Blue Blockers Protecting Vision Problems, Part 2 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 571
Are you on your computer, playing Xbox, or watching TV? The Blue Blockers will help to enhance your brain and eye fatigue. Listen now to learn more!
Tag: Alzheimer’s disease
Blue Blockers Protecting Vision Problems, Part 1 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 570
Join Jerry Hickey, Ph as he talks about the connection of green leafy vegetables and how they work as blue light blockers.
Knowledge is Power: Learn More About the Brain Health Program
Written by Melissa Bistricer, RDN
For further questions or concerns email me at [email protected]
Did you know that the brain is mostly made up of fat and is the fattest organ in the human body? The human brain has the ability to generate ~23 watts of power when awake. If you feel a cognitive dysfunction, this can alter the brain function leading to complicated issues such as memory loss, or decreased energy. So, let’s learn about the ways we can help improve your brain function.†
What is Brain Health?
Brain health is defined as the preservation of optimal brain integrity with cognitive function.1 Brain function can be affected as we age with a stable function called mild cognitive impairment and then progressing to worse stages like brain diseases such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. There are changes as individual’s age and make lifestyle adjustments to positively impact the brain.†
Mild cognitive impairment is generally expected as we get older and age.2 Individuals with mild cognitive impairments still have the ability to perform normal functions. Some minor memory loss can occur and is often called “senior moments.” Even though some individuals with mild cognitive impairment remain stable, half of them progress to Dementia. Though, there are ways to prevent the progression by controlling risk factors with lifestyle modifications. Lifestyle modifications that are discussed to benefit brain health can be exercise, cognitively stimulating activities, sleep, and nutrition.† 3
Brain Health Nutrition Therapy
The MIND diet has been studied and is recommended for individuals with cognitive decline. The MIND diet is a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diet. The focus being on wholesome fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It focuses mainly on leafy vegetables 7 days a week, 2 or more servings of berries a week and fatty fish like salmon 1 time a week or more. In the MIND diet it is recommended to avoid trans-saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, and saturated fats.†
Vitamins, Minerals & Herbs
Krill oil is shellfish derived that supplies EPA and DHA important omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids have to support healthy blood vessels function and circulation as well as brain health.†
A study provides insight that omega-3 polyunsaturated fats have an effect on cognitive function in the elderly population. This has been studied specifically with krill oil, a mostly omega-3-fatty acids with phosphatidylcholine.†
Acetyl-L-Carnitine, also called Alcar, provides energy to the mitochondria of the cells. The mitochondria is known as the “powerhouse” of the cells. Alpha-lipoic acid, also called ALA, is an antioxidant naturally produced in the body to help support glutathione. Alcar + ALA are combined together at InViteⓇ Health to help counteract oxidative stress in the body. Alcar has been studied for its numerous effects specifically on the brain and muscle metabolism. Alcar protects against neurotoxicity and may be an effective treatment for certain forms of depression.4 Preclinical studies suggest that ALA has free radicals, reduces inflammation and protects the brain cells from conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.† 5
Resveratrol Max HxⓇ has naturally sourced active trans-resveratrol in the formula and powerful antioxidants like grape seed extract and quercetin. Resveratrol comes from the skin of red grapes commonly known as the “red wine antioxidant.”†
Resveratrol is a long-term treatment with adequate dosages with improved bioavailability and can possibly exert clinically significant protective effects against cognitive decline in humans.†
RESVERATROL AND BRAIN PROTECTION – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 445 >> Listen now!
Grape Seed Extract contains flavonoids and is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Polyphenols and flavonoids maintain cellular proteostasis which is closely involved with amyloid diseases, in particular, neurodegenerative diseases. 8 Grape Seed Extract is valuable in therapeutic agents. Amyloid disease is an abnormal protein produced in the bone marrow causing deposits in any tissue or organs.†
Brain Health Program
Krill oil Advanced supports cardiovascular and brain health with the use of EPA, DHA, Astaxanthin and Omega-3 phospholipids †
Alcar + ALA supports for energy, memory, nerve health and metabolism †
Resveratrol Max HxⓇ supports brain health, cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic health †
For further questions or concerns related to dietary and nutritional supplement recommendations email me at [email protected]
Sources
1. Wang Y, Pan Y, Li H. What is Brain Health and why is it important? The BMJ. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3683#:~:text=Definition%20of%20brain%20health,-Currently%2C%20there%20is&text=Brain%20health%20 may%20therefore%20be, that%20effect%20 normal%20brain%20function. Published October 9, 2020. Accessed March 31, 2022.
2. Gauthier, Serge, et al. “Mild cognitive impairment.” The lancet 367.9518 (2006): 1262-1270.
3. Mintzer J, Donovan KA, Kindy AZ, Lock SL, Chura LR, Barracca N. Lifestyle Choices and Brain Health. Front Med (Lausanne). 2019; 6:204. Published 2019 Oct 4. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00204Mintzer J, Donovan KA, Kindy AZ, Lock SL, Chura LR, Barracca N. Lifestyle Choices and Brain Health. Front Med (Lausanne). 2019; 6:204. Published 2019 Oct 4. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00204
4. Smeland OB, Meisingset TW, Borges K, Sonnewald U. Chronic acetyl-L-carnitine alters brain energy metabolism and increases noradrenaline and serotonin content in healthy mice. Neurochem Int. 2012; 61(1):100-107. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2012.04.008
5. Alpha lipoic acid. Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/ratings/alpha-lipoic-acid#:~:text=Preclinical%20research%20 suggests%20that%20 ALA, multiple%20sclerosis%2C%20and%20Alzheimer’s%20disease. Accessed April 1, 2022.
