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Healthy Alternatives to the Thanksgiving Menu (Recipes Included!)
One of the main reasons we celebrate Thanksgiving is to express gratitude for the good things in our lives. Unfortunately, for millions of Americans, the focus on appreciation takes a back seat to gorging on high-calorie, sugar-laden foods. For many people, the Thanksgiving feast marks the beginning of a diet let up that can continue throughout the entire holiday season. Dangers of Holiday Bingeing A study by the Calorie Control Council concluded that the average American consumes as much as 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day.¹ As reported by USA Today, that’s equivalent to 7 Burger King Whoppers or 15 Dairy Queen hot fudge sundaes. Why does it matter? All these calories at once can overwhelm the digestive system and flood the body with unhealthy levels of carbs and fats. Plus, according to the National Institutes of Health,² the vast majority of people will never lose the weight they gain during the winter holidays. The bad news: for people who are already overweight, their average weight gain per Thanksgiving meal can be 5 pounds or more, and many of these folks won’t lose their extra holiday weight either. The worse news: these pounds can add up year after year, making holiday weight gain an important risk factor for many serious health concerns. So, when it comes to holiday eating, is there any good news? Yes! With a little planning, you can avoid eating too much, and too many of the wrong foods, by adopting a healthy Thanksgiving menu. Let’s take a look at the typical Thanksgiving Day meal and see how we can make it healthier without losing the delicious flavors… Here's How to "Healthify" Your Thanksgiving Menu Main Dish Traditionally, the main dish at a Thanksgiving Day feast is the turkey. This has changed over the years to include a broad array of meats including ham, duck, goose, and prime rib. Depending on where you live in the country, you might enjoy local game or seafood on Thanksgiving, such as quail, venison or Dungeness crab. When it comes to turkey, there are many healthy and unhealthy ways to prepare the bird. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t deep-fat fry your turkey. For a healthy, exceptionally moist turkey, check out this recipe for Tana’s Marinated Turkey. Core Essentials Although there are a host of side dishes that can show up at a Thanksgiving Day feast, the two you’ll commonly find accompanying the main dish are stuffing and mashed potatoes/gravy. Stuffing If there’s one Thanksgiving dish that’s been customized more than any other, it’s stuffing. Seemingly, there are a million ways to make stuffing – with bread/croutons, sausage, nuts, fruits, potatoes, chorizo, bacon, crab, and the list goes on and on. Here are just two ideas for how to prepare healthy stuffing: 1. To a quinoa/squash base, add chopped kale and diced apples (if preferred) and a pinch or two of rosemary. 2. To the same base, add mushrooms and chestnuts. Mashed Potatoes Unlike stuffing, preparing mashed potatoes is pretty straightforward. By now, many healthy alternatives to mashed potatoes have circulated cyberspace. Here are just a few you might consider for your Thanksgiving meal. Instead of starchy potatoes, use mashed cauliflower instead. If you’re looking to diversify the color palette of your menu, mash up sweet potatoes. Or, instead of mashing sweet potatoes, try roasting them. Sumptuous Sides Here’s where you can really build a healthy Thanksgiving menu. Depending on traditions, regional influences or cultural preferences, the banquet table can be filled with a wide array of side options. Here are just a few: Green Bean Casserole A staple at many holiday gatherings, green bean casserole typically consists of canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup and French-fried onions. Occasionally, the recipe will be slightly altered to include sliced jalapeno peppers or cheddar cheese on top. Here are a couple of healthy options for this popular casserole: skip the fattening soup and greasy onions and cook some fresh green beans with roasted garlic or onions. Or, try lemon and garlic roasted asparagus instead. Brussels Sprouts Though not the most universally appreciated Thanksgiving menu item, Brussels sprouts, along with other cruciferous vegetables, are extremely beneficial for you. Here’s a recipe that will turn your Brussels sprouts into Brussels shouts! Cranberry Sauce Due to their tart taste, cranberries are seldom eaten raw. This has invited many unhealthy presentations of the tiny red berries, which have become a delicacy during the holidays. Aside from being processed, canned cranberry sauce or jelly is typically loaded with sugar. A better option is to steam fresh cranberries and mash them. Or, for a low glycemic variation on traditional cranberry sauce, use monk fruit. Roasted Vegetables Most vegetables are rich in nutrients, high in fiber, and low in calories. Eating plenty of vegetables before the main dish or other sides is a great way to make sure you don’t overindulge during a holiday meal. For a colorful and flavorful side dish, try roasted rainbow carrots with fresh oregano. Delectable Desserts The dessert tray (or table) can be one of the greatest pitfalls to your health on Thanksgiving Day. It’s vital that you make a plan before you attend a party or family gathering where you know unhealthy foods will be served. If you’re hosting a holiday get-together, make healthy desserts for your guests. Baked apples with cinnamon and nutmeg can make a delicious treat. Although pies are traditionally high calorie and loaded with sugar, it’s possible to make them healthier by using a nut crust with monk fruit filling and coconut whipped cream. Another healthy snack or dessert is cinnamon flavored chia pudding cups. Even though these treats have some brain-healthy nutrients, they should be enjoyed as a snack. In other words, don’t make a meal out of them. Eat Healthy, Be Happy! Since it’s much easier to avoid holiday weight gain than it is to lose the pounds afterwards, keep a close eye on your caloric intake and try the above healthy Thanksgiving menu tips. The BrainMD team wishes you and yours a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving! 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. Calorie Control Council. (n.d.). Thanksgiving: The Battle of the Bulge. Retrieved November 17, 2025, from https://caloriecontrol.org/thanksgiving-the-battle-of-the-bulge/ 2. Yanovski, J. A., Yanovski, S. Z., Sovik, K. N., Nguyen, T. T., O’Neil, P. M., & Sebring, N. G. (2000). A prospective study of holiday weight gain. New England Journal of Medicine, 342(12), 861–867. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200003233421206
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Veterans Day Tribute – A Sailor Who Served His Country
