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Is Your Gut Messing with Your Brain?
It is estimated that the gastrointestinal tract is loaded with about 100 trillion microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, and others), about ten times the total number of cells in the human body. To be healthy, the relationship of good bugs to bad bugs needs to be positively skewed – around 85 percent good to 15 percent troublemakers. When the balance is tipped the other way, all sorts of physical and mental problems can arise. Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) occurs when there is an imbalance of good bacteria (probiotics) and bad bacteria in the gut and has been linked to a wide range of health issues. Keeping your gut health in proper balance is essential to your overall health. Avoiding sugars and starches, eating the right balance of omega fatty acids, staying well-hydrated, and increasing the number of fermented foods you eat are all ways to support a healthy balance of gut flora. 4 Signs You Need Probiotics Digestive Issues Experiencing digestive issues is a sure-fire way to know you have an unbalanced gut. Many people end up treating their symptoms with antacids, gas medicines, or anti-diarrheal medications, but these don’t get to the root cause of the problem, which is unhealthy gut flora. If you are struggling with any of the following, you are likely suffering from dysbiosis: Gas Constipation Bloating Diarrhea Heartburn/acid reflex Irritable bowel Taking Antibiotics Antibiotics are designed to kill the bad, harmful bacteria in our bodies. When we are sick, this a VERY good thing! Unfortunately, though, antibiotics cannot discriminate between the good bacteria and bad bacteria in our bodies, so it kills it all! In fact, antibiotic means anti-life, which is the exact opposite of probiotic, which means pro-life. And research shows that taking even ONE dose of antibiotics may permanently reduce the diversity of your gut bacteria. However, the greatest danger from antibiotics does not come from those prescribed by your doctor, but rather from the foods you eat. It is estimated that 70 percent of the total antibiotic use in the United States is for livestock, which is why it is critical to eat antibiotic- and hormone-free meats whenever possible. Other medications that also rob your gut of good bacteria include birth control pills, pain medication, and anti-inflammatories. Chronic Stress Studies show that stress, all by itself, decreases healthy gut flora! Stress is inevitable, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. The problem arises when you let it go on for too long without managing it. Chronic, unmanaged stress raises cortisol (the stress hormone) levels which damages your gut flora and can stop the gut from working properly. Research has established that taking a probiotic supplement helps to reduce the stress response. Weak Immunity Immunity starts in the gut – in fact, by some estimates as much as 80% of your immune system resides in your gut. Something called intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut syndrome, is a major source of impaired immunity. Increasing the level of good bacteria in your gut helps to tighten the intestinal “junctions” through which leaking occurs, thus healing the permeability and improving immune function. By promoting a healthy gut flora with a regular probiotic supplement, studies show you can boost your immune system, strengthen your body’s defenses against illness, and potentially decrease the frequency and length of sicknesses. If you have used all of your sick days at work, seem to catch everything that goes around, or get sick from the flu every year, then try probiotics. Because of the importance of probiotics to overall health, BrainMD created ProBrainBiotics, a specially formulated probiotic to support the health of your gut and your brain. Make ProBrainBiotics a part of your daily life! At BrainMD, we’re committed to promoting, optimizing, and supporting brain health naturally. Using the most rigorous criteria for selecting the highest quality nutrients, we offer a line of ultra-pure, brain-directed, and clinical strength supplements that can help to boost your mood, memory and overall brain health. For more information about ProBrainBiotics and our full list of supplements, visit us at BrainMD.
