Skip to content
Wellness Blog
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]
Learn more
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.
Learn more
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.
Learn more
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.
Learn more
What Can I Do to Get Better Grades?
Do you feel like you should be getting better grades? Does schoolwork stress you out? Are you spending more time studying than the A students in your class, but aren’t getting the same results? If you answered yes to any of those questions, Dr. Daniel G. Amen’s new book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades, was written with you in mind. Packed with simple, practical tips, the book will help make studying easier so that you’ll actually start to enjoy the learning process. With schools becoming more competitive and technology becoming increasingly distracting, today’s students face a minefield of obstacles to academic progress. Doing well in school isn’t just a matter of smarts or more studying: it takes good habits, practical tools, and a healthy brain. Brain Basics The human brain is the most complex and wondrous organ in the universe. Your ability to succeed in school comes from many different areas of your brain. If you want to perform better in the classroom, you must first learn about your brain. Did you know: The brain has about 100 billion neurons (brain cells) Each neuron is connected to other neurons by up to 10,000 connections The brain has more connections than there are stars in the universe A piece of brain tissue the size of a grain of sand contains 100,000 neurons and over a billion connections talking to one another The brain weighs about 3 pounds, yet it uses 20 to 30 percent of the calories you consume, 20 percent of the oxygen you breathe, and 20 percent of the blood flow in your body Optimize Your Brain Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades takes you on a brief tour of your brain, to familiarize you with each brain region and its specific functions and potential problems. Even subtle brain issues can get in the way of achieving your academic goals. The great news is that you aren’t stuck with the brain you have. Learning how to optimize your brain is the first step to becoming a better student. Know Your Brain Type The preparation for learning begins before you ever crack open a book or set foot inside a classroom. It starts with your brain. If your brain is healthy, it will be much easier for you to learn. If your brain is unhealthy, it will be harder for you to advance in your studies. Understanding your brain type is critical to getting the help you need. In Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades, Dr. Amen outlines 16 different brain types and details the “dos and don’ts” of the 5 primary brain types. To discover your brain type, take the free Brain Health Assessment and share it with your family and friends at school. It only takes 5 to 7 minutes. Get Organized Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades guides you in how to create an organizational structure that will increase your effectiveness and reduce your study time. Included are 3 effective organization principles designed to help you maximize your study sessions. Comprehensive Guide The book covers a wide range of topics including helpful note-taking methods and proven test-taking tips. Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades also dedicates an entire chapter to how memory works and provides 6 tools for building a better memory. Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades offers science-based strategies that can help you study more effectively, learn faster, and stay focused so you can achieve your academic goals. This practical guide will help you: Discover your unique brain type and learning style Kick bad habits and adopt smarter study practices Get more out of your classes with less overall study time Memorize faster and remember things longer Increase your confidence and beat stress Not Just for School Whether you want to learn a foreign language before going on vacation, take a finance course so you can increase your investing know-how, or simply ace your tests with less effort, you can benefit from the insights in this book. The principles in Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades are practical and can be applied to almost any learning situation. Since technology has completely changed the way students learn, Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades offers many tech tips to help unleash your learning potential. 3 Tech Tips to Help You Become a Successful Student 1. Daily Encouragement Program Siri, Alexa, or another digital assistant to give you encouragement at regular intervals throughout the day or right before a big test. A simple “You’re doing great!” can give you a much-needed confidence boost. 2. Maximize Your Productivity Download a productivity app and use it to analyze how much time you spend on your homework versus on social media. To maximize your productivity, use a Fitbit or other tool to track how much of your day you dedicate to sleeping, eating, studying, working, or participating in sports or leisure activities. 3. Don’t Miss a Word If a teacher speaks too rapidly for accurate note-taking, record lectures on your smartphone and use voice transcription to create a first draft of your notes. Be sure to go through the transcription to correct any mistakes. For underachievers, stressed-out studiers, and students from middle school to college and beyond, Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades gives you the knowledge and tools you need to get the best out of yourself. For more about Dr. Amen’s other books, or our full catalog of brain health supplements that can boost focus, energy, and memory, please visit us at BrainMD.
Learn more
Benefits of Turmeric for Your Brain & Must-Try Recipes!
