Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
As our bodies age, they begin to lose nutrients that are important for strength, memory and more. That’s why Jerry Hickey, Ph. has created a morning health concoction packed with nutrients to help the aging body function properly.
As we age, our muscles can begin to lose strength, leading to issues such as frailty syndrome. HMB is a powerful nutrient that has been shown for its ability to support muscle mass in people as they age, as well as in athletes.
whey protein
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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When people hear the words whey protein, they usually automatically correlate that with working out. We certainly know that that amino acid blend is very beneficial for maintaining skeletal muscles. But we also have to recognize that whey protein in particular does so many things for our overall health. Today, I want to focus on going beyond whey protein’s benefits for exercise.†
I want to discuss all of the powerful amino acids offered in our whey protein isolate powders. We have chocolate and vanilla whey protein. Using these powders in a smoothie is usually a good way of getting added nutrients because you can also add in fruits and vegetables to add an antioxidant punch. Plus you’re getting the fiber coming from the fruits and vegetables. You can find recipes from our nutritionists here.†
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Whey protein isolate contains branched-chain amino acids, which includes leucine, isoleucine and valine. Whey protein isolate is different from other forms of this protein because it’s had the fat and lactose removed. That’s very important, especially for people who have certain gastrointestinal sensitivities. By using the isolate form, you are just getting the amino acid blend, which is really very powerful. You’re getting tryptophan and tyrosine. Each one of these individual amino acids helps to regulate and control multiple different functions in the body.†
I really want to focus in on the way in which whey protein isolate can be beneficial when it comes to the aging process and cognition. One of the things we know this protein blend can do is that it helps to optimize immune function. It gives us these really important amino acids that help to support the gut microbiome.†
We can also look at how this nutrient can impact cognitive function. In a study done in Australia, researchers found that patients who had early-onset dementia or mild cognitive impairment also had low Vitamin B12 status. Then, they gave them whey protein isolate and they found that this actually helped to improve their B12 and folate levels. We know that both of those B-vitamins are integral to maintaining cognitive function as we get older.†
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We can look at each individual amino acid and the role that they play. For example, arginine helps to release nitric oxide. This impacts vasodilation and the more vasodilation we have, the more blood flow we have and the better oxygenation up to the brain. We can look at tryptophan, which helps to support proper neurotransmitter release. Researchers have also learned that certain amino acids can also function as antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fend off oxidative stress that can do damage to the mitochondria, which can lower our cognitive function.†
In this episode, Amanda Williams, MPH delves into the important role that whey protein can play outside of exercise and muscle function. She explains how it is made up of vital amino acids that are needed for mood, cognition, metabolism and more and also details how they relate to other essential nutrients in the body.†
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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.
In Part 2 of this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. delves into studies explaining how the nutrient HMB can help people facing muscle loss. He also discusses the importance of stretching.
Muscle loss is thought to impact more than 50 million people worldwide. This is problematic because it can lead to additional health issues including diabetes, physical disability, frailty syndrome and more. The good news is that there are nutrients that can help support overall muscle wellness as you age.
acetylcholine
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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If you’re beginning to forget things more commonly than usual, having trouble learning something new or losing your train of thought during a conversation, it may be related to the age-associated drop in the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine.†
Acetylcholine is produced naturally in your brain. It also works in the rest of your body, where it is involved in muscle function, heart function and more. But we’re focusing on the brain because acetylcholine is core to forming memories and learning. This nutrient has a natural decline with age and it leads to that age-related forgetfulness. We call this subjective memory loss.†
Acetylcholine is needed for more than just remembering and learning. You also use it for problem solving. For instance, if you get off the highway at the wrong exit and need to figure out how to get back on the right track, acetylcholine is needed for that. It’s also important for logical reasoning, as well as for focus and concentration.†
So how do you restore acetylcholine in the brain and body? It’s made out of choline, which is a water-soluble B vitamin. Regular choline is hard to get into the brain and it’s not in the best foods. It is in egg yolks and you do get some in fish, but a lot of the sources of choline are things such as organ meats. The choline used in most multivitamins and B-complex formulations doesn’t get into the brain very effectively. That doesn’t mean it’s not good.†
Choline is needed for nerve health, muscle health and liver health, but the form of choline that really gets into the brain is phosphatidylcholine, which is the precursor to making acetylcholine. You can get some phosphatidylcholine in legumes, but you get a lot in krill oil. Krill is a tiny crustacean related to shrimp. When we get krill for our Krill Oil Advanced formulation, we get it from a very clean, sustainable fishery in Antarctica. When you take krill oil or get phosphatidylcholine from legumes, the phosphatidylcholine readily enters your brain. The phosphatides are very important because they help maintain the structure of the brain, as well as the proper release of neurotransmitters, but it’s the choline that’s really important for your memory.†
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90% of Americans do not get sufficient choline in the diet, which is why a krill oil supplement can be so helpful. When you take krill, you get phosphatidylcholine that readily enters the brain. You also get the fish oils that are attached to the phosphatidylcholine. Then, if you also take Alcar with ALA, the acetyl group from that supplement will attach to the phosphatidylcholine from the krill and that helps you reestablish your acetylcholine.†
In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. explains the important role that the nutrient acetylcholine plays in memory. He also offers recommendations for how to rebuild levels in the body in order to support the brain.†
Key Topics:
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.