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The Ultimate Self-Care Guide: How to Take Better Care of Yourself
If you’ve ever flown on a jet, you’ve heard the safety instructions that are announced over the speakers before the flight. You might remember the part of the script that says: “In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will automatically descend from the ceiling. Grab the mask and pull it over your face. If you have children traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs.” Those directions always sounded strange to me until I stopped to consider the logic behind them. Since many children don’t have the ability or mental awareness to place an oxygen mask over their face, it’s up to an adult to aid their children in that process. But if an adult doesn’t affix their mask first, they may pass out from lightheadedness and fail to assist their kids. The principle behind those preflight instructions also applies to your mental and physical health. Perhaps you have people—children, siblings, a spouse or even parents—who depend on you for daily assistance. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, how can you hope to take care of them? Here Are 10 Practical, Simple Self-Care Tips 1. Take Care of Number One You’ve probably heard the expression “always take care of number one.” Although that saying might not be the best advice in business, team sports, relationships or many other areas of life, it holds a great deal of significance to your personal health. In fact, how you treat your body, and brain may well determine your ability to function in an increasingly busy world. Like it or not, stress is a normal and unavoidable part of living. From work or school to shopping and paying bills, the list of demands on our time can seem insurmountable. If it feels like your stress levels are being pushed to the limit, you may be experiencing the kind of exhaustion that can lead to serious mood and sleep issues. Taking care of yourself may require that you seek out additional help. The good news is that there are many practical steps you can take to get the support you need. 2. Get Some Nutritional Support Whether you find yourself having negative or anxious thoughts, or if you feel that your stress levels have nearly reached the breaking point, BrainMD offers a range of powerful supplements for stress and mood that can help turn your day around.* These brain-directed supplements have been formulated with the highest quality nutrients and ingredients that can help you feel calm, content, and able to manage stress or mental strain.* Everyday Stress Relief To stay healthy in today’s fast-paced world, you need to be 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 anti-stress 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.* Everyday Stress Relief can help you stay calm so that you can enjoy the good things in your life.* 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.* Serotonin Mood Support is highly geared to promote serotonin activity in the brain.* This formula includes: 5-HTP, a nutrient that the brain can readily convert into serotonin on demand.* Saffron, the world’s most expensive herb, has 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.* 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 nearly 200 billion cells.* 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.* In addition to supplements, there are many other effective ways to improve your emotional well-being to manage mood and reduce stress.* Learn how to be kinder to yourself by implementing the tips in this Self-care Strategy Guide.* 3. Give Yourself a Time Out You may feel pressure to be everything to everyone, but there’s only so much one person can accomplish. Increase your energy and stamina by giving yourself a timeout. All of us need time to recharge our batteries and self-care is often the best thing you can do. Plus, others will benefit when your stress is reduced and your mood is improved. 4. Listen to Soothing Tunes It’s no surprise that listening to music can increase pleasurable feelings, improve mood, boost energy, raise dopamine levels and help with focus and concentration.¹ Remaining in a relaxed 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 enhance mood, gratitude, motivation, and inspiration. 5. Get Quality Sleep Good sleep is essential for optimal brain and body health. Insufficient and inconsistent sleep can increase irritability, moodiness and poor judgment.² To remain at the top of your game, it’s recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Whether you’re too wired or too stressed to sleep, natural sleep aids can help improve your quality of sleep. 6. Write It Down The process of journaling gives stressful thoughts a home, another place they can live besides your brain. Once those thoughts have been expressed, they often lose their intensity and urgency which will allow you to mentally relax. 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. 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, increase your levels of dopamine and generate new brain cells that can help the brain self-regulate and calm down. Walking can help you clear your mind, decrease anxiety, improve your mood and burn some calories all at the same time. 8. Meditate Daily Make time for yourself every day. Taking breaks for meditation and relaxation provide benefits for both your physical and mental health. 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. 9. Get a Massage One way to counter the effects of stress is to get a massage. Massage therapy has been known to increase dopamine levels by nearly 30% while decreasing cortisol (a stress hormone) levels.³ 10. Just Say No Take control of your schedule rather than letting it control you. Say no to cravings, events and activities that aren’t essential to your life. Be mindful of what you do, how you spend your time and energy. Don’t do things the same way just because that’s how you’ve always done them. If what you’re doing isn’t making you happy or is causing you stress, it’s time to do something different. By following these mood-boosting and stress-reducing techniques they can help to improve your overall well-being so that you can take care of yourself and the other important people in your life. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen. References: 1. Zaatar, M. T., Alhakim, K., Enayeh, M., & Tamer, R. (2023). The transformative power of music: Insights into neuroplasticity, health, and disease. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 35, 100716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100716 2. Salfi, F., Lauriola, M., Tempesta, D., Calanna, P., Socci, V., De Gennaro, L., & Ferrara, M. (2020). Effects of total and partial sleep deprivation on reflection impulsivity and risk-taking in deliberative decision-making. Nature and Science of Sleep, 12, 309–324. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S250586 3. Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (2005). Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 115(10), 1397–1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590956459
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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.
