Too many children’s supplements do not provide adequate amounts of the B vitamins! B vitamins are important to the nervous system, and vitamin B6 and B12 play a role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Studies show that adolescents who have a borderline level of vitamin B12 can develop signs of cognitive changes. And a recent study on children showed a statistically significant association with cobalamin (vitamin B12) and folate supplementation and cognitive performance. Remember, B vitamins for the brain! Vitamin D Most of us know that vitamin D helps a child’s body absorb minerals like calcium and build strong teeth and bones. Yet, in the last 20 years, a resurgence in vitamin D deficiency and nutritional rickets has been reported throughout the world, including the United States! Vitamin D also acts as a hormone, supporting immune system health, insulin production, and regulation of cell growth. And recent research suggests a correlation with mental health issues and vitamin D deficiency. A recent study found that mentally ill children have twice the rate of vitamin D insufficiency as mentally healthy children. Another study showed that cystic fibrosis patients with depressive symptoms also had low levels of vitamin D. Support your child’s mental well-being with plenty of vitamin D. Vitamins C and E When fresh fruit and vegetable consumption is less than optimal, ensure your child gets ample amounts of these two antioxidants, which are both vital to brain health. Vitamins C and E are both important to immune health and protect against the brain’s oxidative stress. Your child’s brain also needs ample amounts of healthy fat in the form of omega-3s. Omega-3s Good things happen when kids begin to get enough of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs from fish oil play an important role in brain cell membrane structure, which allows for better intercellular communication. Be sure to select a quality supplement that is ultra-pure and provides at least 100 mg of the omega-3s EPA and DHA and preferably 500 mg or more at a 60/40 ratio. Conventional brands typically skimp on the amounts of EPA and DHA or give the wrong proportions. Remember that when “things” get in the way of your child’s nutrition, you can always take out some nutritional insurance. Here’s to Children’s Health Week and your brain healthy child! References Bourne, JM. Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 1: micronutrients. J Nutr Health Aging. 2006 Sep-Oct;10(5):377-85. Strand, TA, et al. Cobalamin and folate status predicts mental development scores in North Indian children 12-18 mo of age. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Feb;97(2):310-7. Walker, VP, et al. The vitamin D connection to pediatric infections and immune function. Pediatr Res. 2009 May;65(5 Pt 2):106R-113R. Zhang, M, et al. Do children with mental disorders have higher prevalence of hypovitaminosis D?F1000Res. 2013 Jul 17;2:159. Smith, BA, et al. Vitamin D and depressive symptoms in children with cystic fibrosis. Psychosomatics. 2014 Jan-Feb;55(1):76-81. Widenhorn-Muller, K, et al. Effect of supplementation with long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on behavior and cognition in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized placebo-controlled intervention trial. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2014 Jul-Aug;91(1-2):49-60. Heilskov, R, et al. Diet in the treatment of ADHD in children-A systematic review of the literature. Nord J Psychiatry. 2014 Jun 16:1-18. Montgomery, P, et al. Low blood long chain omega-3 fatty acids in UK children are associated with poor cognitive performance and behavior: a cross-sectional analysis from the DOLAB study. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 24;8(6):e66697.
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