In today’s stressful world, we can get remarkable help from the food we eat that can make a positive impact on our body's health. At BrainMD, we offer supplements with breakthrough ingredients for improving brain health while also promoting a sharper memory. In this blog series, we’re taking a closer look at our ingredients’ origins, uses, and recipes, so you can incorporate them into your diet. What is Turmeric? Turmeric is a popular ingredient that’s been used for thousands of years as a spice, medicinal herb, and even for spiritual support. Traditional Asian societies used it for practically all their medicinal needs. Hundreds of millions of people in other countries include turmeric in their daily diet, and it’s recommended that we do the same. Turmeric is a tropical plant and a member of the ginger family. The turmeric root sold at food markets is an underground stem or rhizome. From the outside, turmeric looks a lot like ginger, but when you break them in half, turmeric’s interior is gold, while ginger’s is green. Turmeric originates from India and has been used as a spice in dishes for thousands of years. The turmeric root is dried, ground into powder, and added as a major constituent of yellow curry sauces. Due to its long and cosmopolitan history as a spice, turmeric is found in many different foods. But turmeric powder can only deliver limited amounts of curcumin in a meal. After the three active curcumin substances were discovered a few decades ago, scientists focused on exploring how they worked in the body and used modern techniques to confirm their surprisingly broad range of health applications, including turmeric for your brain and memory. What is Curcumin? Curcumin is an abbreviated name for a combination of the three main ingredients of turmeric known to improve health: polyphenol curcuminoids called curcumin, demethoxy-curcumin and bis-demethoxycurcumin. Polyphenols occur in many plants and are adequate antioxidants, but these curcuminoids are exceptionally powerful and have a diverse range of cell-level molecular actions. Curcuminoids have sparked intensive clinical investigation for applications to practically all aspects of human health. In addition to supporting the brain, curcumin has benefited the eyes, heart and circulation, joints, intestinal tract, skin, prostate, muscles, nerves, and numerous other human tissues. The key to getting the maximum benefit from curcumin is to ensure that it is adequately absorbed once you take the supplement. Benefits of Longvida Curcumin for Your Brain & Memory The only factor that limits curcumin’s health-giving potential is that all three of the active substances are poorly absorbed in the body. That’s why BrainMD uses Longvida® Optimized Curcumin Extract in our Brain Curcumins supplement to ensure your body will make the most of this powerful ingredient. Longvida curcumin is a sophisticated curcumin concentrate formulated for ultrahigh absorption and is known to improve human brain function. Since many curcumin supplements are not supported by adequate human research, we chose the Longvida curcumin ingredient for our Brain Curcumins because it is backed by competent clinical trial investigation. BrainMD’s scientific-medical team developed Brain Curcumins using a specially concentrated extract of all three curcumin substances from turmeric as the main ingredient. This Longvida curcumin ingredient was developed at UCLA to add incredible antioxidant power to your cells. It also regulates the inflammatory response and generally helps counter everyday stressful, emotional, chemical, and physical challenges. A double-blind clinical trial found that it helps maintain a healthy mood and cognitive functioning in people under mental strain. The clinical trial also established that this specific curcumin ingredient can help us keep a positive mood when under stress, stay alert and calm while under mental strain, and reduce the fatigue we can develop after a mentally challenging task. Some of the subjects who received Longvida curcumin in this trial showed better working memory (such as multitasking) just 1 hour after taking it. In this trial, cholesterol measures also improved. In another trial, this ingredient was found to have powerful circulation benefits. Since the chemical composition of every curcumin ingredient is so specific, it isn’t appropriate to transfer results from clinical trials with one ingredient to make conclusions about another ingredient. That’s why the BrainMD team waited until the necessary brain-focused clinical trial was completed and published, before developing our Brain Curcumins supplement. The Curcumin and Cumin Confusion While these two ingredients may sound similar and are even included together in many recipes, they are completely different. Curcumin is derived from turmeric in the ginger family while cumin is related to the parsley family. 2 Simple Turmeric Recipes to Try Turmeric is easy to incorporate into a healthy diet. Add a pinch of turmeric powder to your favorite dishes, from scrambled eggs to roasted vegetables, and try our recipes for Smooth Sweet Potato Soup and Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Smooth Sweet Potato Soup 1/2 cup Onion, Diced 1/3 cup Celery, Diced 3 Tbsp Leeks, Diced 2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced 6-7 cups Low Sodium Vegetable Stock 1 1/2 lbs. Sweet Potatoes, Peeled and Diced 1 stick Cinnamon 1/4 tsp Nutmeg 1 tsp Real Salt (Optional) 1 tsp White Pepper 1/2 cup Almond Milk or Coconut Milk 2 Tbsp Fresh Sage, Finely Chopped 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds (Optional) 1/8 cup Cranberries, for Garnish (Optional) 1 Pinch of Cinnamon, for Garnish 1/2 Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes 1 head Cauliflower 2 cups Vegetable Broth or Water 1/4 cup Soy Milk or Unsweetened Almond Milk 1 Tbsp Earth Balance Spread 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning 2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced 1 tsp Fresh Rosemary, Finely Chopped 2 tsp Cornstarch (mixed with 2 tablespoon water) Real Salt and Pepper, to Taste 2 Tbsp Finely Chopped Chives (Optional) 2 cups Spinach 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds, Raw 1/2 Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder Remember, you can take an effective daily dose of curcumin in the supplement Brain Curcumins. You might also want to try Serotonin Mood Support to give you an added boost in mood throughout the day. As the leader in brain-directed supplements, BrainMD offers the highest purity ingredients in our memory products. For more information about Brain Curcumins or our full catalog of brain healthy supplements, visit the online store at BrainMD.