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Folic Acid vs. Folate: Everything You Need to Know
Did you know that there are 13 vitamins that are vital — essential — to your survival? Among them is the lineup of B vitamins with names like thiamin (for vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin (vitamin B3). Then there's folate, incredibly important for our health no matter our stage of life. The folate vitamin group is most active when converted into methylfolate (MF). What is Folate? Folate is a group of chemically complicated substances that supply the body with chemically simple methyl groups. The body needs folates but can’t make them from scratch and therefore must get from foods or dietary supplements. Folate is vital at every life stage, from early development in the womb through birth and all the way through adulthood. But for many people lifestyle factors, popularly used medications or common gene mutations deplete their folate stores. For these individuals AND for the rest of us, methylfolate is the best dietary form of folate. Methylfolate (technically methyltetrahydrofolate) is the body's most active form of folate. ALL our cells need MF to drive specialized enzymes that make the DNA, genes, and chromosomes. All our cells also need MF to repair damage to their DNA (which is occurring all the time, even in healthy cells). Methyl coming mainly from folate is also very important for epigenetics — turning genes on and off using methyl — as well as to enable cells to grow, maintain their structure and make new cells. Our 200 billion brain cells need MF for all these reasons. But also, they need MF to enable them to make nerve cells' electrical insulation, important neurotransmitters, even a major hormone. Yet MF is not commonly found in foods and very rarely provided by dietary supplements. BrainMD has made methylfolate a priority ingredient in our brain-directed dietary supplements. Lifestyle, Medications Deplete the Body's Folate Supply The body's stores of MF and other methyl resources are in danger of depletion by alcohol abuse, smoking, and by high usage of drugs such as antacids, antibiotics, painkillers, certain diuretics, estrogen replacement therapy, oral contraceptives, anticonvulsants, and SSRI psychotherapeutics. Poor diet, poor digestive and absorptive function, and suboptimal kidney function all can deplete the body's folate stores. During pregnancy, the demand for folate becomes greatly increased due to the needs of the developing baby. Supplementing with Methylfolate from BrainMD Health helps provide your brain and body with optimized folate, to improve your chances of maintaining health and well-being. What’s the Difference Between Folate, Folic Acid, and Methylfolate? Many foods are being "fortified" with folic acid (FA) to help consumers maintain good nutritional folate status. Also, dietary supplements that include folate typically provide it as FA. Yet this substance is a manufactured folate that is known to be poorly utilized by the body's folate enzyme system. The body has to use an enzyme to make FA usable, and this enzyme's conversion capacity is limited. Consequently, many people have unconverted FA in their bloodstream, which studies have linked to negative health effects. Methylfolate is the folate form most naturally preferred by the body, so much so that the intestinal lining has "transport proteins" that bind to it and selectively absorb it into the blood. Similar proteins also move MF from the circulation into the brain tissue. But MF utilization can be blocked by the FA coming from fortified foods or poorly formulated dietary supplements. Folic acid is not just poorly effective — it actually interferes with the enzymes that are tasked with using MF and the other folates coming from our foods. Folic acid consumption is a serious health issue. Bottom line: always choose supplements with methylfolate instead of folic acid. Methylfolate Bypasses Common Folate Mutations Unlike folic acid (FA), methylfolate, when consumed, does not have to be converted into active folate—being already the body's most active folate form, it can be immediately used by our folate enzyme systems. One of the most common human gene mutations is the C677T mutation in the enzyme MTHFR (Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase), whose function is to produce MF. More than 40 percent of individuals in some ethnic groups have this mutation, which is associated with impaired folate utilization. Taking MF by mouth bypasses this mutation: as premade authentic MF it doesn't need to be produced by MTHFR. For people with C677T or various other, less common MTHFR mutations MF is a health breakthrough! What Are the Benefits of Methylfolate Here are a few of the numerous health benefits of MF: Fundamental to the growth, renewal, and total functioning of our cells, tissues and organs. Clinically proven for healthy mood, memory and other cognitive functions, and behavior. Enhances the clinically proven mood benefits of SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine). Essential for the brain to make the key neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Promotes the brain's healthy production of melatonin, our major sleep hormone. Enhances the body's regulation of homocysteine, a potentially toxic human metabolic product. Promotes healthy pregnancy and birth outcomes. Best Prenatal Vitamin With Methylfolate Whether you’re pregnant or planning to have a baby, it’s vital that you get proper nutrition, and you especially have to ensure you're getting sufficient usable folate. Getting MF from a state-of-the-art prenatal supplement like Smart Prenatal helps ensure you can meet your growing baby's nutritional needs — and yours, as well.