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Benefits of Taking Omega-3 Fatty Acids Daily
Following is an interview with Dr. Kristen Willeumier regarding her talk, "Why Powering Your Brain with Pure Fish Oil is Genius." BrainMD: Can you briefly describe what Dr. Amen’s Omega-3 Power is? Dr. Kristen Willeumier: Omega-3 Power is a concentrated, highly purified, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential because the body cannot produce them, therefore they must be obtained from the diet or through supplementation. Two softgels of Omega-3 Power contain 1.5 grams of omea 3 fatty acids (860 mg of EPA and 575 mg of DHA), a significantly higher amount than what is found in most concentrated fish oil supplements. BMD: How can taking a fish oil like Omega-3 Power with high amounts of EPA DHA support brain health? KW: Omega 3 power functions to support cellular membranes and keep them flexible. Omega-3 fatty acids are comprised of EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). While both are components of cellular membranes, EPA plays a critical role in supporting the healthy regulation of cellular inflammation while DHA is the most abundant omega-3 found in the brain and is important in maintaining nerve cell structure and function. With over 100 billion neurons in your brain, a daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids with high levels of EPA and DHA to adequately support these cells is essential to optimal brain health. BMD: How do omega-3s specifically support focus? KW: Omega-3 fatty acids maintain the fluidity of the cell membranes which allows for proper communication between nerve cells, therefore, it helps to support focus and mental clarity. BMD: What happens when we don’t provide our bodies with healthy omega-3s, but instead consume a lot of saturated fat? KW: It is essential to be mindful of the type of fats you consume. A diet high in trans fats (vegetable oil, corn oil, sunflower oil) and saturated fats (meat, dairy) can result in elevated omega-6 fatty acids, which are pro-inflammatory. Alternatively, a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, olive oil, avocados) is associated with lower levels of inflammation. One way of assessing health status is to monitor the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. An optimal ratio of omega-6:omega-3 is 1:1, but the typical ratio in the American diet is 15:1. Since the standard American diet tends to be low in omega-3 fatty acids and high in omega-6 fatty acids, a majority of individuals have high levels of inflammation in the brain and body. Ultimately, elevated inflammation can result in a myriad of serious health issues. BMD: Healthy blood flow to the brain is a hallmark of brain health. How does taking omega-3s help get more blood flow to the brain? KW: Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to support healthy blood flow through the vasodilation of the blood vessels. This is beneficial in supporting both cardiovascular health as well as brain health. BMD: For someone who wants to take a plant-based omega-3, why is it more beneficial to go with an ultra-pure, high-potency fish oil like Omega-3 Power? KW: Omega-3s derived from fish (sardine, salmon and mackerel) are comprised of the long chain fatty acids EPA and DHA. Omega-3s derived from plants (flaxseed, chia) are comprised of the short chain fatty acid alpha linoleic acid (ALA), which is a building block of EPA and DHA. Plant-based omega-3s contain considerably lower levels of EPA and DHA; therefore, it requires consuming a significantly higher amount to get the equivalent found in a fish-based omega-3 fatty acid supplement. BMD: What other surprising areas of health does omega-3 supplementation support? KW: The benefits of taking omega 3 fatty acids daily not only include supporting brain and heart health, they are also essential to maintaining healthy vision, hair, skin and nails. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids support healthy joints as well as help healthy weight management. To learn more about Omega-3 Power, click here.