Learn more
4 Strategies to Help You Overcome Insomnia & Other Sleep Monsters
Monsters are real. They’re invasive, relentless, and can make bedtime a scary time. These monsters aren’t grotesque figures hiding under the bed like the ones frequently portrayed in horror/thriller movies. They’re the real contributing factors to sleep disorders like insomnia, an epidemic that affects over 17 million Americans daily. Here are 4 types of Sleep Monsters you should seek to avoid: 4 Sleep Monsters that Are Stealing Your Sleep 1. Bad Habits Habits can be a major contributor to the quality of your life. What you do habitually is what makes you who you are as an individual. There are many common bad habits that may seriously hinder your ability to achieve quality sleep. Some of these bad habits include staying up late watching TV, playing video games or browsing the Internet and drinking caffeine or alcohol before going to bed. These habits will often lead to a visit from a second sleep monster… 2. Worry In order to sleep, your mind and body need to be able to enter a state of rest. Worrying keeps your mind active and thoughts racing, which can exhaust you and keep you awake. This can cause excessive stress and difficulties with mood regulation. Many people describe the feeling of being trapped inside their own heads while lying in bed and periodically checking the clock. Before they know it, the sun is coming up and they haven’t slept a wink. 3. Light/Seasonal The sun, and light, in general, are big factors that could be stealing your sleep. Sometimes the factors that keep you awake aren’t internal and are out of your control. For instance, environmental factors like location and time of year can cause an imbalance of how much sun you get, which may affect the quality of your sleep. Getting less sunlight during the day can reduce melatonin, the main sleep hormone. 4. Muscle Movements The last sleep monster is a physical one. The same way worrying can prevent your mind from attaining a state of calm, physical movement can also keep your mind from being able to turn off at night. Restless leg syndrome is one example of how muscle movements can lead to insomnia. The scary truth is that insomnia can lead to other serious problems. Sleep is critical to the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of our lives. Without an adequate amount of sleep (it’s recommended you get 7 to 9 hours each night), you’re setting yourself up for a host of physical and mental issues. So how can you avoid these sleep monsters and overcome insomnia for good? BrainMD offers a comprehensive sleep course to help guide you through your sleep challenges. Learn More About How to Overcome Insomnia Many people treat insomnia or other sleep issues by taking prescription medications. In some cases, these medications are helpful and necessary. In other instances, they can be toxic, addictive, and create new problems. At BrainMD, we believe in finding the best solutions while taking the least toxic route possible. The Overcoming Insomnia course through Amen University can provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to manage your unique sleep challenges. In the 21 lessons included in this program, our sleep experts share their knowledge and provide guidance through the use of evidence-based cognitive and behavioral strategies to help facilitate the quality of sleep you need and deserve. These treatment options typically start with a foundation of knowledge. The information contained in the Overcoming Insomnia course will provide you with the knowledge you need to optimize your treatment. If you currently take prescription medications, our experts can help to ensure you’re not using any substances that can disrupt your sleep. If you already use calming strategies and natural supplements, this course will help guide you toward a natural treatment that will help you get a restful night’s sleep. What You Will Learn in the Course: Understand the essentials of proper sleep stages for our brain Identify possible contributing factors to insomnia and sleep issues How to practice evidence-based sleep strategies Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia How to maintain better sleep hygiene for the rest of your life Take action and start today with a free lesson from the Overcoming Insomnia course where Dr. Creado discusses what good sleep actually means and how it affects your health and well-being. Enroll in the Amen University: Overcoming Insomnia course today! Want a sneak peak of the course? Enjoy the first lesson for FREE when you sign up here.
Learn more
How to Cope with Stress: 6 Things You Can Do to Reduce Stress
Are you so overwhelmed with daily responsibilities that you feel you just can't keep up? While many in our society wear the "I'm More Stressed Than You" badge of honor, being overly stressed really isn't something to brag about. In fact, too much stress can be detrimental to your brain and overall health. So, in order to live a more stress-free life each day, you must learn how to cope with stress the right way. 6 Things You Can Do to Reduce Stress Use the following S-T-R-E-S-S acrostic to help reduce the stress in your life. Try these 6 strategies today to help you manage and cope with stress in a more positive way. Each of these strategies has been proven to reduce stress and promote relaxation in stressful situations. S – Social Connections By building and maintaining good, healthy, helpful relationships, you can feel understood and cared for. When you care for and attend to others, it allows you to get outside of yourself and you often find your perceptions are transformed. This leads to discovering new ideas about how to solve your own problems. Furthermore, when you care for others and feel cared for, your brain releases oxytocin, the “bonding” hormone, which can counteract many of the negative effects of stress. Also, never underestimate the power of being around the right people! The health habits of the people you spend time with have a dramatic impact on your own health and habits. So surround yourself with people who are happy, upbeat, and kind. T – Therapy/Meditation At the heart of many types of therapy is learning about ANTs – which stands for Automatic Negative Thoughts—the cynical, gloomy and complaining thoughts that come into your mind automatically. Think of these negative thoughts like ANTs at a picnic that infest your mind and spirit and ruin your day. Learning