* The baby's heart and brain are already forming just 6 weeks after conception, a woman who is low on folate and becomes pregnant may be at a health disadvantage for her pregnancy before she even knows she's pregnant. Since MF is essential for fetal development, it’s recommended for all women of reproductive age to take Smart Prenatal before, during and after pregnancy.* This supplement and others from BrainMD also provide methyl-vitamin B12, a necessary complement to MF: these two vitamins work as a team. Crucial from the Beginning Folate is the most researched nutrient for pregnancy, yet most prenatal vitamins and other multivitamins continue to provide synthetic folic acid. The methyl groups coming from the MF in Smart Prenatal is absolutely critical for the proper development of the baby’s heart AND nervous system AND all the other organs.* Methyl from MF is needed from the moment of fertilization of the human egg, through the development of the brain, heart and other organs, to birth, and throughout a person’s lifetime. Methylfolate Crucial After Pregnancy After birth, MF continues to be extremely crucial for an infant’s development. As the mother’s body works at its utmost to maintain sufficient levels of breast milk, her methyl and folate reserves are in danger of becoming depleted, which makes both infant and mother vulnerable to all the problems that come with folate deficiency. By continuing to supplement with MF, which happens to be the predominant folate in breast milk, a mother can be confident she's supporting her infant’s ongoing growth while protecting her own mood and well-being. Smart Prenatal with MF avoids the uncertainties and limitations associated with the use of folic acid in prenatal supplements.* Better nourished mothers have healthier babies with well-developed brains.* Children of mothers who are well-nourished and breastfeed have substantially better chances for optimal health as they mature into adults.* FAQs About Methylfolate 1. Do I really need Methylfolate? Yes, you need it, and way more than you need folic acid! And your brain really needs it! Clinical research has confirmed that taking MF as a supplement can effectively improve the brain and total body's folate status, and especially promotes positive mood. MF also promotes healthy memory, behavior, the entire range of healthy brain functions, and a huge array of functions in the bone marrow, liver, and other organs. MF is the best commercially available dietary supplement for correcting confirmed folate deficiency and for any other situation where folate supplementation is recommended. 2. How safe is Methylfolate? What is the recommended dosage range? MF’s safety is well documented, and it has been used safely as a dietary supplement for many years, with remarkable success. In multiples such as BrainMD's NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin, an effective dose of MF is 400 micrograms (mcg) and up. Higher doses are needed during pregnancy, so our Smart Prenatal supplies 1000 mcg per day.* People with mood challenges or with any of the known folate gene mutations can benefit from even higher amounts, and Methylfolate is very safe to take.* BrainMD's high-potency Methylfolate supplies 5000 mcg (5 milligrams) of MF. This level of daily dosing and higher has been proven safe from clinical research at Harvard and other research institutions.* When under a physician’s supervision, up to 3 caps of Methylfolate (15 mg) can be taken daily without concern. 3. Will Methylfolate cause problems for those taking methotrexate? We advise anyone taking methotrexate to consult a nutritionally-informed physician before taking Methylfolate. 4. Can vegans and vegetarians take Methylfolate? Yes, it’s fully suitable for anyone not wanting exposure to animal-based foods or supplements. 5. Is Methylfolate compatible with other dietary supplements? Yes, MF is very safe, very well tolerated and fully compatible with multiple vitamin/mineral supplements, fish oils, herbals, and other responsibly-formulated dietary supplements.* Further, MF’s multiple methyl actions tend to reinforce the benefits of other dietary supplements.* For example, taking MF along with BrainMD's SAMe Mood & Movement 400 and Betaine TMG can make a big difference for maintaining a healthy mood.* Taking folate as Methyfolate is well-proven nutritional health insurance for mood, memory, the other cognitive functions, behavior, and overall brain and body health.* For more information about Methylfolate, and our full line of brain-healthy supplements, visit us at BrainMD. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about Smart Prenatal 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.