Veterans Day is the one day each year when we remember and honor those who risked their lives for the preservation of our freedoms. For those soldiers fortunate enough to return home, we recognize what they endured on our behalf: time away from their families and physical or emotional scars. On this special day, our acknowledgment of their many sacrifices is the least we can do to thank veterans for their service to our country. Growing up, Veterans Day always had special significance for me since my father, John Rowe, served in the navy from 1962-1964. He was a signalman on a destroyer. He was also part of history (keep reading). As a kid, I remember seeing some of my dad’s navy mementos when my mother was cleaning out the closet. I can still remember how his insignia patch felt on my fingertips, the thick stitching that stood out from the smooth cotton fabric. I remember running around the house wearing dad’s sailor cap Gilligan style – down over my ears. One day, Dad showed me how to make a “Dixie Cup” hat in the fashion that sailors wear. Pushing in the top to make a dog bowl shape, he flipped the hat over and placed it on my head…with the diagonal seam in the back, of course. Dad taught me how to give a proper naval salute, which is nothing like the ones frequently seen on TV or in the movies. Ironically, dad’s hero, John Wayne, was one of the sloppiest saluters in movie history (more on John Wayne in a minute.) Parents always look larger-than-life to kids, but my dad had an impressive physique and was a giant from my perspective. It wasn’t until my teen years that I learned dad had been a boxer in the navy. Perhaps it’s because he was a tough Irishman from NJ, but in a dozen bouts, he never lost a fight. Some of my father’s habits changed as a result of his time in the service. For instance, as my family sat down to dinner one evening, I observed dad mixing peas and carrots into his mashed potatoes. Curious, I asked him why he did that. He said that you always had to mix your veggies into the mashed potatoes while out to sea; otherwise, the first time the ship listed, all the peas would roll off the tray. To this day, he still mixes his peas and carrots into his mashed potatoes. Dad always enjoyed regaling stories of his navy days with family, friends or even new acquaintances. One of my favorite stories was when his destroyer was part of a convoy in the Mediterranean Sea during a typhoon. Leading the escort group was the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise (something I’m particularly proud of as a lifelong Star Trek fan). Dad said because the ships were riding massive swells, he was only able to get off a few dit-dahs (Morse code) at a time to other ships. At that rate, it could take hours to send or receive a single message. The entire ship’s company ate rations or cold hot dogs as the wind and waves continued to pound against the ship. After six agonizing days, the storm finally relented and the crew got a hot meal…and some decent sleep. Fortunately, there’s more to navy life than sea storms. One of the fringe benefits of being assigned to a ship is that you get to visit many ports of call around the world. Of the many destinations he visited, my dad said Barcelona, Spain was the most beautiful place he ever saw while in the navy. Unfortunately, it was also the site of one of the biggest missed opportunities of his life. As fate would have it, John Wayne was in Barcelona shooting a movie, “Circus World” (1964), when the destroyer was docked there to take on supplies and grant the crew some well-earned shore leave. Some of my dad’s buddies went ashore to visit the movie location. During a break in filming, John Wayne came aboard the destroyer and was taken on a tour of the ship. Regrettably, my dad missed out on seeing his favorite actor because he was suffering from the effects of the previous night’s liberty. As promised, here’s the historical part of my father’s naval service. His destroyer was part of the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. At one point during the 13-day confrontation, a Russian U-boat charged the line and the destroyer’s deck gun was trained on the challenging ship. Its bluff called, the Russian ship turned and headed back the way it came. Fast forward to November 22, 1963. It’s an indelible date in our nation’s history and was a particularly terrifying day for those on my dad’s ship. Upon receiving news that President Kennedy had been shot, the destroyer was placed on high alert. My dad remembers that he and his shipmates thought they were headed for war. Their fears were allayed when the ship received the full news story from home. Though some memories have been lost to time, my dad still remembers numerous experiences he had in the navy. In many ways, those years shaped him into the husband and father he became. Though he was only a seaman and only served full-time for two years, I still see my dad as a hero. He served his country during a turbulent time in our nation’s history, and I’m deeply indebted to him for his service. Well, that’s my father’s story. But what about you? Do you know someone who is currently serving or has served in the military? Perhaps a friend of a family member? If so, there’s no better time to honor them than Veterans Day. BrainMD would like to thank all the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve both near and far, in order to protect our freedoms and our safety. We’re able to continue the work we do because of you. Thank you for your service!
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Some of the Best Teas to Keep You Warm This Winter
It’s the time of year when colder weather drives people indoors, where a crackling fire and warm beverage can help thaw the winter chill. But beware! Some hot beverages are healthy, and others aren’t. Beverages to Avoid A go-to beverage on a cold day, especially if you’ve been outside in the crisp air for an extended period, is hot chocolate. Although this beverage is irresistible to many, especially chocoholics, many commercial brands of hot chocolate are loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, artificial chemicals with names too long to pronounce, and excessive calories (and let’s not even get started on marshmallows). All these unhealthy elements can negatively affect your health and weight. Another common beverage trap during the winter season is coffee. In addition to its high caffeine content, coffee becomes less healthy the more you put in it. Though tempting to purchase on a chilly day, seasonal beverages offered at popular coffee shops typically consist of a small amount of coffee with a large amount of sugar, dairy, syrup, artificial sweeteners/flavors (which also contain those long names you can’t pronounce), and other unhealthy fillers. Beverages to Embrace A hot beverage that’s been enjoyed for thousands of years is still one the healthiest…tea. Many teas are high in antioxidants and have calming effects (like chamomile). Most teas are low calorie, low in caffeine and sugar-free. Many teas are created by adding natural citrus flavors (orange, lemon, etc.), oils (peppermint), or flowers (hibiscus) to dried leaves of medicinal herbals. Drinking a cup of warm tea can help relieve stress and lift the spirits. Its many health benefits make tea an ideal alternative to coffee. If you rely too heavily on coffee to get you through the day, gradually wean off coffee and introduce tea into your diet. If you’re looking for an alternative to coffee and hot chocolate this winter season, here are 8 healthy and delicious teas you should try… 8 Healthy Teas to Drink this Winter Green Tea A staple in many Asian cultures, green tea is made (without fermentation) from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It contains high concentrations of polyphenols (substances that have antioxidant properties), which support healthy blood pressure levels and promote blood flow to the brain. In addition to green tea’s powerful circulatory benefits, it also helps reduce stress, improve intestinal bacterial balance, and increase carbohydrate and fat burning. Green tea also naturally contains l-theanine, which can enhance mental focus yet has a calming effect without making you sleepy. It only has half the amount of caffeine compared to coffee. Black Tea Black tea