how to kill the ANTs and develop an internal ANTeater is incredibly effective at reducing the stress and anxiety in your life. Therapy can also help you clear up past traumas that might trigger you and cause more stress in your life. Meditation is a wonderful way to soothe your mind and help you create a state of deep relaxation. Interestingly enough, meditating actually stimulates the brain; increasing blood flow to the areas responsible for attention and forethought, while calming down the areas that perceive pain. And you can receive the positive benefits of meditating in just minutes per day. R – Relaxation Techniques By using relaxation techniques, you will gain better control over the stress and anxiety that is ruining your health and happiness. Deep breathing is one such relaxation technique and a very effective method for overcoming stress; one that can be done anywhere, anytime! When you take shallow breaths, it reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your brain cells, reducing overall brain function. As you inhale, let your belly expand. When you exhale, pull your belly in to push the air out of your lungs. This allows you to expel more air, which in turn, encourages you to inhale more deeply. So we challenge you to try taking deep breaths and let your mind and body start to relax. E – Exercise Exercise will help you manage stress by immediately lowering stress hormones and helping you become more resistant to stress over time. Raising your heart rate through exercise also makes you better handle stress because it raises beta-endorphins, the brain’s own natural morphine! Consistent exercise will prepare you for the obstacles you may face like being in stressful situations. Exercise also helps you maintain a strong mind and body can help equip you to handle possible crises in your future. S – Sleep Sleep deprivation is hazardous to your health! Skimping on sleep can affect your health in more ways than you might imagine and definitely makes you more susceptible to stress. If you aren’t getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, you’re setting yourself up for a host of physical and mental issues. When you fall behind on sleep, blood flow to your brain decreases and you are much more likely to make poor decisions. Be sure that your sleep hygiene is sound by turning off electronics at least one hour before bedtime, avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol later in the day, avoid naps, keep your bedroom dark and cool, and avoid exercising vigorously late in the evening. S – Supplement Natural relaxation substances can be incredibly effective in reducing stress. Drink some spearmint or chamomile teas. Put dried lavender in a vase near your bed. Use calming essential oil aromas such as clary sage, bergamot, or ylang-ylang. Or try BrainMD's Everyday Stress Relief, which helps replenish your brain and body’s nutrients that can be depleted during times of increased stress. It includes herbal extracts clinically proven to have calming and anti-stress effects, helping to ease anxiousness without causing sleepiness. This formula helps you cope with apprehension, tension, worry, and fatigue. This safe, non-sedating, and non-habit-forming formula combines the multiple beneficial actions of these well-studied herbs and nutrients to help your brain and body cope with stress on multiple levels. “This is what I take when I’m stressed,” says Dr. Daniel Amen. “And it works.” You have a choice about how you respond to the stress in your life!
Learn more
What Supplements Can Help Me Get Better Sleep?
How much sleep did you get last night? Though not the best conversation starter, that question is extremely important. And the ramifications of the answer can have far-reaching consequences for your overall health. According to the Institute of Medicine, (US) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research, as many as 70 million Americans have serious sleep problems, which can interfere with daily functioning. Unfortunately, sleep issues are progressively getting worse with the proliferation of gadgets and bad habits. Getting inadequate sleep has been associated with lowered brain efficiency, which can negatively affect your: Mental focus Mood Energy Weight Decision-making Anything that disrupts your natural sleep pattern, like excessive caffeine, alcohol or video game playing, can have adverse effects on your ability to effectively perform tasks at work, school or home. Insufficient and inconsistent sleep can increase irritability, moodiness and poor judgment. To remain at the top of your game, it’s recommended that you get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Get the Rest You Need Since sleep is one of the most important factors of brain health, BrainMD developed a selection of calming, relaxing, and sleep-inducing supplements that contain the best-utilized, ultra-pure nutrients and herbal ingredients to help you wind down at the end of a busy day. Whether you’re looking for a supplement to help you sleep through the night or just to help you fall asleep, our supplements are non-habit forming and will help you get better sleep. GABA Calming Support GABA Calming Support is a unique combination of clinically proven ingredients that can help you cope with restlessness, irritability and other challenges associated with occasional anxiety.* It contains ingredients that help your nerve cells respond better to GABA.* This formula can help calm your racing thoughts to help prepare you for sleep; it doesn’t cause drowsiness, so it’s safe to take during the day.* It includes: GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the body’s main calming neurotransmitter. It supports the body’s natural mechanisms for quieting the mind and gradually falling asleep. L-Theanine – working mainly by way of GABA receptors on nerve cells, this unique amino acid can have calming and relaxing effects while preserving mental focus. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – a member of the mint family that has been used as a medicinal herb for over 2000 years, lemon balm increases GABA activity in the brain as well as the activity of acetylcholine, a major neurotransmitter that promotes mental focus. Magnesium – magnesium plays important roles in mind and body relaxation, the calming of racing thoughts, and in promoting overall sleep quality. Research suggests that magnesium’s calming effects are enhanced by vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 – also known as pyridoxine and pyridoxal-5-phosphate, vitamin B6 helps the brain produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps promote relaxation and enhance your mood. GABA Calming Support can help facilitate the production of calming brain waves, correct stress-causing nutritional deficiencies, and promote relaxation.