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Relax Your Mind With GABA
Do you often feel worked up, irritable or sad for no good reason? Do you spend a lot of your time feeling stressed and worried? Not as interested in having fun? Have friends or family members expressed their concerns over your well-being? Though there could be any number of explanations for what you’re going through, one possibility is that your neurons aren't releasing neurotransmitters at optimal levels. Our brains may use as many as 100 different neurotransmitters, with GABA being one of the most important. What Are Neurotransmitters? Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that neurons (nerve cells) release to allow them to communicate with other neurons. The neurotransmitter most associated with calming effects in the brain is GABA (technically Gamma-AminoButyric Acid). Clinical research suggests taking GABA by mouth can help cope with stress, improve mood, and generally have calming effects. What Can GABA Do for You? In addition to rhyming with the feel-good 70s group ABBA, GABA has been found by clinical research to help reduce stress and produce groovy feelings. This neurotransmitter’s primary effect is believed to be holding back our nerve cells from excess firing. GABA also is fundamentally important for the healthy maturation of new nerve cells (neurogenesis) and for the overall development and maintenance of the brain. Also, GABA has mild relaxation properties that can support a balanced mood and restful sleep. Lower levels of this neurotransmitter in some brain regions has been linked to mood challenges, difficulties with self-control, and excessive worry. Gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid and neurotransmitter that regulates brain excitability by inhibiting excessive firing of neurons, resulting in a sense of calm. Supplementing with GABA can help flip the "off" switch on worrisome, ruminating thoughts by supporting the body’s natural mechanism for quieting the mind. Are You Low on GABA? If you’ve suffered emotional trauma or are under a great deal of stress, it's possible your GABA levels are less than optimal and contributing to your feeling anxious, unmotivated, uptight, or just plain sad. If you tend to predict the worst, are wracked with nervousness, have chronic muscle tension or other stress-related feelings, it might be worth taking steps to increase your brain GABA levels. If you’re one of the millions of Americans struggling with mood or sleep problems, the good news is that you do have a shot to get control of these feelings. Try these five steps to start living a happier life… 5 Ways to Calm Your Mind Using GABA Be Grateful One way to boost your mood and reduce anxiety is to write down five things you are grateful for every day. Research suggests that focusing on gratitude helps to calm your deep limbic areas and enhance the other judgment centers of the brain. When you focus on what you love, your brain works better, and you’ll have a chance to feel better. You'll likely notice a significant positive difference in your level of happiness over a pretty brief period. Do Yoga and Get a Massage Practicing yoga and getting massages can do more than improve your physical function. Clinical studies indicate that both are beneficial for improving mood and coping with stress. Massage can lower the stress hormone cortisol while increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which work cooperatively with GABA. Yoga actually can increase brain GABA while improving anxious feelings and overall mood. Soothing Tunes Listening to soothing music can help relieve stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers in your brain. Due to an increase in dopamine levels, music can also improve mood, boost energy, and help with focus and concentration. When used properly, music is medicine. Stress Reducing Strategies When you’re under stress, your body cortisol and other messengers that push your brain to seek out rewards—cravings. For many of us, cravings are triggered by unpleasant emotions, including stress and anxiety, as well as being sleep deprived due to stress. Making sure to get enough sleep can reduce cravings and help you feel level-headed enough to deal with the cravings. Rather than giving in to your cravings, utilize stress management techniques—take a vigorous walk, do yoga, or relax in a hot bath. Meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, intense exercise, hypnosis and optimizing vitamin D levels are also great ways to improve self-control and make better judgment calls so that you truly control your brain. GABA Calming Support GABA Calming Support is a unique combination of clinically proven ingredients that help cope with restlessness, irritability and other challenges associated with occasional anxiety. This supplement provides GABA chemically identical to the GABA our nerve cells make. It also contains ingredients that help our nerve cells respond better to GABA. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about GABA Calming Support 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.