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Protect Your Sleep With These Simple Tips
When Daylight Savings Time starts again on March 9, as we “spring forward” an hour, brain health warriors need to be on the ready. Here’s why. While we may enthusiastically welcome spring’s extended, light-filled days, especially after a long, cold oppressive winter, the switch to Daylight Savings Time comes with a bitter pill: losing an hour of sleep! It might not sound like much, but losing an hour of sleep can really mess with your body’s natural circadian rhythms (internal body clock) as well as brain function, which may put you at higher risk for car accidents and even heart attack, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. And for those of us who have sleep issues already (an estimated 70 million Americans), the time change can make insomnia even worse. Did you know that sleep is involved in rejuvenating all the cells in your body, gives brain cells a chance to repair themselves, and activates neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate due to inactivity? It’s true! Sleep is that important to your brain and body. In fact, clinical neuroscientist, board-certified psychiatrist and brain imaging expert, Dr. Daniel G Amen, says that for most adults, getting enough sleep each night is essential for maintaining your mental edge, as well as for losing weight and even keeping depression at bay. That’s because lack of sleep is associated with lower overall blood flow to the brain, which can compromise brain function, will power and mood. Why lose precious brainpower and the healthy choices that come from an optimally functioning mind for even a day? Problems often occur when our brains are not functioning at their best. Sleep is critical to your well-being and most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night. It's simple: When our brains work better, our lives work better. So make a decision right now to protect your vital sleep and maintain optimal brain health when we spring forward to Daylight Savings Time with these four simple actions: Here Are 4 of the Top Ways to Spring Forward 1. Go to Bed Earlier, Wake Up Earlier Starting tonight and until Daylight Savings Time actually goes into effect, simply go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. You’re body will get a head start resetting it’s internal clock and you will transition more easily to the change. 2. Take Melatonin Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally released from your brain’s pineal gland in response to light and dark. It’s an important regulator of the sleep cycle in the body. Normally, melatonin levels rise in the evening, when it gets dark, making you sleepy and remain high for most of the night and then drop in the early morning, when it gets light and you awake. When we spring forward and there is more light in the evening, your melatonin production may kick in later making it more difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. (Aging, traveling through time zones or certain medications can also have an effect on proper melatonin production.) Supplementing with melatonin prior to bedtime helps support your body’s natural mechanism that allows you to fall asleep and stay asleep. 3. Avoid Stimulating and Sleep-Disruptive Activities When the time springs forward, we generally have trouble falling asleep. It will help if you avoid anything that has a stimulating or sleep-disruptive effect. This means turning off electronics at least an hour or two before bedtime; avoiding caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate), alcohol (although a depressant, it interferes with sleep), vigorous exercise or large meals too close to bedtime. 4. Take a Natural Relaxation Support Supplement Taking one or any combination of the following natural supplements may support your body’s ability to relax. GABA or gamma-amino-butyric acid is an amino acid that regulates brain excitability. GABA functions to inhibit the excessive firing of neurons, which results in a feeling of calm. It essentially plays a role in turning the “off” switch on a busy mind. When you supplement with GABA, you support the body’s natural mechanism for quieting the mind. Who doesn’t need that? Magnesium, also known as the “relaxation” mineral, plays a role in hydration, muscle relaxation, energy production and, perhaps most important to sleep, the deactivation of adrenaline. A deficiency in magnesium can interfere in nerve cell firing, resulting in irritability and nervousness. Supplementing the body with magnesium helps with a sense of calmness, needed for restful sleep. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is an herb that has been used traditionally for centuries and is known for its calming effects. It appears that valerian may work through the GABA receptors, which, as you just learned, calm brain activity when activated. Dr. Amen formulated Restful Sleep with a combination of nutrients designed to support a calm mind and promote a deep, relaxed, restful night’s sleep. Learn more. Here’s to celebrating the joy of more daylight and protecting your brain-healthy sleep! References Vincent, A. Daylight Savings Time and Traffic Accidents. N Engl J Med. 1996; 334:924-925. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199604043341416 Janszky, I, et al. Shifts to and from Daylight Saving Time and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med. 2008; 359:1966-1968. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0807104