is made by fermenting green tea leaves. Though its polyphenol profile is different than green tea’s, black tea is still a very healthy beverage. Black tea serves as the base for many other types of tea, including chai, Earl Grey (which includes oil of bergamot) and some brands of instant tea. Black tea also has powerful circulatory benefits, including supporting healthy blood pressure levels. Drinking black tea with a meal also can slow sugar absorption and lessen its impact on the body. Oolong Tea Oolong tea is produced by partial fermentation of specially cultivated varieties of green tea leaves. After drying the plant under intense sunlight, oolong tea is then rolled into long curls. There are a variety of oolong teas with varying flavors; from sweet and fruity to woody and complex. Oolong tea has many health benefits; it helps maintain memory with aging and promotes a positive mood. As a bonus, oolong tea can help you burn more calories than green tea. White Tea This tea involves no fermentation and is made from young green tea leaves that are just about to open (they have a white fuzzy covering, hence the name). White tea is minimally processed, has more polyphenols than green or black tea, and has less caffeine. Despite its name, white tea is a pale yellow when brewed. Pu-erh Tea Pu-erh (or Pu’er) is a dark tea that comes from the Yunnan province of China and is produced by bacterial fermentation. Pu-erh tea is often described as robust and earthy. Due to its fermentation process, Pu-erh tea is rich in antioxidants. This tea may help with fat-burning and is associated with a more positive mood. As you shop for it, make sure the brand is low in fluorine, which can be toxic. Red Tea Red tea (rooibos) comes from a fermented South African herb (redbush, Aspalathus linearis) and has an orange-red color when brewed. Red tea is loaded with unique flavonoids that help slow the absorption of sugar and fats and may be more effective than other teas at improving blood antioxidant protection. Rooibos is free from caffeine. Jasmine Tea Jasmine tea has a green tea base (less frequently, black or white tea) and is scented with fragrant jasmine blossoms. It has been popular in China for hundreds of years and was one of the first flavored teas to reach the West. Jasmine tea is rich in antioxidants and helps support brain function. Its sweet aroma can help to enhance mood. Ginger Tea As its name indicates, ginger tea is made from the ginger root which is similar to the turmeric root. It carries the signature aroma and spiciness associated with foods containing ginger, and its main active substances are gingerols and shogaols. In the Ayurveda tradition, ginger is widely revered as a food, spice, and medicine. It helps improve the circulation, is protective for the brain, and is especially sought out for its digestive benefits and its capacity to counter nausea, including from motion sickness. Though these are just a sampling of popular teas, there are hundreds of other variations and herbal blends derived from these teas. Practically any medicinal herbal can be made into a tea. With such a selection to choose from, you’re sure to find at least one healthy tea you’ll enjoy. Since most teas are inexpensive, drinking tea is a cost-effective way to improve your health…as well as help keep you warm this winter. At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to support your brain health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of 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 Curb Cravings Naturally & Make Better Food Choices
Let’s talk about that one thing we all love to do, that isn’t always good for us: eating. We know what we’re supposed to do, eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. So, why are these rules so hard to follow when we often feel strong cravings for more unhealthy foods? A lot of the time cravings strikeout of boredom or adrenal imbalances that are caused by stress and anxiety, leading to emotional eating and weight gain. When we are (literally) feeding into this, it can throw off blood sugar, mood, and you can kiss any sort of craving control goodbye. 4 Ways to Curb Cravings Naturally 1. Outsmart Your Triggers Are you stressed? Lonely? Bored? It's important to be able to acknowledge what emotions are driving you to make bad food choices. Sometimes it's not even an emotional trigger, but a sight or smell that makes you crave certain foods, take the movie theaters for example... many people can't resist the buttery popcorn. A good strategy is to be prepared with a healthy alternative before you encounter a triggering event. Healthier swaps of your favorite foods is a great way to outsmart your triggers. 2. Get Rid Of Artificial Sweeteners Did you know that many artificial sweeteners are actually up to 600 times sweeter than real sugar? Artificial sweeteners are not a healthy alternative since they overstimulate your tastebuds and brain to think that you want and need more sweetness. These artificial sweeteners actually activate your hunger centers in your brain to make you want to keep eating and usually reach for the unhealthy food options. 3. Don't Skip Breakfast We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while it is important to refuel our bodies after sleep, it's more important to eat the right foods to start our day. Instead of reaching for your sugary cereal and milk, try a breakfast full of protein and essential fatty acids like eggs and avocado for example. When you start your day by eating whole and nutrient-dense foods then you will feel fuller longer and have fewer cravings for sugar or simple carbohydrates. 4. Get Help with Natural Supplements If you are trying to regain control of your waistline and overcome your unhealthy habits, try BrainMD’s Craving Control. Formulated and developed by Daniel Amen, MD, and Parris Kidd, Ph.D. to deliver the right nutrients to your hunger centers in your brain and help you to curb cravings in a natural way. Reducing Cravings Starts in Your Brain Craving Control works by helping to balance your brain chemistry. For example, when you have a stressful day it causes your cortisol levels sky-rocket, and you’ll be tempted to eat comfort food, but what if you didn’t have to worry about reaching for that guilty pleasure? We might be able to help. That is because Craving Control contains six active ingredients that work synergistically to help calm the craving centers in the brain, support healthy blood sugar and insulin levels and promote a positive mood with clinically studied, all-natural ingredients. When taken as directed, with a healthy diet, and proper behavioral strategies, it can help you re-focus on what is important when it comes to your diet, promoting a positive mood and healthy emotional balance. Here is why customer Lura, loves taking her Craving Control: “So great to have the support with the CRAVINGS, not the appetite. Also, it helps me with other impulsive-type cravings as well. I love the fact that I don't *feel* like I have taken something. No nausea or restlessness. It's one of those things that you forget you have taken, and then at the end of the day realize how much of a difference it actually made.” If you ever struggle with hard-to-control cravings that take over your willpower and ruin your health goals, you know that when you’re being overcome by temptation and stress, you just wish you could find something to help. It may sound too good to be true, a supplement that helps you resist cravings, but it might be worth trying if it means you find the help you need! It’s worked for others, why not for you?