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The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide: How to Reduce Stress
The holidays are quickly approaching. Are you feeling more overwhelmed and frazzled than merry and cheerful? Not sure how to reduce stress? You’re not alone. A survey by Consumer Reports revealed that 90 percent of Americans find at least one thing stressful about the holiday season. Ironically, most people will experience more stress and worry during the holidays than at any other time of the year. Many factors contribute to that stress, such as: monitoring the kids full-time, needing to accomplish more in shorter days, trying to stay active during the colder months, and allocating money for gifts, groceries, charities, concerts, and travel. So with everything going on, how is it possible to reduce stress, and experience a joyful, calm holiday? The first thing to be mindful of is that the holidays tend to be filled with unrealistic expectations and unforeseen pressures that can cause mood and sleep issues. Unaddressed, these forces have the power to steal your joy, ruin your health and trigger unproductive behaviors, which can absolutely ruin your holiday. We understand these mixed emotions and are here to help. Below are our top recommendations for reducing stress this holiday season. 5 of the Best Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress Burn Some Calories Instead of wasting the holidays watching TV or playing video games, get the whole family outside for safe exercises (and please be careful with brain injuring sports, i.e., football, hockey, or soccer). Try going for long brisk walks or try a dancing class. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain. It’s recommended to get 30 to 45 minutes of exercise daily. Feast Well Many people experience weight gain during the holidays. Portion sizes certainly contribute to waistline struggles. Eating foods saturated with fat and sugar can also pack on the pounds. When sitting down to a holiday feast, select foods that are high in protein, healthy fats and fiber. Eating a healthy meal before arriving is one way to maintain a healthy diet at family gatherings and holiday parties. Fill the Gap Due to the Standard American Diet (SAD), many people aren’t receiving proper nutrition from the foods they eat. To fill in the nutritional gap during the holidays, it’s essential to take the brain and mood-boosting supplements. Having a brain-directed supplement support plan will help you navigate the holidays more calmly and with better energy so that you can keep the seasons bright. Here are 3 of BrainMD Health’s top holiday survival supplements: Everyday Stress Relief promotes calm without drowsiness, maintains a positive mood, and manages healthy stress hormone levels. Omega-3 Power is essential for our brain cells to make the trillions of connections that enable peak cognitive, mood, and behavioral performance. Serotonin Mood Support facilitates sustained and deep sleep, maintains healthy mood and self-confidence, and even supports a healthy appetite. Show Gratitude Did you know that practicing gratitude actually makes your brain work better? Research has demonstrated that 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. Stay Well Rested To keep up with the increased demands of the hectic holiday season, many people sacrifice quality sleep. Lack of sleep often leads to illness, which makes it that much harder to accomplish everything on your to-do list. To ensure that you have the energy you need to get the most out of the holiday season, it’s recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Sleep is a sure fire way to reduce stress, feel more energized, and focus on the positive during the holiday season. BrainMD Health’s supplements have a 100% satisfaction, money-back guarantee. You have nothing to lose except for stress and worry. 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.
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How to Keep Calm This Holiday Season
The holidays. That time of year that we both cherish and dread. Parties, travel, gifting, family, these can be both magical, and the reason many people experience increased stress and worry during the holidays. So how do you keep calm when the kids start fighting in the backseat or you get a flat tire on the way to your parent’s house? How do you keep from getting totally overwhelmed at the thought of driving great distances to be stuck in a room with those family members that know just how to drive you mad? Though we tend to look for help everywhere else, the solution to many of our problems can be found between our ears. The ability to manage stress and adapt to new situations starts in the brain. Proper neurotransmitter balance is essential to brain health. The better our transmitters operate in harmony with each other, the closer we are to having optimal mental function. Having a balanced brain is especially important during the holidays when things seldom go according to plan and stress levels can threaten to reach critical mass making it hard to keep calm. 3 Tips for How to Keep Calm & Achieve Emotional Balance During the Holidays 1. Home Field Advantage To avoid the stress of holiday travel, offer to host the family gathering at your house this year. This strategy is particularly helpful if you’re constantly torn between visiting different sets of relatives. Even though hosting adds additional responsibilities, the celebration will be held on home turf, with your rules. Plus, when everybody else heads for home, you’ll already be home. 2. Manage Expectations If you know from past encounters that Aunt Karen starts telling crass jokes after her second drink or that Uncle Greg likes to engage in heated political debates at the dinner table, be prepared to handle those situations before arriving at a holiday get-together. Resist the urge to participate in discussions that can offend or create family strife. Always look for a way to redirect negative tirades or inappropriate conversations. If that doesn’t work, isolate the individual from the rest of the group by suggesting an activity that will allow others to leave the situation. A walk, a board game, a movie, or even asking for help clearing some of the mess can give you and others an outlet to “escape” the situation. 3. Mood Balancing Nutrition The traditional holiday meal, though offering some healthy selections, is frequently accompanied with many nutritional pitfalls (i.e., stuffing, pumpkin pie and eggnog). To fill in the nutritional gap during the holidays, it’s essential to take mood-boosting supplements. NeuroLink BrainMD’s NeuroLink supports a diverse array of such key transmitters as adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.* NeuroLink provides an exclusive blend of nutrients that can help you maintain a positive mood, keep your focus, and deal with stressful challenges by helping your neurotransmitters stay in balance.* NeuroLink is available in capsule and powder form and has a 100% money-back guarantee. You have nothing to lose except for stress. 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.