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Questions To Get Rid of Automatic Negative Thoughts
Don’t let stressful, negative thoughts hijack your happiness! When the National Safety Council reports that as much as 80% of all disease and illness is initiated and aggravated by stress, it may make you take stress reduction more seriously. But where does stress really begin? Unless we catch it where it starts, it's going to be challenging to combat it, right? According to clinical neuroscientist, board certified psychiatrist, brain imaging expert, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, often, it is your AUTOMATIC NEGATIVE THOUGHTS (ANTs) that are the root of your stress. Yes, what we think is powerful! And unfortunately, our thoughts lie – they lie a lot. So, if you want to enjoy a vibrant, brain-healthy life, in addition to taking brain-healthy supplements, eating brain-smart foods, getting plenty of rest, water, and exercise – correcting your negative thinking to reduce your internal stress is key! Sounds good. But how do you change your thoughts? Good question! Dr. Amen is a fan of a method developed by bestselling author and speaker Byron Katie, called the Work. The Work consists of writing down any bothersome, worrisome, or negative thoughts, then asking yourself four questions and doing what’s called a turnaround. The goal of the Work isn’t pie-in-the-sky positive thinking; it is accurate thinking. When we correct our ANTs, we reduce our stress, and it becomes easier to make better choices and lead brain healthy lives! Here are the 4 questions to ask: Is it true? (Is the negative thought true?) Can I absolutely know that it is true? How do I react when I think that thought? Who would I be without that thought? Or, how would I feel if I didn’t have that thought? Find out how one of Dr. Amen’s patients, Gina, used the Work when ANTs threatened to sabotage her efforts to lose weight before her wedding day… Gina was hoping to lose weight before her wedding. After shedding some pounds initially, she gained a pound after the third week. She turned around a negative thought process that was triggered by the small weight gain by following the questions. Question #1: Is it true that you will not lose weight in time for the wedding? “Yes,” she said. Question #2: Can you absolutely know that it is true that you will not lose the weight in time for the wedding? Initially, she said yes. Then she said, “Well, maybe I will. Maybe this is just a temporary setback.” Question #3: How do you feel when you have the thought, “I will never lose weight in time for my wedding? “I feel frustrated, and I feel like a failure. I’m afraid that I will be fat on my wedding day, “ she said. Question #4: What would you be without the thought, “I will never lose weight in time for my wedding? “ She said, “I would just be happy that I’m getting married.” Turnaround: What is the opposite thought of “I will never lose weight in time for my wedding?” “I will lose weight in time for my wedding.” Gina then felt a renewal of energy to keep watching what she ate rather than giving up on her diet. You can begin reducing your stress by killing the ANTs and embracing more positive, accurate thoughts that guide you to make better choices and better brain health!
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Getting Your Healthy Brain Back
Like most people, you may not wonder why almost all psychiatrists never look at the organ they treat. But one man has. He’s Daniel G. Amen MD, clinical neuroscientist, board certified psychiatrist, brain imaging expert, nine-time New York Times best-selling author and founder of the Amen Clinics. And his curiosity makes perfect sense if you think about it. Cardiologists look, neurologists look, and orthopedic doctors look. In fact, virtually every other medical specialist looks at an image of the area they are treating. Yet, amazingly, psychiatrists look for symptom clusters and then they, well…guess. That’s right…guess. Dr. Amen has been trying to change that approach for over 25 years with his forward-thinking and innovative practice using SPECT imaging--Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography--to treat patients at the Amen Clinics. SPECT is a nuclear medicine study that looks at blood flow and activity, and how the brain works. It reveals three things about the brain--good activity, too little or too much—and plays an important role in the diagnosis and overall treatment process Dr. Amen uses at his clinics. Dr. Amen was among the first physicians to begin using SPECT in a clinical setting to generate critically important information about a patient’s brain activity. He and his colleagues went on to build the world's largest database of brain scans related to behavior—nearly 100,000 scans on patients from 111 countries around the world. The positive results and outcomes keep pouring in and clearly show that illnesses such as ADD, depression, anxiety