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8 Healthy Halloween Treats Your Kids Will Love (Non-Candy)
It’s the time of year (roughly from Halloween to New Year’s) when people are tempted to overindulge at mealtime and graze on holiday goodies for dessert. Those without a solid plan for how to deal with their cravings may allow their healthy lifestyle to fly right out the window during this season. DON’T allow that to happen! A diet heavy in sugar can interfere with the hormones that regulate hunger and fullness, which can lead to weight gain. Eating sugary foods causes a spike in blood sugar, strains the insulin hormone system, and harms the pancreas, liver and cardiovascular systems. Simply put, the more sugar you eat, the less healthy you’ll be. Since nobody wants to feel deprived, especially during fun-filled holidays like Halloween, it’s important to find healthy alternatives to sweet treats your kids will love. To prevent your kids from slipping into a candy coma, try these 8 healthy food options this Halloween! 8 Healthy Alternatives to Candy 1. Save the Seeds A popular Halloween tradition is pumpkin carving. While creating jack-o’-lanterns can be an enjoyable activity to do with friends and family, it also can be pretty messy. Before you throw away the slimy insides of the pumpkin, be sure to save the seeds. After cleaning and drying the seeds, you can eat them raw or lightly toast them in the oven. A handful of these tasty seeds contain more protein per ounce than almonds, as well as more iron and magnesium than most nuts. 2. Curb Your Sweet Tooth If you or your child struggles with a sweet tooth on Halloween, when it’s so tempting to grab one of those bite-size candy bars, choose snacks with a low glycemic index that won’t cause your blood sugar to spike, such as: Healthy smoothie Cherry tomatoes Baby carrots Plums, blueberries, strawberries A square or two of dark chocolate (at least 65% cacao), preferably with almonds 3. Dip Your Apples Instead of bobbing for apples (gross!), try dipping them. As a healthy alternative to eating chips and dip, slice up an apple and dip the wedges into almond butter for an appetizing anytime snack. For variety, use any organic, sugar-free nut butter as a great-tasting, protein-packed dip. 4. Go Nuts Almonds and cashews are excellent sources of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help balance blood sugar levels. They’re also packed with magnesium, a mineral that’s necessary for our body to convert food into energy. Walnuts are inexpensive and are full of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Protein-rich foods like seeds and nuts take longer to digest, which helps satiate hunger until your next meal and reduce the temptation to reach for an unhealthy snack. 5. Dress Up Your Fruit For many people, dressing up as their favorite character or a spooky monster is one of the most thrilling aspects of Halloween. But did you know you can dress up your fruit too? Transform ordinary oranges and clementines into mini-pumpkins by drawing jack-o’-lantern faces on the outer skin with a marker. Your kids might find fruit more a-peeling when you present it as a scary Halloween treat. [caption id="attachment_8276" align="alignright" width="349"] Healthy Pumpkin Spice Cake Pop Recipe[/caption] 6. Healthy Cake Pops Do your kids like cake pops? Although cake pops are a quick way to appease your child’s cravings for something sweet, you might be alarmed at how many calories are packed into these tiny treats. Rather than allowing their diet to be ruined over something so small, seek out an alternative your kids will love…and won’t even know is healthy. Here’s the recipe and instruction video for how to make Pumpkin Spice Cake Pops. 7. Festive Veggie Tray Here’s a great way to make sure everyone in the family eats their veggies. Fill a plate with baby carrots in the rough shape of a pumpkin. Use sliced celery stalks as the stem (top) of the pumpkin and place cucumber slices on top of the carrots to represent eyes, nose and a mouth. For a more elaborate veggie tray, use a long platter and create a skeleton with celery stalks for leg and arm bones, shingled cucumber slices for the backbone, bell pepper slices for the ribs, etc. Give your kids free rein in arranging the skeleton…this will likely encourage them to eat their own creation when it’s finished. 8. Nutritional Support Since so many of the foods being offered today are deficient in vitamins and essential minerals, one of the best ways to stay healthy during Halloween is to take dietary supplements. BrainMD offers a range of high-quality, brain-directed supplements that can help you feel energized, content, and able to manage stress or mental strain.* We also have specially formulated supplements that can help calm the craving centers in the brain, support healthy blood sugar levels, and promote a positive mood with clinically studied, all-natural ingredients.* The BrainMD team wishes you and yours a safe, healthy and happy Halloween! 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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5 Tips to Reduce the Stress of Holiday Travel
As the song says, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.” Although visiting family and friends can be a joyful, memorable experience, the process of traveling can often be a hassle. Since you’ve worked hard all year to take a vacation, don’t let it be ruined from the start by common traveling complications. Top 5 Tips to Reduce the Stress of Holiday Travel Be Flexible Resist the urge to plan every minute of your vacation—maintain realistic expectations about your trip. Your flight could be delayed. It might rain or snow when you planned on doing something outside. Mishaps and meltdowns happen, but they don’t have to ruin your trip. Sometimes the best memories are the ones we didn’t plan. Try to remember that the point of a vacation is to relax and have fun. Remaining flexible will allow you to quickly respond to surprises and enjoy whatever curveball gets thrown your way. Vacation Preparation There’s nothing more stressful than realizing the day before you go on vacation that you still haven’t gotten an oil change, gone to the bank or purchased extra socks. There are many trip checklists available online depending on your type of trip—download one at least one week in advance and check off the items to reduce the stress of preparing for your vacation. Leave on Time Set multiple alarms to ensure that you get up on time. Keep your family or friends on track by telling them that you’re leaving 30 minutes before your actual departure time. Accounting for the inevitable last-minute scramble to get out the door can minimize stress, anxiety, and arguments. Plus, you’ll stay cool and calm when that last-minute delay pops up, actually putting you right on time. Adjust Your Schedule A long-established travel strategy is that if you are traveling east, move your bedtime earlier by 30 minutes per day for a few days prior to your trip and do the opposite if you are traveling west. New research has demonstrated that changing your meals to match the time zone of your destination prior to your trip can help synchronize your internal body clock to help beat jet lag. Get Quality Sleep Rushing to get everything done before your vacation can leave you worn out. Avoid sleep stealers and get plenty of rest the night before your vacation so that you don’t travel tired. Navigating unfamiliar roads or airports will be much more difficult and stressful when you’re sleep-deprived. You may find it helpful to use a supplement containing melatonin when your body is adjusting to an unfamiliar sleep environment or different time zone. BrainMD’s Restful Sleep combines melatonin with four other ingredients to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. If all these tips still aren’t enough to help you fight the stress of holiday travel, there are effective supplements that help you feel calm and support your body’s natural response to stress. Everyday Stress Relief promotes calmness without drowsiness and helps you maintain a positive mood with mental focus, so you don’t let stress ruin your holiday vacation. 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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What Are the Benefits of Drinking Water?