6. Konagai C, Yanagimoto K, Hayamizu K, Han L, Tsuji T, Koga Y. Effects of krill oil containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipid form on human brain function: a randomized controlled trial in healthy elderly volunteers. Clin Interv Aging. 2013; 8:1247-1257. doi:10.2147/CIA.S50349
7. Cicero AFG, Ruscica M, Banach M. Resveratrol and cognitive decline: a clinician perspective. Arch Med Sci. 2019; 15(4):936-943. doi:10.5114/aoms.2019.85463
8. Mahdipour R, Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan A, Hosseini M, et al. The benefits of grape seed extract in neurological disorders and brain aging [published online ahead of print, 2022 Mar 28]. Nutr Neurosci. 2022; 1-15. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2022.2051954
Green Tea Benefits Your Memory – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 500
You’ve probably heard that green tea is good for your immune system and respiratory health, but did you know it can also benefit your memory? Learn more from Jerry Hickey, Ph.
Did You Know How Important DHA Is to an Aging Brain? – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 484
You’ve probably heard about omega-3 fatty acids and their benefits for a healthy heart and fending off inflammation, but have you heard of DHA? This omega-3 is incredibly important for supporting brain health in people of all ages.
Resveratrol and Brain Protection – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 445
resveratrol
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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To protect our brain from the outside world in case we get conked on the head with something, we have a very hard skull. But what protects our brain from things that are inside of us that do not belong in our brain? We have a powerful shield called the blood-brain barrier and it’s pretty complex. The issue is that as we age, it can become a little bit porous. It can get a little bit leaky and things can get into our brain that don’t belong in there.†
The Importance of the Blood-Brain Barrier
So what exactly would our blood-brain barrier be protecting us from? We have viruses and bacteria in the body, but there’s also waste products, such as byproducts from energy utilization and muscle functions, toxins and our own immune system. These need to be kept out of our brain and that’s what the blood-brain barrier does.†
We have cells called astrocytes that look like stars that help to feed the brain and work as the brain’s immune system. Astrocytes that are located close to the blood-brain barrier have the ability to repair this shield. This, to a degree, is dependent on a gene called sirtuin 1. Sometimes, there’s an imbalance and the blood-brain barrier that shields our brain becomes leaky. Resveratrol can help correct this.†
With age, sirtuin 1 levels in the brain decline. This affects the brain in many ways. When this occurs, you’re not preparing the blood-brain barrier as efficiently and effectively as you used to and it starts to get leaky and porous. If this is severe enough, it can be involved with diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.†
Resveratrol and Brain Health
A number of studies have found that inflammation in the body can inflame and damage the blood-brain barrier. This also inflames the brain and creates swelling. When the brain swells, it’s no longer capable of detoxifying. You get the buildup of a protein called beta-amyloid that can potentially become toxic. This protein creates chains called oligomers that poison your brain cells and kill your nerve tissue. This can lead to Alzheimer’s.†
In some of these studies, researchers showed that giving Alzheimer’s patients resveratrol was helping them to function better and even remember a little bit better. When the researchers really dug down deep into the data, they saw that the resveratrol was helping to heal the blood-brain barrier, so the bad things could no longer penetrate into the brain. Inflammation of the brain went down and so did swelling. The brain was able to restart the detoxification mechanisms and breakdown and remove some of the plaques.†
Resveratrol is triggering the repair of the blood-brain barrier. What it seems to be doing is restoring sirtuin 1 activity in the brain, which allows for the reactivation of astrocytes to repair the blood-brain barrier. This makes having a really high-quality resveratrol supplement very worthwhile in your 50s.†
GRAPE SEED FOR HEALTHY CIRCULATION – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 22. Listen Now>>
There is another important function of resveratrol for the brain. It also helps to restore circulation to the brain. Resveratrol is probably the most vaso-active supplement you can take. In other words, it helps to restore circulation throughout the body. This is especially important for the aging brain. The brain uses about 20% of the energy from each meal and to get all of that energy to the brain, you need a really good circulatory system. With age, the lining of your blood vessels stiffen and thicken, making it difficult for this energy to flow throughout the body and to the brain. Research has shown that resveratrol helps to restore circulation to the aging brain and is also very good for memory and cognitive functions.†
In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. explains the important function of the blood brain barrier. He discusses how this shield helps protect the brain and delves into the ways resveratrol can help to keep it strong throughout the aging process.†
Key Topics:
- What is sirtuin 1?
- The dangers of getting toxins in the brain
- Research on resveratrol and brain health
Thank you for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InViteⓇ Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.