and addiction can be helped significantly with a brain-health program that starts by “looking.” According to Dr. Amen, looking at the brain is important because many of these issues are not singular or simple disorders in the brain. There are multiple types. For example, two patients diagnosed with major depression can present brain scans that look very different. One might have low brain activity and the other could show elevated activity. Although the diagnoses are the same, these brains need different treatment protocols. In this brief but power-packed TEDx talk, Dr. Amen shares his passion for psychiatry and how SPECT imaging combined with a rigorous brain-health program can reverse brain damage and positively impact generations to come in a family. These results have shown that you are not stuck with the brain you have – brain health can be improved. A former army x-ray technician, Dr. Amen first learned about SPECT imaging at a medical lecture in 1991. It was then that Dr. Amen’s love of medical imaging and psychiatry came together and ignited a passion that changed his life—and the lives of thousands of others. But his innovative approach has had its critics. For years researchers have been complaining that a clinical psychiatrist like Dr. Amen should not be doing scans. They argue that brain imagery should be used exclusively by researchers in academia. Dr. Amen disagrees, of course. Here’s how he puts it: “Without imaging, psychiatrists then and, even today, make diagnoses like they did for Abraham Lincoln in 1840--by talking to people and looking for symptom clusters.” With the diagnostic information revealed in a SPECT scan, Dr. Amen and his colleagues can tailor treatment to individual brains, not clusters of symptoms. Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychiatric Illness One of the most significant findings of the Amen Clinics imaging work is that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of psychiatric illness. Brain injuries often go undetected by psychiatrists who mostly focus on the problems presented by the patient—things like: temper, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Because psychiatrists never look at the brain, they never know. TBI has far-reaching implications when it comes to mental health and social welfare concerns. It’s not a shock that researchers have found that undiagnosed brain injuries are a major cause of homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, panic attacks, ADHD and suicide. That connection has prompted judges and defense attorneys to seek help from Dr. Amen to understand criminal behavior. To date, the Amen Clinics have scanned over 500 convicted felons, including 90 murderers. The work produced two important findings: 1) People who do bad things often have trouble brains; and 2) Many of these brains could be rehabilitated! Imagine if our society evaluated and treated troubled brains rather than simply warehousing them in toxic, stressful environments? When Dr. Amen and his colleagues performed the first and largest study on active and retired NFL players, the results showed high levels of brain damage. This came at a time when the NFL was still maintaining that they didn't know if playing football causes long-term brain damage. Dr. Amen put the players on his brain-smart program and demonstrated that 80 percent of them could improve in the areas of a blood flow, memory, and mood. That study provided even more compelling evidence that you are not stuck with the brain you have and you can make it better on a brain-healthy program like the one used at the Amen Clinics. Dr. Amen’s favorite story that clearly demonstrates the power of “looking” at the brain comes from a 9-year-old boy named Andrew who attacked a little girl on a baseball field for no apparent reason. At the time, Andrew was drawing pictures of himself hanging from a tree and shooting other children. He was Columbine and Sandy Hook waiting to happen. Most psychiatrists would have medicated Andrew as they did Eric Harris and the other mass shooters before they committed their horrific crimes that day. But SPECT imaging taught Dr. Amen that he should look at Andrew’s brain and not simply guess at a treatment plan. It’s a good thing he did. Andrew’s SPECT scan showed a cyst the size of a golf ball lodged in his brain’s temporal lobe. A medication or therapy would never have helped Andrew. When the cyst was removed, his behavior completely went back to normal and he became the sweet, loving boy hiding under the negative behavior. Andrew happens to be Dr. Amen’s nephew. Now, more than 18 years later, he owns his own home, is employed, and lives a full, brain-healthy life. And it’s all because someone bothered to look at his brain. He has been a better son and will be a better husband, father and grandfather down the road. That poignant story is one of the chief reasons Dr. Amen continues to innovate and change the practice of psychiatry. “When you have the privilege changing someone's brain, you not only change his or her life, you have the opportunity to change generations to come.” - Daniel G. Amen, MD
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11 Simple Brain-Boosting Steps