* Magnesium Chewables Magnesium is a mineral nutrient essential for over 300 enzymes and is fundamental to your health. Sadly, due to the Standard American Diet (SAD), magnesium is one of the minerals most people typically don’t get enough of in the foods they eat. BrainMD’s Magnesium Chewables are sugar-free and have a delicious citrus flavor. Each tablet provides 150 milligrams of magnesium, more than one-third of your daily requirement. These chewable vitamins include: Magnesium – the three magnesium compounds (magnesium citrate, magnesium malate, and magnesium glycinate) are pre-activated and ready for use by the brain and other organs. These magnesium compounds are well tolerated, safe to take long-term, and can be used by people of all ages. Magnesium Chewables tablets help your muscles and your mind relax, promote positive mood and calm, and help you get quality sleep.* Restful Sleep Restful Sleep contains the body’s own sleep hormone melatonin to get you to sleep and keep you asleep through the night.* It also includes the calming neurotransmitter GABA, as well as magnesium, vitamin B6 and valerian. Together, these nutrients produce a soothing effect that can help ease you into a peaceful sleep.* These capsules include: Vitamin B6 – vitamin B6 helps with the production of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, GABA), which need to be balanced for healthy sleep. Magnesium – sometimes called “the relaxation mineral,” magnesium plays an important role in energy production that helps with muscle relaxation, in lowering stress hormone production via the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary axis), and in enhancing GABA action to allow for sleep. Magnesium helps calm the mind and enhance overall sleep quality. GABA – GABA is the major neurotransmitter for inducing calm by inhibiting excessive firing of neurons. Valerian – an herb used traditionally for centuries for its calming and sleep-inducing effects, valerian contains GABA and may also work closely with brain GABA receptors to help calm brain activity. It supports deep, restful, quality sleep. Melatonin – melatonin is the hormone naturally produced by the brain to initiate sleep and carry you through your daily sleep/wake cycle. It promotes restful sleep and healthy sleep patterns. Restful Sleep eases you to sleep and helps you stay asleep all night so you can wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.* Serotonin Mood Support Taking BrainMD’s Serotonin Mood Support can help correct stress-related nutritional deficiencies, promote positive mood, and help curb emotional eating.* It can help you handle the ups and downs of life with more composure.* This formula supports important brain neurotransmitter systems that positively influence mood.* Its ingredients include: 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) – this nutrient is readily converted to serotonin, the neurotransmitter that is a major mood regulator. Serotonin circuits may also increase the activity of dopamine, also associated with positive mood. Vitamin B6 – vitamin B6 is needed by the enzyme that converts 5-HTP to serotonin, as well as for making dopamine. It is also essential for the body to utilize proteins, fats and carbs. Methylfolate – methylfolate is the most active form of the folate vitamin, which is crucial for maintaining positive mood. Methylfolate is pre-activated folate and is better utilized than folic acid, which is a manufactured substance not found in nature. Methylfolate bypasses the common mutation called C677T, which folic acid cannot do. Vitamin B12 as Methyl-cobalamin – the body’s most readily-utilized vitamin B12, not cyano-cobalamin which contains toxic cyanide. This formula has sufficient methyl-B12, which backs up methylfolate in the brain and other organs, to ensure neurotransmitter balance favorable to healthy mood. Saffron – the world’s most expensive spice, saffron has a long history of being used to induce happiness and has consistently improved mood, stress, and other mental functions in many clinical trials. Lifestyle habits such as mind-body relaxation techniques, healthy dietary routines and daily use of Serotonin Mood Support, can work together to elevate mood and promote restful sleep.* At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
Learn more
4 of the Best Ways to Improve Stress and Mood
We all experience stress. (True) All stress is bad. (False) Contrary to popular belief, not all stress is bad. A little bit of stress is actually good because it can motivate you to meet your goals. Low level stress can also help you with resilience, problem solving and adapting to everyday challenges. Stress becomes a problem when it’s intense, recurring, or remains unresolved over a sustained period. At that point, stress takes a toll and can become harmful to your health. Too much stress can: Produce fear, anxiousness, worry, irrational excitement, and avoidance Decrease your overall brain function Create hormone imbalances Cause inappropriate eating, which can result in weight gain Make you more vulnerable to physical illness Unfortunately, when people have too much stress in their life, they often turn to unhealthy ways of dealing with it; such as using alcohol, illicit drugs, or food to feel better. However, these choices can end up doing more harm than good in the long-term. Stress and Mood Often, there’s a correlation between being stressed out and experiencing anxious thoughts or bouts of low mood. Many times stress doesn’t just negatively affect your mood, though that can become the most visible side effect. Stress also can adversely impact the way your brain and body work, so it’s important to try to manage your stress. If you find yourself having negative or anxious thoughts or notice that your stress levels have gotten out of hand, we offer a range of powerful supplements to improve stress and mood. These stress-fighting supplements have been formulated with the highest-quality nutrients and ingredients to 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 helps replenish your brain and body’s nutrients that can be depleted during times of increased stress.