We all know that drinking water regularly is good for the body. But most of us probably don’t realize just how important being properly hydrated is for our health. In fact, every system in the human body counts on water to function. Approximately two-thirds of the adult human body is made of water. And did you know your tissues and organs are mainly made up of water? Your brain is 80% water, your muscles (including your heart) are 75% water, your blood is 83% water, your lungs are 90% water, your skin is 64% water, and even your bones are 30% water! It is important to think of water as a nutrient your body needs. When you’re in need of brain-healthy nutrients, you might also be at a disadvantage, but don’t forget to start with hydration. According to one study, thirsty participants who drank water before performing cognitive tasks reacted faster than people who didn’t drink water beforehand. Here are 6 important reasons why you should stay hydrated and the benefits of drinking water for your health. 6 Amazing Health Benefits of Drinking Water 1. Brain Function & Connectivity Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you in a number of ways, including: Improving concentration and cognition Helping to balance your mood and emotions Maintaining memory function Increasing blood flow and oxygen to your brain Preventing and relieving headaches Reducing stress 2. Weight Loss Drinking water helps you lose weight by acting as an effective appetite suppressant so you will feel fuller and eat less – all with zero calories! Drinking plenty of water also prevents fluid retention, because your body won't try to retain water if it's getting enough. Managing your cravings could be as simple as drinking more water. Additionally, multiple research studies have demonstrated that drinking a large, cool glass of water will increase your metabolism by 24-30% for up to 90 minutes. 3. Detoxify Your body fluids transport waste products in and out of your cells, while your kidneys and liver flush those waste products and other toxins out of your body. However, this process can only work properly and efficiently if you are well hydrated. When you are not drinking enough water, you are at an increased risk of developing kidney stones and experiencing urinary tract infections. 4. Maintain Regularity in Digestion Sufficient hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract10 Things About Probiotics For Gut and Brain Health and helps prevent constipation. Water helps dissolve waste particles and passes them smoothly through your digestive tract. If you're dehydrated, your body pulls water from your stools to maintain hydration, leaving your colon dry and making it more difficult to pass waste. 5. Healthy Muscles & Recovery Being adequately hydrated is very important when exercising. Drinking water helps prevent muscle cramping and lubricates the joints in your body. Additionally, drinking water can actually make your muscles stronger. Water carries oxygen to the cells of your body, including those of your muscles. Being well hydrated enables your muscles to work longer and harder before they feel tired, and this will help you build muscle. 6. Youthful Skin Your skin contains lots of water and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. Drinking plenty of water hydrates skin cells and plumps them up, making your face look younger. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes your skin, and increases the elasticity of your skin. It also flushes out impurities and improves circulation and blood flow, helping your skin glow. As you can see, proper hydration is critical to health and vitality. It is recommended that you drink at least 84 ounces of water a day. But who really likes to drink plain water all day long? Try BrainMD Health’s Brain Boost on the Go – a convenient way to add nutrients and flavor to your daily hydration.
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10 Ways to Make Your Meal Prep Brain Healthy
These days, with hectic schedules jam-packed with school projects, work presentations, meetings, errands, sporting events, concerts, and other social functions, who has time to think about meals? Fortunately, there’s a super helpful way to relieve the stress that can come from buying and making food every day. Learning the essentials of meal prepping is a great way to save time and money…and eat healthily. To streamline your mealtime, here are 10 simple ways to plan out and create a series of savory and healthy meals... 10 Easy and Healthy Meal Prep Tip 1. Make a Plan As Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Before heading out to the store to purchase a week’s worth of groceries, take stock of what you already have on hand. Make an inventory of what’s in your refrigerator, freezer, pantry and spice rack. In the long run, you’ll save time and money if you have a solid plan in place for everything you need to buy for your weekly meal prep. It might surprise you just how much easier it is to make healthy meals when you plan ahead. 2. The Power of Protein Be sure to include protein with every meal. Protein helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, decrease cravings, and power your metabolism more than high-carb, sugar-filled foods. Nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, and vegetables all contain some of the 20 essential amino acids you need. Fish, poultry, and most meats contain all of them. Shop for animal protein that is free-range, grass-fed, and free of hormones and antibiotics. For fish, seek out sustainably harvested and mercury-free sources. Though more expensive than industrial, farm-raised animal protein, quality fish and other meats are a good investment in your health. 3. Smart Shopping Pick one day a week to go food shopping. Fill your cart with vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods to help fuel your body and keep your brain active and healthy. Avoid processed, boxed foods as much as possible. Never shop without a grocery list as this can create the need to make multiple trips to the store if you forget important items. Try to purchase everything you need for meal prep in just one shopping trip each week. 4. Eat from the Rainbow In addition to leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens, different colored vegetables, such as bell peppers, squash, broccoli, and cauliflower, all have tremendous health benefits. They provide an enormous array of vitamins, essential minerals, free radical-blocking carotenoids, and flavonoids that are excellent antioxidants. Plant foods (phytonutrients) also can help balance healthy inflammatory response and lessen your chances of brain, heart, blood pressure, blood sugar, joint, or gastrointestinal problems. 5. Prepare Together If possible, try tackling your “to do” list with others. Spending time with friends and family while you share tasks, like shopping, cooking, and cleaning can be an enjoyable time of bonding. Plus, the more helping hands you have, the quicker the meal prep process should go. You don’t have to do it all by yourself, so don’t be afraid to enlist some help. 6. “Smart” Carbohydrates So-called “smart” carbohydrates are essential to life because they’re loaded with nutrients, help keep your blood sugar in healthy balance, and decrease cravings. Most vegetables, legumes, and low glycemic fruits (apples, pears, and berries) are smart carbs. When shopping for fruits, only purchase those that have the lowest sugar content and the lowest glycemic (unlikely to raise blood sugar) indexes. 