Want to know the real secret to achieving the body you desire? Of course you do! The great news is that it is not a diet or new workout or any kind of quick fix. It’s actually all in your head! (Well…brain, to be exact.) It’s really simple. Your brain is the command-and-control center for your body, and your brain function is directly related to how your body looks, feels, and functions. When you take care of your brain, you take care of your body. Want a beautiful body? Strive for a beautiful brain! So, how exactly do you improve your brain health? Having scanned more than 100,000 brains from 111 countries around the world, clinical neuroscientist, board certified psychiatrist, brain imaging expert, nine-time New York Times bestselling author and Amen Clinics founder, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, has developed the following 11 simple brain-boosting steps that will get you on your way! 11 of the Best Daily Brain Boosters 1. Protect Your Brain Simply be conscious of how precious your brain is to you and your loved ones! 2. Eat a Good Diet Good nutrition is essential to good brain function and to a better body. A healthy diet includes lean protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts and healthy fats such as olive oil. Studies show that your brain works better if you eat nine servings of fruits and veggies a day. 3. Take Daily Vitamins, Minerals and Fish Oil Because most of us do not get all the nutrients we need from the foods we eat, I recommend that everybody take a daily multivitamin and a mineral supplement. I also urge people to take a daily fish oil supplement, which can decrease inflammation, boost blood flow to the brain and help to combat low moods. 4. Exercise When it comes to the brain, exercise acts like the fountain of youth. It is the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain healthy and is one of the best ways to change your shape and improve your mood, energy level, sexual performance and overall health. 5. Get Enough Sleep Getting at least seven hours of sleep at night has been shown to help your brain function at optimal levels, to keep your appetite in check, and to help your skin look younger. 6. Meditate Meditation activates the most thoughtful part of the brain, so you can make better and more intelligent decisions. 7. Relax Learning how to counteract stress and calm your body helps your brain work better, puts you in a better mood, reduces blood pressure, and protects you from disease. 8. Gratitude When you focus on what you love, your brain works better, you are coordinated, and you feel better. 9. Have More Sex Safe sex, and especially sex in a loving, committed relationship, is good medicine for your brain and your body, helping you reduce stress, boost immunity, live longer, and live more. 10. Balance Your Hormones Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone play a key role in helping maintain the health and vitality of your brain and body. 11. Treat Mental Disorders A strong link between mental disorders and physical illnesses and physical conditions has been well established. Treating mental conditions improves brain function and general health and well-being.
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Omega-3 Power
Do you want to know the real secret to looking your best, feeling your best and doing your best thinking? Of course you do! It’s simple: Give your brain high quality nutrition. Health always starts with the brain. When your brain works right, you work right. And when your brain is in trouble, you are more likely to have trouble in your life. So, you may be wondering, okay, well, what kind of nutrition does my brain need and where do I start? Smart thinking! Considering that on any given day, about 60% of the solid weight of your brain is fat – giving your brain plenty of healthy fat is kind of a (excuse the pun) no brainer. Your brain loves healthy fat and here’s why: Fat plays an important structural role in your brain cell membranes. Specifically, the omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA makes up a full quarter of all brain fat, and it’s the brain’s favorite fat for building membranes! Another omega-3 essential fatty acid called EPA helps support mood and emotional balance. But here’s the catch: Our bodies do not manufacture essential fatty acids on their own! That’s why they’re called essential. We need to get them from our diet. Sure, we get omega-3 fatty acids from certain foods such as fish, walnuts and avocados and green leafy vegetables, but most of us are deficient – very deficient. Shockingly, the average American adult consumes less than one gram of omega-3 fatty acids per day, when we should get around three to four grams! That’s why clinical neuroscientist, board-certified psychiatrist, New York Times bestselling author and brain imaging expert Daniel G. Amen, MD, says, “Certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, play such an important role in brain and body health, I suggest that most people take them everyday regardless of their brain type.” In fact, Dr. Amen created his very own fish oil supplement to make getting the right kinds of brain healthy omega-3s super easy for everyone. It’s called Omega-3 Power. Each serving gives your