* It includes herbal extracts clinically proven to have calming and anti-stress effects, helping to ease anxiousness without causing sleepiness.* This formula helps you cope with apprehension, tension, worry, and fatigue.* It includes: Magnesium – magnesium is a mineral important for calm, balanced and mentally focused demeanor.* It also counters irritability and anxiousness.* Taurine – a nutrient classified as conditionally-essential because some people need it from their diet, taurine has versatile benefits for electrical transmission in the brain.* It also supports the adrenal glands, which are crucial for coping with stress.* Holy Basil – holy basil (Ocimum sanctum, also called Tulsi), is revered both in Europe and the East for improving adaptation to occasional anxiousness, feelings of exhaustion, forgetfulness and other problems related to stress.* L-theanine – derived from green tea, l-theanine reduces tension and promotes rest without diminishing alertness.* Relora® – a unique mix of two herbs (Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense) that can enhance healthy management of the stress hormone cortisol while easing tension, anger, negative mood, and confusion.* This safe, non-sedating, and non-habit-forming formula combines the multiple beneficial actions of these well-studied herbs and nutrients to help your brain and body cope with stress on multiple levels.* GABA Calming Support GABA Calming Support is a unique combination of clinically proven ingredients that can help you cope with restlessness, irritability and other challenges associated with occasional anxiousness.* It contains ingredients that help your nerve cells respond better to GABA.* This formula can help calm your racing thoughts to help prepare you for sleep; it doesn’t cause drowsiness, so it’s safe to take during the day.* It includes: GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the body’s main calming neurotransmitter. By slowing the excessive firing of neurons, it supports the body’s natural mechanisms for quieting the mind and gradually falling asleep.* L-Theanine – working mainly by way of GABA receptors on nerve cells, this unique amino acid can have calming and relaxing effects while preserving mental focus.* Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – a member of the mint family that has been used as a medicinal herb for over 2000 years, lemon balm increases GABA activity in the brain as well as the activity of acetylcholine, a major neurotransmitter that promotes mental focus.* Magnesium – sometimes called the relaxation mineral, magnesium plays important roles in mind and body relaxation, the calming of racing thoughts, and in promoting overall sleep quality.* Research suggests that magnesium’s calming effects are enhanced by vitamin B6.* Vitamin B6 – also known as pyridoxine and pyridoxal-5-phosphate, vitamin B6 helps the brain produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps promote relaxation and enhance your mood.* GABA Calming Support can help facilitate the production of calming brain waves, correct stress-causing nutritional deficiencies, and promote relaxation.* NeuroLink Proper neurotransmitter balance is essential for healthy brain function. BrainMD’s NeuroLink supports a diverse array of such key transmitters as adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.* This formula 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 transmitters stay in balance.* It includes: L-Tyrosine – an amino acid required to produce the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Your brain and adrenal glands need tyrosine to promote mental clarity during times of stress.* GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) – an amino acid transmitter that regulates the excitability of nerve circuits across the brain, GABA is the brain’s main calming neurotransmitter.* L-Glutamine – an amino acid important for nerve cells to make glutamate, a transmitter present in 80 percent of the brain’s nerve cells, as well as the calming transmitter GABA.* L-Taurine – this amino acid helps stabilize nerve cell energy generation and electrical activity while also protecting against calcium overload.* Taurine promotes healthy blood flow to the brain, is a powerful antioxidant, and is essential for the health of every cell in the body.* 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) – a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan, 5-HTP is readily converted to serotonin in the brain. It helps maintain mental and emotional balance, can reduce occasional feelings of anxiousness, supports behavioral self-control, promotes calm and relaxation, and facilitates better quality sleep.* NeuroLink can help balance your brain transmitters so you can think more clearly, feel happier, and experience greater well-being.* Serotonin Mood Support Taking BrainMD’s Serotonin Mood Support can help correct stress-related nutritional deficiencies, promote positive mood, and help curb emotional eating.* It can help you handle the ups and downs of life with more composure.* This formula regulates important brain neurotransmitter systems to positively influence mood.* It includes: 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) – besides being readily converted to serotonin, 5-HTP may also increase brain activity of dopamine, which is regulated by serotonin and also associated with positive mood.* Vitamin B6 – vitamin B6 is needed by the enzyme that converts 5-HTP to serotonin. It is essential for the body to utilize proteins, fats and carbs. Methylfolate – methylfolate is the most active form of the folate vitamin, which is crucial for maintaining positive mood.* Methylfolate is pre-activated folate and is better utilized than folic acid, which is a manufactured substance not found in nature. Vitamin B12 as Methyl-cobalamin – the body’s most readily-utilized vitamin B12, not cyano-cobalamin which contains toxic cyanide.* This formula has sufficient methyl-B12, which backs up methylfolate in the brain and other organs, to ensure neurotransmitter balance favorable to healthy mood.* Saffron – the world’s most expensive spice, saffron has a long history of being used to induce happiness and has consistently improved mood, stress, and other mental functions in many clinical trials.* Lifestyle habits such as mind-body relaxation techniques, healthy dietary routines and daily use of Serotonin Mood Support, can help you maintain mental sharpness and an even mood throughout the day.* At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