7. Schedule a Time Set aside one day each week to prepare meals that are balanced and healthy. Having a set time hardwired into everyone’s schedule will help make meal prep a priority while giving your handy helpers something to look forward to. If something comes up and you need to change your meal prep day, that’s okay. Try to reestablish a consistent day as soon as your schedule allows. 8. Healthy Fats The body needs fats to build cell structure. The most healthy fats tend to come from foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, walnuts, avocados, and sweet potatoes. Though the body can convert some of these into small amounts of EPA and DHA, cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, and cod) are good sources of actual, preformed EPA and DHA. Avoid farmed salmon and try to get cold-water fish from Alaska or close to the Antarctic, where the ocean waters are the least contaminated. 9. Antioxidant-Rich Berries The brain is vulnerable to attack by free radicals – highly reactive molecules that burn away antioxidants. Berries are one of the most concentrated sources of antioxidants in the plant kingdom. The antioxidants in blueberries help protect the brain against oxidative stress (including from toxic pollutants), support learning capability and motor skills and have shown promise for memory in clinical trials. Other berries, including strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, as well as goji, mangosteen, and noni, provide differing classes of antioxidants. The greater the variety of berries you eat, the broader the antioxidant protection you’ll have. 10. Quality Storage Containers After you’ve prepared several delicious and nutritious meals, make sure you have adequate means to preserve the food. Storage containers are one of the most important parts of meal prep. If you don’t already own quality storage containers, now is the time to invest in some. Select containers that are specifically designed to hold healthy portions and make sure they’re dishwasher and microwave safe. Whether glass or plastic, purchase durable containers that will last for several years. If you intend to freeze foods, make sure the containers have tight seals to prevent freezer burn. Following these 10 meal prep tips can help relieve the stress and tedium of making piecemeal meals and free up more time for you to do the things you love. You can find many delicious, brain-healthy recipes in The Brain Warrior’s Way Cookbook. 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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What Are the Benefits of Taking Omega-3 Supplements?
When it comes to the benefits of omega-3 supplementation with fish oil, there’s absolutely no conflict between mind and heart—the evidence shows it’s one mighty supplement that benefits both. What Are the Benefits of Omega-3 Supplements? First, the most important fact to remember about omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) is that they are indeed essential, meaning that your body needs to get them from your diet. Unfortunately, with today’s modern diet, which is light on omega-3-rich foods (fish, grass-fed meats, nuts, seed and dark leafy greens) and heavy on foods with saturated fats and oils (corn, safflower, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, peanut, etc.) that are rich in omega-6 EFAs—we are falling short. Way short. A Harvard School of Public Health study published in 2011 found that omega-3 deficiency is likely the sixth biggest killer of Americans, and maybe the underlying factor of roughly 96,000 premature deaths each year!1 Our brains, hearts, and bodies appear to suffer when we don’t get enough of these healthy fats. In terms of brain and heart health, omega-3s derived from wild cold water fish oil (or grass-fed animal fat and other kinds of seafood) are best because they are loaded with two particular brain- and heart-healthy EFAs called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Literally, thousands of scientific studies have been conducted using fish oil rich in these two nutritional dynamos—with mostly promising results. Your Brain Needs Fat Fat plays an important structural role in our brain cell membranes, which are fatty by nature. In fact, DHA makes up a full quarter of all brain fat, and it is the brain’s preferred fat for building brain cell membranes. DHA’s shape is highly flexible, which is needed for efficient cellular communication. However, when your brain doesn’t get adequate amounts of DHA through the diet, it’s forced to use inferior fats, such as saturated and trans fats. Brain cell membranes can become more rigid with these less flexible fats, which can slow information processing and overall brain function. In an omega-3 deficient world, some pretty cool stuff can happen when the brain gets enough DHA. A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study of healthy young adults whose diets were low in DHA found that supplementation with the fatty acid improved memory and reaction time.2 DHA also benefit seniors experiencing mild memory problems associated with aging. After one year, elderly subjects taking a DHA-concentrated fish oil supplement showed significant improvements in short-term and working memory compared to those taking placebo.3 Memory is just one aspect of cognitive function that Omega-3 supplementation supports, however. A meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials found it also enhances attention and processing speed.4 But let’s not forget EPA. Although it doesn’t play the structural role that DHA does, it helps support mood and emotional balance. It’s thought that EPA may help by reducing inflammatory processes in the brain and by balancing out metabolic pathways. A recent meta-analysis of 19 different trials in people with blue mood “demonstrated a significant clinical benefit of omega-3 …treatment compared to placebo.”5 In this regard, EPA appears to be more effective than DHA.6 Omega-3 supplementation has also been found effective in people who are prone to mood swings and helps alleviate occasional stress.7,8,9 Omega-3 Supplements Benefit Brain & Heart With World Heart Day upon us on September 29, it would be remiss not to mention the numerous heart-healthy benefits to be had from EPA and DHA. Seriously, when health authorities such as the American Heart Association recommend at least two oily fish meals per week (which equates to roughly 500 mg per day of EPA and DHA), a full gram per day for those with coronary heart disease—and even more for those with high triglyceride levels—there’s good reason. Let’s start with inflammation. Studies indicate that DHA and EPA from fish oil may support healthy inflammation levels in the body.10 Keeping inflammation levels in check supports a healthy vascular system. Then there’s blood pressure and heart function. Research has also correlated adequate amounts of DHA and EPA with healthy blood pressure levels.11 And while still inconclusive, some studies have shown that EPA and DHA may play a role in healthy heart rhythm.12 Last, let’s not forget triglycerides. Having a high level of triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in your blood, can increase your risk of heart disease. A very strong body of research suggests that DHA and EPA help to maintain healthy triglyceride levels.13 For omega-3 deficient Americans concerned about heart health, this is really good news. Taking an EPA- and DHA-rich fish oil supplement and/or simply eating more fish may make a difference. A study published just this month found that omega-3 deficient subjects with cardiovascular disease showed reduced cardiovascular risk factors and improved lipid profiles after a period of supplementation with DHA and EPA.14 What to Look for in High-Quality Omega-3 Supplements If you want the heart and health support benefits that taking a quality fish oil supplement high in EPA and DHA can bring, keep these shopping tips in mind: 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. Some inferior quality brands are lacking in one or the other or sometimes both. Look for at least 500 mg of each. Here’s to a sound mind and a strong heart! References: 1Danaei G, et al. The preventable causes of death in the United States: comparative risk assessment of dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors. PLoS Med. 2009 Apr 28;6(4) 2Stonehouse W, et al. DHA supplementation improved both memory and reaction time in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 May;97(5):1134-43. 