brain loads of the right healthy fats, and it has a great lemon flavor with no funny aftertaste. But the best way to learn about this supplement is to listen to the People Behind the Product who take Omega-3 Power every day have to say about it in this short video. Dr. Amen’s Omega-3 Power makes getting brain healthy omega-3 super easy. Each serving of this ultra pure, great-tasting, lemon-flavored fish oil contains 1,600 mg of omega-3 fatty acids with just the right amounts EPA and DHA at the proper ratio. “I wanted everyone connected to me to have access to the highest quality Omega-3 supplement available anywhere,” Dr. Amen says. Here are a few comments from The People Behind the Product featured in the video: “Initially, when I thought about taking fish oil, I was a little afraid because I heard horror stories of people having fishy burps and that’s never pleasant for anyone. I tried Omega-3 Power after trying three other ones, which didn’t work out. This one was easy to take, easy to swallow, no fishy aftertaste.” – Jenna “I’ve noticed a big difference. I definitely feel my brain is healthier. I’m more focused at work, in my everyday tasks.” – Erika “I’ve been taking Omega-3 Power now for about a month, and the results are amazing! I feel more energy. My hair is healthier. My nails are stronger. When I wake up in the morning, I just kind of bounce out of bed now rather than feeling like I’m dragging myself.” – Amanda “I’ve been taking Omega-3 Power for about two to three years now. I’d say the change is pretty significant…I can look back to times before and remember just those slumps that I had. I don’t have those days anymore, so I think it’s been huge.” – Keith To get better brain nutrition to look, feel and think your best, check out Omega-3 Power right now, click below. Order Now!
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Time to Take Care of Your Heart
When you take care of your Brain you are able to make better decisions like taking care of your Heart. Time to take care of your heart. Not only is February a perfect month to show love to our Valentine, it coincides perfectly with American Heart Month. This is a time to show love for yourself, your body and your brain. During this month of February pay special attention towards taking care for your heart. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States with 1 in every 4 people having heart disease. Pick 1 or 2 actions below to start today in preparing your Brain and Heart for longevity: Stop Smoking Stop Drinking Alcohol Lower overall salt intake to decrease High Blood Pressure, a marker for heart disease Lose weight Be more physically active Stop using illegal drugs Follow a heart healthy diet like The Omni Diet with more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, protein, beans Omit Sugar Start meditation Start Yoga Tell and show a loved one that you love them Get a Brain SPECT Scan to learn how to make better decisions Take Brain Healthy Supplements
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Too Much Technology May be Having a Negative Impact
Do you crave one excitement after the other throughout your day? If so, you might want to consider your brain’s pleasure centers. To keep cravings in check, it’s very important to be sure your pleasure centers are healthy and balanced. Clinical neuroscientist, board-certified psychiatrist, New York Times bestselling author and brain imaging expert, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, believes that too much technology may be having a negative effect on our relationships and our bodies. It has to do with the way that constant stimulation of technology impacts the brain. Deep within your brain are large structures called the basal ganglia. They are involved in pleasure and motivation. When the basal ganglia are healthy, we feel happy and motivated. When they work too hard, we can be anxious or overly driven. When they are low in activity, we may feel low or unmotivated. But here’s the concern. The brain’s pleasure centers run on a chemical dopamine, which is the same chemical cocaine stimulates and the main chemical of new love! Whenever a little bit of dopamine is released, we feel pleasure. However, if dopamine is released too often or too strongly, we become desensitized to it and it takes more and more excitement to get the same response. In the book Thrilled to Death by respected psychologist Dr. Archibald Hart, he suggests the evolution of technology in our society is wearing out our brain’s pleasure centers. Dr. Amen is concerned that as a society, we have released massive amounts of technology on the population with virtually no study on what it all does to developing brains or to our families. “We need to be more careful. Find natural sources of pleasure, such as nature, a great conversation and long, loving eye contact,” Dr. Amen says. Here are three ways to help balance your brain’s pleasure centers: Use relaxation techniques to calm this part of the brain. Engage in activities that give you motivation without putting you in overdrive. Use supplements such as vitamin B6, magnesium and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) known to calm anxiety and support balance in your pleasure centers.