Learn more
BrainMD: 10 Years as the Leader in Brain-healthy Supplements
As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary, we want to take this opportunity to thank YOU for supporting our company over the years. Without you, there would be no BrainMD. Now that we’ve reached the decade mark, we want to pause and reflect on our history, our unique positioning in the supplement industry and why we do what we do. Our Why At BrainMD, we realize the last thing the world needs is another line of high-priced, cheaply-made supplements. From the start, we’ve committed ourselves to providing ultra-pure, clinical-grade, ethically sourced dietary supplements that can supply you with the nutrients you need to lead a brain-healthy life. We believe in a whole person approach to physical and mental wellness. We’ve dedicated ourselves to helping people feel better by creating the highest quality, brain-healthy supplements and nutritional products on the market. The integrity of our work, and our belief in the importance of helping people, inspires our commitment to excellence. Solid Foundation One of the things that makes BrainMD unique is that we’re backed by the combined knowledge, clinical experience and guidance of a MD and a PhD. Our Founder: Daniel G. Amen, MD Dr. Amen is a double board-certified psychiatrist, clinical neuroscientist, brain-imaging specialist, and multiple New York Times bestselling author. He is the visionary behind Amen Clinics, Amen University, and the numerous products and services offered by BrainMD. Our Chief Science Officer: Parris M. Kidd, PhD Dr. Kidd earned his PhD at the University of California at Berkeley and has been active in integrative medicine for over 35 years. He has focused on the brain for over 25 years and has pioneered awareness of phosphatidylserine (PS), omega-3s and numerous other ingredients. Backed by Science Would it surprise you to know that many of the supplements in the marketplace today have little or no backing from human clinical studies? Our clinical research team incorporates the latest scientific findings into creating a wide array of specialized formulas that promote optimal brain function and brain-body integration. We want you to be as fully informed as possible. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with educational resources on the clinical research behind our products and the science that supports our choice of ingredients that comprise our superior grade nutritional formulas. Our supplements are formulated with exacting standards and are developed from numerous clinical trials and other studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Brain Directed We recognize that the health of your brain¹ is central to your overall success. Feeding your brain properly is essential for optimal fitness and can be the first line of defense in preserving your mental and physical well-being.² With the use of brain SPECT imaging, Dr. Amen discovered that some prescription medications can damage the brain. He sought out non-toxic solutions for his patients and developed dietary supplement formulas targeted to memory, mood, focus, and other specific brain functions. Those early formulas were so effective, they eventually led to the creation of the first supplement company solely dedicated to brain health, BrainMD. Rigorously Tested Our products are developed to promote brain-healthy living, and their ingredients, combinations, and dosages are always grounded in science. During the formulation process, our product development team may be required to review hundreds of clinical trials and other scientific studies to make sure we’re aware of all the research relevant to the product. We work tirelessly to ensure that the ingredients (and the levels of each ingredient) in our products are shown to be both effective and safe. When it comes to ingredients, we know which ones to include in our products and which ones to leave out. We have stringent standards for selecting the raw materials for our products and work hard to verify that our ingredients are free of heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, bacteria, mold, glutens, sugar, egg, dairy, and any other unnecessary additives. Our ingredients undergo extensive testing to establish their identity, purity, and potency. We partner with the highest-quality manufacturers, which conform to the current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We use independent labs to further verify the manufacturer’s quality test results. You can be confident that with each serving you take of any of our products, you’re getting the nutrients promised on the label. Array of Products Over the last 10 years, we’ve developed products essential for everyone’s nutritional needs: our premium multivitamin, NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin, ultra-concentrated EPA and DHA fish oil, Omega-3 Power, and high-purity Vitamin D3 5000. Our line of 30 supplement products was developed to support a wide range of individual needs, including: [wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""] Brain support (supplement systems Brain & Body Power, Brain & Body Power MAX) Memory (Bright Minds Memory Multivitamin, Brain & Memory Power Boost, NeuroPS) Mood (Serotonin Mood Support, SAMe) Focus (Focus & Energy, Attention Support) Relaxation and stress (GABA Calming Support, Everyday Stress Relief) Sleep (Restful Sleep, Magnesium Chewables) Brain neurotransmitter balancing (NeuroLink, Tyrosine) Gut-brain health (ProBrainBiotics) Prenatal (Smart Prenatal) Children (Kids’ NeuroVite, Coromega Omega-3 Squeeze) Drink mix (Brain Boost On-the-Go) Plant-based protein powder (OMNI Protein – Vanilla and Chocolate) [/wc_box] BrainMD = Brain-healthy Supplements This extraordinary group of products is the only line of dietary supplements available today that is specifically developed to address the full spectrum of brain health concerns. As BrainMD moves into its second decade, we look forward to continuing to serve you while developing new products to help you enjoy all the benefits of a brain-healthy 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. Gorelick, P. B., & Sorond, F. A. (2023). What is brain health? Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 6, 100190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2023.100190 2. Firth, J., Teasdale, S. B., Allott, K., Siskind, D., Marx, W., Cotter, J., Veronese, N., Schuch, F., Smith, L., Solmi, M., Carvalho, A. F., Vancampfort, D., Berk, M., Stubbs, B., & Sarris, J. (2019). The efficacy and safety of nutrient supplements in the treatment of mental disorders: A meta‐review of meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials. World Psychiatry, 18(3), 308–324. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20672