3Lee LK, et al. Docosahexaenoic acid-concentrated fish oil supplementation in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a 12-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013 Feb;225(3):605-12. 4Mazereeuw G, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis. Neurobiol Aging. 2012 Jul;33(7):1482 e17-29. 5Grosso G, et al. Role of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorders: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. PLoS One. 2014 May 7;9(5):e96905. 6Martins JG. EPA but not DHA appears to be responsible for the efficacy of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in depression: evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Coll Nutr. 2009 Oct;28(5):525-4 7Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I. Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2012 Jan;73(1):81-6. 8Buydens-Branchey L, Branchey M, Hibbeln JR. Associations between increases in plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids following supplementation and decreases in anger and anxiety in substance abusers. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psych. 2008 Feb 15;32(2):568-75. 9Buydens-Branchey L, Branchey M. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease anxiety feelings in a population of substance abusers. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Dec;26(6):661-5. 10Duda, MK, et al. Fish oil, but not flaxseed oil, decreases inflammation and prevents pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction. Cardiovasc Res. 2009 Feb 1;81(2):319-27. 11Miller, PE, et al. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Hypertens. 2014 Jul;27(7):885-96. 12Ramadeen, A, et al. How Are n-3 LCPUFAs Antiarrhythmic? A Reassessment of n-3 LCPUFAs in Cardiac Disease. Cardiol Res Pract. 2012;2012:746709. 13Bradberry JC, Hilleman DE. Overview of omega-3 Fatty Acid therapies. P T. 2013 Nov;38(11):681-91. 14Shaikh NA, et al. Efficacy of a unique omega-3 formulation on the correction of nutritional deficiency and its effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors in a randomized controlled VASCAZEN® REVEAL Trial. Mol Cell Biochem. 2014 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print]
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8 Time Management Strategies for the New School Year
So how was your summer? Did you get to take a family vacation? Were you able to spend quality time with friends or relatives? How far down your summer reading list did you get? After a jam-packed summer filled with trips and activities, do you feel like you need a break from your break? You’re not alone. If your summer vacation was supposed to be relaxing but wasn’t, we’ve got some time-saving tips that can help you and your kids head into the new school year fresh…and even refreshed. Following these practical principles can help set up your child for a successful school year: 8 Effective Time Management Strategies for Kids and Parents 1. Customized Study Session Take a moment to reflect on the previous school year. What worked well and what didn’t? What successes can you capitalize on for the new school year? For example, did you learn that your child studies better after running around outside for a few minutes? Then allow them to let off some steam before cracking open a book. Does your child concentrate better with or without music? Whatever motivates your child, create the conditions that will support their ability to focus and get the most out of their study session. 2. Plan Together There are many things you can do to help your kids get ready for the school year. Try shopping for school supplies with your kids. Allow them to select binders and folders in their favorite color or style. Buy each child their own planner and have them organize it their own way. Involving your kids in the planning stages can relieve some of your stress and help them get excited about returning to school. 3. Streamline Your Mornings Strategize how to simplify the before-school hours for everyone in your family. The night before, select outfits, make lunches and organize everything your kids will need for school the next day. This will help make morning preparations more efficient and less stressful. 4. Know Your Brain Type The preparation for learning begins long before your child sets foot inside a classroom. It starts inside their brain. Identifying your child’s brain type will make it easier for them to learn. There are 16 different brain types. To discover your child’s brain type, fill out the free Brain Health Assessment. It only takes 5 to 7 minutes to complete. (And yes, adults can take it too). 5. Productive Study Space Determine the best place in the house for your children to study. Create a comfortable space where they can keep school materials organized. Any quiet area with adequate lighting and a writing surface can work as a study space. Make sure the study zone is out of the earshot of a TV and free of devices or other distractions. 6. Give Them A Break If your child becomes exhausted from intense studying or if it’s been a while since they got up to stretch their legs, give them a break. Although it sounds counterintuitive as a time management strategy, research demonstrates that taking breaks actually improves focus and efficiency. If your child concentrates on a particular task for too long, their cognitive control system can begin to fail. By switching their attention to something else for a brief period, they can return to their original task with renewed focus. 7. Quality Sleep Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night has been shown to help your child’s brain function at optimal levels. When your child doesn’t get enough sleep, they have overall decreased blood flow to their brain, which can disrupt thinking, memory, and concentration. One of the best ways to improve your child’s study habits (and grades) is to make sure their mind is sharp and well-rested. 8. Healthy Snacks Rather than wasting time making after-school snacks, prepare healthy snacks in advance. Store snack bags of celery sticks and apple slices in the refrigerator or serve your kids snap peas or baby carrots right out of the bag or container. For more variety, purchase an organic vegetable tray, which should provide several days’ worth of healthy snacking for your kids. If your kids are picky eaters, disguise healthy treats as something fun, like this delicious penguin snack. Study time is precious, so make the most of it. 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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The Food and Mood Connection: 7 Foods to Brighten Your Mood!