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Be Your Own Valentine This Year
Valentine's Day is a time to Focus on Love and Nourishment. This year reframe Valentine's Day and make it about Loving and Nourishing Yourself. Be Your Own Valentine. Take this time to Treat Yourself with calming, healthy and relaxing acts. Make this a sweet but sugar free Holiday! As you prepare for treating your special Valentine this year focus on treating yourself, AS YOU ARE THE VALENTINE. WAYS TO TREAT YOURSELF FOR VALENTINE'S DAY: Take a bath with spa music and relaxing beeswax candles. Book a Massage Appointment. Do a yoga class. Go for a Hike. For chocolate: Indulge in one of Dr. Daniel Amen's Brain in Love Bars. Have some treats without the sugar. Spend time reading a book. Buy yourself Flowers. Better yet give back and plant a tree. Make yourself a beautiful home cooked healthy meal. Treat yourself to a romantic dinner alone. Take 3 hours to yourself. Instead of baking heart shaped cookies. Try having heart shaped strawberries and watermelon. Take a meditation class. Organize your space and de-clutter your life and mind. Make this a healthier Valentine's Day and instead of treating yourself to material items, fancy unhealthy meals, and alcohol, treat yourself with love, peace, kindness, healthy nourishing foods and a calm day. There is no better way to treat yourself than to feed yourself loving and nourishing foods.
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Steps to Enhance Your Level of Intimacy Now
Have you ever wondered why women talk more than men and seem to remember every mistake their man makes? Or why men often need constant reminders to do a simple task? Common relationship frustrations like these may boil down to simple biology – brain biology, that is. The truth is that your brain--the command-and-control center of your body and behavior--is significantly different than your male or female partner’s brain. Understanding the brain’s gender differences will help you improve the quality of your intimate relationship and sex life. Everyone wants to have a better sex life, right? Of course! And research provides even more incentive by showing that men live longer when they have sex more frequently and women live longer when they enjoy the sex they have. Clinical neuroscientist, board-certified psychiatrist, nine-time New York Times best-selling author and brain imaging expert Daniel G. Amen, MD, has distilled brain-related gender differences into simple steps that will enhance your level of intimacy right now. Dr. Amen should know. He and his colleagues have examined nearly 100,000 SPECT brain scans from men and women in 111 countries around the world. Take a look at this short video clip from his Brain in Love program where Dr. Amen brings compelling insight to a few of the most common gender stereotypes that cause so much frustration in relationships. You’ll learn 3 gender-based brain rules for both women and men to follow in order to promote more love and harmony in their relationships. His discoveries will certainly surprise you and hopefully bring more joy and satisfying intimacy to you and your partner! Dr. Amen’s Brain in Love Secrets Revealed Dr. Amen connects brain biology to the following common gender stereotypes, allowing for greater understanding and empathy between the sexes. The Directions Dilemma Women, don’t blame your man if he doesn’t ask for directions! “Women seem to have better access to the part of the brain that lets them know when they have a problem. So even though men are usually better at getting from point A to point B, women are much better at knowing when they are lost and they are definitely not shy in telling you about it,” he says. Why Women Talk, A Lot Men, do you ever wonder why women use so many words? “Unlike men, who usually only have language on the left side of their brain, women usually have language on both sides of their brains, which makes them more expansive with their communication,” Dr. Amen explains. For the Love of Shoes There’s a reason women love collecting shoes and going to their favorite salon for a pedicure. It turns out that the area of the brain that feels your feet is right next to the area of the brain that feels your genitals. Dr. Amen says that technically makes shoe shopping foreplay. (Women, be sure to share this with your partner!) Women Think, Men Act and Other Brain Differences Here are some fun brain facts: Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used brain scans to show that when a man is at rest, at least 70% of his brain is dead. When women were at rest in the same study, at least 90% of their brains were busy