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Learn How to Stress Less During the Holidays
Do you ever feel sad or irritable for no reason? What about feeling anxious or worried? Unfocused? All these can be linked to brain neurotransmitters being out of whack. Your mental state is affected greatly by your brain chemistry. When your brain transmitters are balanced, you can think more clearly, feel happier, and experience greater well-being. Some people have a sunny outlook on life, but others struggle to remain positive and even-tempered from day to day. Proper neurotransmitter balance is essential for living a brain healthy life. The better our transmitters operate in balance with each other, the closer we are to having optimal mental function. Having a balanced brain is especially important during the holidays when plans often go awry, and stress levels are pushed to the boiling point. 3 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress 1. Soothing Tunes 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 enhance mood, gratitude, energy, focus, motivation, and inspiration. 2. Walk It Off If you need a break from a movie marathon or if you just want to work off that extra slice of turkey or ham, taking a walk can be beneficial for you both physically and mentally. Walking can help you clear your mind, decrease anxiety, improve your mood and burn some calories all at the same time. 3. Mood Enhancing Nutrition Due to the Standard American Diet (SAD), many people aren’t receiving proper nutrition from the foods they eat. The traditional holiday meal, though offering some healthy selections, is frequently accompanied by many nutritional pitfalls (i.e., stuffing, pumpkin pie and eggnog). To fill in the nutritional gap during the holidays, it’s essential to take brain and mood-boosting supplements, such as: 5-HTP In the brain, 5-HTP is readily converted to serotonin to help maintain mental and emotional well-being, reduce feelings of anxiety, and promote calm and relaxation. B6 As one of the B complex vitamins, B6 is a metabolic aid that maintains healthy nerve function. Taking B6 during the winter season can be a boon to your health since it helps support the body’s antioxidant defense enzyme network. GABA This amino acid regulates the excitability of nerve circuits in the brain and is considered the brain’s main “calming” neurotransmitter. Taking GABA during the holidays can be a huge help, especially when trying to find a parking spot at the mall or standing in line to purchase gifts or food for the holiday meal. Taurine Taurine, an amino acid that helps stabilize our nerve cell electrical activity, is known as a mood booster. Taking taurine can help to keep the seasons bright. Tyrosine Tyrosine is required for the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Having sufficient tyrosine in the brain promotes mental clarity in dealing with stress, which always comes in handy when attending family get-togethers. The great news is that you can save a lot of money by getting all these nutrients in one supplement. BrainMD’s NeuroLink supports a diverse array of such key transmitters as adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate. NeuroLink provides an exclusive blend of nutrients that can help you maintain a positive mood, keep your focus, and deal with stressful challenges by helping your neurotransmitters stay in balance. NeuroLink has a 100% money-back guarantee. You have nothing to lose except for stress and worry. 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.
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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.
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Is It Better To Take Single Supplements Or A Combination Formula?