Learn more
This is How Probiotics Can Help Support a Healthy Mood
Perhaps you’ve heard of probiotics and have wondered about their health benefits. If you aren’t taking probiotics, here are some essential facts you need to know about these powerful microorganisms. What Are Probiotics? The word probiotic comes from Latin: pro means “support” and biotic means “life.” The World Health Organization defines a probiotic as any living microorganism that has a health benefit when ingested. Likewise, the USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) defines a probiotic as any “live, nonpathogenic, nontoxic microbial organism which, when administered in adequate amounts, confers a health benefit on the host.” Scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in the human gut, collectively called the “microbiome,” offer a broad spectrum of previously unknown wellness benefits including improved mood and healthy immunity. Good Bugs/Bad Bugs Your body is a highly sophisticated ecosystem that can include well over 1,000 different species of bacteria in your intestinal system. Some are beneficial, and some aren’t. The beneficial gut bacteria help regulate practically everything in your ecosystem – from supporting your digestion to favorably influencing the nervous and immune systems. When you don’t have enough of these friendly bacteria, you can have digestive problems, difficulty managing stress, and irritability or other negative behaviors. To remain in top form, the relationship of good bugs to bad bugs in your microbiome needs to be positively skewed. You are more likely to be healthy and happy when the beneficial microorganisms in your gut outnumber the harmful ones. Growing research suggests that when the balance is tipped the other way, all sorts of physical and mental problems may arise. Beware of Microbiome Imbalance Imbalance of the gut microbiome – too many bad bacteria in the gut – has been linked to a wide range of mental and physical challenges. Keeping your gut in proper balance is essential to your overall health. Experiencing digestive issues is a sure-fire way to know if you have an imbalanced gut. If you’re struggling with any of the following on a consistent basis, you may benefit from a well-formulated probiotic supplement: Gas Irregular bowel movements Bloating Excessively soft stools Unusual burping or excessive fullness after eating Cramping anywhere along your intestinal tract Support Your Gut-Brain Connection Optimizing gut health is a key nutritional component in supporting brain function. Your gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria that outnumber the total number of cells in your body. There’s increasing evidence in the literature that alterations in the composition of the gut can induce neurochemical changes in the brain that can significantly impact your mood and ability to regulate stress. One of the best ways to support the gut-brain connection is to take a probiotic supplement. ProBrainBiotics ProBrainBiotics has the identical probiotic strains, at the same daily intake levels, that were put through two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and found to benefit intestinal function, mood, and coping with stressful experiences. These strains are Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175. Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 This strain helps maintain the healthy intestinal structure, intestinal immune function, and makeup of the gut microbiome. It efficiently takes up residence in the intestine after oral intake, supports the tight seal of the gut lining that prevents leakage of intestinal contents into the surrounding tissues, and supports healthy immunity. It also helps keep down bacteria that are less beneficial for gut health. Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175 Bifidobacteria are mainstays of a well-balanced gut microbiome. They are important contributors to intestinal health by helping to digest complex carbohydrates, and by producing substantial amounts of short-chain fatty acids that have a strong positive influence on the cells that line the intestine. This particular strain of bifidobacterium is very hardy and works particularly well with Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 to promote gut health. Better Together In the first double-blind clinical trial with this special strain combination, healthy adults complaining of occasional stress took either a placebo or the combination of Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum Strain R0175 for three weeks. The combination improved gut discomforts related to stress. In the second double-blind trial, the same combination taken at the same daily dose for 30 days improved mood and lowered anxiousness, compared to the placebo. BrainMD’s ProBrainBiotics is the first probiotic supplement proven to benefit both intestinal and brain function. ProBrainBiotics can help with: Mood – promotes healthy mood and coping with anxiousness Gut Health – promotes overall intestinal function Stress – helps cope with stress related abdominal discomfort Immunity – supports healthy immune balance What Others Are Saying About ProBrainBiotics “The ProBrainBiotics have been beneficial to my health, especially seen in how my body responds to stress. My gut would go crazy when I was under lots of stress, but now it responds much better than it did before I began taking ProBrainBiotics.” -Debbie “Been using Dr. Amen’s ProBrainBiotics for several months now and have noticed significant positive results. Knowing that my gut is my ‘second brain’ makes me realize the importance of a probiotic and this one is the best!” -Scott If you take good care of your bacterial guests, they will take care of you. Use ProBrainBiotics along with probiotic rich foods to enrich your daily 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 gut health supplements and our full list of brain supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
Learn more