and confirming that she’s always thinking. The prefrontal cortex is larger in women. This is the most human, thoughtful part of the brain and when it is low, people are more likely to have trouble with impulse control and excitement-seeking behavior. “This might explain why guys do stupid things like jump out of airplanes much more than women,” notes Dr. Amen. Men have a larger amygdala – an area near the temporal lobes that has been implicated in aggression. Women have a larger hippocampus – a major memory structure in the brain. Dr. Amen says this might explain why a woman is likely to remember every bad thing her man did! Want More Love and Sex? Follow Dr. Amen’s Brain-Based Rules While there are exceptions to these generalizations, here are a few of the most helpful rules: FOR WOMEN Rule #1: Do not expect your men to act like your best girlfriends. Yes, men are more interested in sex. The male hormone, testosterone, does that to their brains. The area in the brain responsive to sex hormones is two and a half times larger in men than in women. Rule #2: If you want your man to listen, use fewer words. Men use fewer words and they’re more direct. Remember, they usually only have language on the left side of their brain, while women have language on both sides. Give him less and he’ll grasp more. FOR MEN Rule #1: Do not expect your woman to act like your best guy friends. Studies report that a woman’s limbic or emotional brain is larger than a man’s, which is why bonding is often easier for women. She likely wants time with you, communication, and not sex all the time. Rule #2: Help her take care of the home. With a larger limbic brain, women also have a stronger nesting instinct than men, which means her home is critical to her level of happiness and security. Tend to the “honey-do” list. Watch the Brain In Love video to learn more rules to boost your love and sex life. If you want to explore the full Brain in Love program right now CLICK HERE.
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The 50 Best Brain Foods
Eat Great Brain Foods Foods that contain high amounts of antioxidants help your body and brain stay young. Several studies have found that eating food rich in antioxidants, which include many fruits and vegetables, significantly reduces the risk of developing cognitive impairment. Eat fruits and vegetables of many different colors to ensure that you are getting a wide variety of antioxidants to nourish and protect your brain. Below is a list of great brain food. The 50 Best Brain Foods [wc_row][wc_column size="one-half" position="first"] Raw Almonds Almond Milk (unsweetened) Apples Asparagus Avocados * Bananas Beans (black, pinto, garbanzo) Bell Peppers Beets* Blackberries* Blueberries* Broccoli* Brussel sprouts Carrots Cheese (low-fat) Cherries* Chicken (skinless) Cranberries* Egg whites (DHA enriched) Grapefruit Herring Honeydew Kiwi* Lemons Lentils [/wc_column][wc_column size="one-half" position="last"] Limes Oats Olives Olive oil Oranges* Peaches Peas Plums* Pomegranates Raspberries* Red grapes* Soybeans Spinach* Strawberries* Green Tea Tofu Tomatoes Tuna Turkey (skinless) Walnuts Water Whole Wheat Wild salmon Yam & sweet potatoes Yogurt (unsweetened) [/wc_column][/wc_row] *Great Source of Antioxidants
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Better Brain—Better Sex!
Everyone wants to know how to improve their love life, right? Of course! Especially during this time of year when our Valentines hearts soar. So why is it so tough to make that desire a reality? For starters, most of us don’t realize how much the brain influences our love life. But it’s true! A better brain leads to better sex. In fact, the most important sex organ in the human body is the brain. Dr. Amen, who opened his first Amen Clinic in 1989, now has six clinics across the country where he and his team have performed nearly 100,000 brain SPECT scans on patients from 111 countries. That experience has led to a deep understanding of the brain and how its health impacts every part of our life. Take a look at this short video and you’ll be able to rev up your own love life. Based on Dr. Amen’s cutting-edge neuroscience research, The Brain in Love features 12 information-packed lessons on how to achieve emotional and physical intimacy. Here are just two of many great tips you’ll pick up: How to understand you and our partner’s behavior and avoid “relationship pitfalls.” How to truly connect with your partner to create a vibrant and lasting relationship Click below to get started toward making your brain—and your relationships—healthy and strong. Order Now!
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