Twenty years ago, my sister, Joanne, brought my 7-year-old niece, Jennifer, to see me because she was struggling in school and had emotional outbursts. When I scanned Jen, I found she had a brain that was working way too hard. I tried many “traditional” interventions without any success, and my sister was calling me three times a week, upset about Jen’s behavior. Through my research, I discovered a combination of natural supplements that could help calm the brain and put her on them. Four months later I realized I hadn’t heard anything from my sister, so I called her and said, “Hey, don’t you love me anymore?” Joanne said, “Of course I do, and you won’t believe how much better Jennifer is doing. She’s getting straight A’s in school and she is MUCH easier to be around.” This was a very compelling experience that had a lasting impact on me. Now 20 years after Joanne brought Jennifer to see me, Jennifer graduated from law school and is doing great. There is no question in my mind that supplements can have powerful, positive effects. Initially, I recommended specific supplements and had my patients get them from their local health food stores. Over time, as I learned more about them, I wanted my own combination of ingredients and decided it was essential for us to have our own high-quality line. Most people don’t realize that your brain gets sick or ages in many different ways. The supplement industry is sort of famous for, “Take this one thing, and it’ll revolutionize your brain.” The latest thing is a jellyfish extract. And I came to realize over time, the brain doesn’t get sick in one way. And it won’t get better in one way. Single mechanism interventions, such as just taking single supplements like ginkgo or vitamin E by themselves, have NOT consistently worked in large scale studies to effectively promote and enhance optimal brain health. Therefore, in order to support your brain, it is absolutely critical to use multiple interventions that target different processes like blood sugar levels, gut health, inflammation, blood flow, and more. When we use smart combinations to fight the war for brain health on multiple fronts our effectiveness significantly improves. One such combination formula is BrainMD Brain and 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 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. Here’s what you get with Brain and Memory Power Boost: 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 as well as 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 As you can imagine, if you purchased each of these supplements separately, it would cost you an astronomical amount! Not to mention the amount of time it would take to separate out and take each daily dose. 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, and it’s what we use to help the people who come to our clinics. “After a month on this supplement I noticed a difference. I have more clarity, focus and recall. This supplement really helps.” - Lisa “I love this product! I can notice the difference in my thoughts when I take the recommended dose and when I don't. My thoughts are clearer and sharper.” - Peggy “This is a great product to help me stay sharp when seeing patients. As a sports medicine physician, I need to be focused when injuries happen and be able to think quickly on my feet. Brain and Memory Power Boost is part of my pre-game.” - Dr. Z
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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.
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Depression, Drugs, and Serotonin: How Do They Affect You?
Depression is becoming an epidemic. This severe mood disorder is affecting over 300 million Americans each year, according to the World Health Association. Depression is diagnosed when a person feels discouraged, sadness, hopeless, unmotivated, and uninterested with everyday life. To be considered a depressive episode these feelings must be present for two weeks and begin to interfere with activities such as spending time with friends and family. Substance Abuse and Depression It’s not uncommon for people with depression to self-medicate. Unfortunately, self-medication increases the risk of substance abuse. Substance abuse while seeming to be an effective temporary solution to relieve symptoms, often makes anxiety and depressive symptoms much worse over time. When intoxication occurs with depression, it can increase the frequency of negative thoughts and leads to self-destructive behavior, "brain imaging at Amen Clinics has clearly taught us how harmful drugs abuse is to brain function," says Dr. Daniel Amen. Ecstasy tends to be a drug of choice for people suffering from depression. This drug is the most attractive to them because it releases the “feel good” neurotransmitter, serotonin. Unfortunately, ecstasy depletes serotonin stores in the brain and studies show that it can make people more anxious, depressed, and obsessive over time. What is Serotonin? Serotonin plays an important role when it comes to depression. What is serotonin exactly? It is a neurotransmitter that produces naturally in our brains before birth and throughout life. It plays intimately important roles in the brain's biochemistry and is involved in maintaining healthy mood, self-confidence, a healthy appetite, and social engagement. Boost Serotonin with Dietary Intervention Instead of masking your depression symptoms with drugs and alcohol, you can help your mood by adding dietary changes, a serotonin supplement, and exercise to help. Dietary interventions should be geared toward naturally increasing serotonin, the neurotransmitter that is deficient in depression. The amino acid tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is used to produce serotonin. However, tryptophan is found in protein-rich foods. Protein blocks serotonin synthesis, so eating a protein-rich filled meal will cause serotonin levels to drop. If you are feeling depressed, try eating carbohydrate-rich foods like whole wheat pasta, bread, and pretzels actually increase L-tryptophan levels in the brain. Adding more healthy carbohydrates to your diet can have a significant impact on the production of serotonin. Also, adding more exercise is known to release feel-good brain chemicals that can help ease in depression. Depression isn't easy. The great news is that making new small lifestyle habit changes can have a big impact on getting your serotonin levels back on track and help create a positive state of mind.
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