The Food and Mood Connection You already know that the food you eat each day plays a vital role in your overall health, but did you know that it can affect your mood too? Making healthier choices in your diet will not only help control your waistline, but it can also help lift your mood, and provide a long-lasting boost in energy and focus. Since your brain is always working, it requires the right brain-boosting food with specific vitamins and high-quality nutrients to use as fuel throughout the day. The fuel we choose to eat can greatly affect our mood, energy, and our brain’s overall performance. Our brains produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps calm and soothe us, giving us a more relaxed, cheerful mood. We recommend not only adding the best foods for good moods to your diet, but also incorporating natural supplements like BrainMD’s Serotonin Mood Support. These natural supplements can help ease anxiety, maintain a healthy mood and self-confidence, and can even help sustain deep sleep, a healthy appetite, and social engagement. 7 Foods to Eat for a Brighter Mood Here are seven mood-boosting foods that you should add to your next grocery list: 1. Berries Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all high in vitamin C, which helps cope with cortisol, a hormone that is released during times of stress. 2. Beans Black beans, lentils, and lima beans are all rich in magnesium, a mineral that functions to provide relaxation and calm. 3. Dark Chocolate Chocolate is one of the ultimate comfort foods. The very taste of chocolate can produce a near euphoric state in many people. Brain healthy dark chocolate is full of protein and fiber and supports a positive mood and healthy cognition. 4. Fish Mackerel, salmon, sardines, and trout all have high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which can alleviate anxiety. 5. Herbal Teas Many herbal teas, such as chamomile, have calming properties. Black, green, white and red (rooibos) teas are also rich in antioxidants. Drinking a cup of warm tea can relieve stress and lift the spirits. 6. Leafy Greens Kale is loaded with mood-moderating magnesium and raw spinach contains bliss-enhancing nutrients. 7. Whole Fruits Apples, bananas, and oranges are packed with fiber and vitamin C. The sweet tastes and aromatic smells of these fruits can brighten one’s outlook and promote well-being. Foods to Avoid If you struggle with drastic changes in your mood and energy levels often, it can be helpful to avoid certain foods and beverages that can trigger mood swings. Here are some foods and beverages to avoid: Caffeine Alcohol Sugar Breads Pasta Potatoes White Rice As with any changes in diet, it is important to introduce new foods gradually to allow your body to adjust to a new routine and ensure that you do not have any food allergies. You will be amazed at the abundance of energy and the lifted moods these healthful foods will provide. Remember, fuel your brain with these key nutrients and supplements to support stress and mood and you will be feeling your best in no time! For more information about our focus and attention products, and our full catalog of supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.
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How to Help Your Child Succeed in the New School Year
Ready or not, summer break is winding down and the new school year is almost here! A new school year means helping your child adjust to new classrooms, new teachers and new challenges. Getting through this transition can be difficult, but there are practical strategies for helping your child adjust to the newness and get prepared to succeed in school. The time to plan for a successful school year is now. Though laying out a calendar can be beneficial for everyone in the family, it can be especially helpful if you have a child who struggled in school last year. So, how can you ensure your child heads off to school with the best possible foundation? Following these 3 tips can help your kid start off fresh this fall… 3 Ways to Set Up Your Student for Success 1. Optimize Your Mornings Strategize how to simplify the before-school hours for everyone in your family. The night before, select outfits, make lunches and organize everything your kids will need for school the next day. This will help make morning preparations more efficient and less stressful. 2. Establish a Study Space Determine the best place in the house for your children to study. Create a comfortable space where they can keep school materials organized. Any quiet area with adequate lighting and a writing surface can work as a study space. Make sure the study zone is out of the earshot of a TV and free of devices or other distractions. 3. Get Nutritional Support Aside from giving your children nutritious, organic foods, a great way to help optimize their health is with high-quality dietary supplements. These supplements should include ultra-pure, clinically proven ingredients that provide the vitamins, essential minerals, and other nutrients important for energy, focus, learning, and memory. At BrainMD, we offer a wide array of brain directed nutraceutical ingredients in supplements designed to assist students in reaching their full potential. Here are 5 natural supplements to help you or your child succeed in school: Kids’ NeuroVite Multivitamin Chewables Kids’ NeuroVite Multivitamin Chewables provides the vitamins and minerals that are needed for healthy minds and active bodies.* We chose the nutrient ingredients best documented for kids’ safety and long-term health.* This science-based formulation provides generous amounts of nutrients essential for making energy (magnesium, the B vitamins), to support the brain’s maturation (methylfolate, methyl-vitamin B12, choline), for the electrical activity of the retina and the brain (lutein, zeaxanthin), to form healthy muscles and bones (vitamins D and K), for healthy immunity (vitamin A, zinc) and for the many other functions that power healthy growth of mind and body.* Your child will LOVE the taste of the orange-flavored penguin chewables, which are free from sugar, dairy, gluten, corn, eggs, and artificial colorings or flavorings.* Attention Support Attention Support is scientifically designed for those who struggle with staying focused and attentive.* Pycnogenol is the most clinically researched of all herbals and has improved attention, as well as test grades, in university students.* Choline is a conditionally essential nutrient that helps make acetylcholine, the brain’s main attention, and memory neurotransmitter.* Vitamins B6, magnesium, and zinc all further reinforce attention, learning, and memorization.* Attention Support gives your brain the nutrients it needs to keep on top of challenges and allow you to stay focused and productive.* Brain & Memory Power Boost Brain & Memory Power Boost contains potent, essential nutrients and herbals proven to support a broad range of brain functions.* The combination of ingredients in this formula promote the brain’s basic energy generation and utilization functions, support its need for blood flow, and help sustain its nerve pathways via the trillions of synapses that ensure connectivity between its nerve cells.* Supporting these multiple functions can translate into healthy brain performance.* This all-star lineup of potent nutrients and herbals can help enhance circulation to your brain, facilitate its information processing, and provide it with protection against toxins.* Focus & Energy Focus & Energy was designed to help fight mental fatigue and promote mental sharpness, productivity, and endurance.* This breakthrough supplement features high-purity, standardized concentrates of an incredible array of adaptogens – green tea, ashwagandha, Rhodiola and Korean ginseng – all revered in traditional cultures and proven through modern clinical research to improve mental performance when under stress.* Also included is choline, supporting the brain’s acetylcholine system for both focus and endurance.* This diverse array of powerful ingredients makes Focus & Energy an essential choice for enhanced mental focus and sustained energy to help cope with life’s daily challenges.* NeuroLink Proper neurotransmitter balance is essential for healthy brain function.* BrainMD’s NeuroLink provides an exclusive blend of nutrients that support a diverse array of such key transmitters as adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.* This formula can help you maintain a positive mood.* It can also assist you in coping with stressful challenges by helping your brain transmitters and stress hormones stay in balance.* NeuroLink can help you think more clearly, feel happier, and experience greater well-being.* 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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