Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
It’s no secret that even being moderately physically active can benefit your overall health, wellness and fitness and may reduce your risk for numerous chronic and preventable diseases. But what happens if you are a fit and active older adult and decide to stop exercising? …
A new study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge reveals that middle-aged adults who were overweight had reduced white matter volume in the brain, which, researchers say, represents around a decade of brain aging. …
Jerry Hickey is a pharmacist and radio personality and fills the esteemed role of Scientific Director and President of Invite Health. He has spent his professional life analyzing nutritional information and medical studies with the aim of creating the highest quality and most natural nutraceuticals for user’s maximum health benefits. Here, Jerry speaks about the benefits of Phosphatidylserine…
We’re going to talk about a brain health nutrient. It’s considered completely safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there are about 2 ounces of it in your body, with 1 ounce residing in your brain. That’s how important it is for your brain. And it’s one of the reasons why eating fish is good for your brain; Fish oils interact with this nutrient and suck it into the brain cells, regenerating them. It’s called Phosphatidylserine.
Sixty percent of our brain is made out of lipids (or fats). A very important fat in your brain is called phosphatidylserine. It’s an important player for cognitive function, for executive functions, and especially for your memory. Phosphatidylserine levels drop with age. This supplement has been clinically proven to improve your cognitive functions that have suffered due to age. You know you get that forgetfulness, that absentmindedness, you don’t remember where you put your keys, you can’t remember your friend’s name, whatever it might be. Clinical studies indicate that that it can slow down and even reverse that normal decline seen in the aging brain that has to do with memory.
Here is some research from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease from the University of Sherbrooke up in Quebec, Canada. They show that there is a drop in Phosphatidylserine levels in the aging brain. This is not an Alzheimer’s study; it is a study proving it really is a cocktail of nutrients that are important for the aging brain to help support normal memory functions. Low levels of Phosphatidylserine affects the health of the memory banks of the brain because it gets into the regions where the brain cells communicate which each other and it just helps restore that function.
A study from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center published in a journal called Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders took 157 people who were older and starting to develop some memory issues over the course of 15 weeks. They were given Phosphatidylserine and also made sure they were either eating fish or taking fish oils. Verbal immediate recall significantly improved in less than three months. A tremendous improvement in memory and cognitive performance on different types of tests occurred, as well. Word recall, the ability to learn and remember, and the ability to copy complex figures all were improved simply by giving them this nutrient.
Here’s another study from The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences – for three months, they gave elderly patients who had typical cognitive decline and memory issues doses of Phosphatidylserine. It improved their brain function all around, their memory and their word recall.
Read more about Phosphatidylserine from Nicole Crane, BS, NTP by clicking here!
Here’s a different spin on it: if you’re aging, you want to put this back in your brain and you want to eat fish. Salmon is great for the brain, and provides an antioxidant called astaxanthin that shields it. It has choline, the B vitamin involved in brain function. It has magnesium and taurine to calm down the brain and create neurotransmitters and it also has fish oils. The missing component is the Phosphatidylserine. So if you’re eating salmon two to three times a week, that’s a treat for your brain. If you add the Phosphatidylserine, it’s an amazing treat for your brain.
Another study from Angelo State University took a group of their athletes from this college and gave them Phosphatidylserine. Within two weeks, Phosphatidylserine improved the focus and brain function of these athletes. Their math scores also improved; In just two weeks, it improved their math performance time by 20% and reduced a number of errors on the math test by 40% within two weeks.
I have customers and listeners asking me, “My kid has a little trouble focusing; he’s not paying attention in school”. So I suggest two or three things that are really good for their focus. Phosphatidylserine is one of them. If you need to perform and you need to focus, start taking this nutrient two weeks in advance and you’ll find it really has an impact.
So it’s for memory functions, for focus, for concentration, for remembering, for all those executive functions such as planning a vacation, figuring out how much you have in the bank or doing math in your grocery store to figure out your change. Your ability to do all of these things are greatly improved. It also helps school kids pay attention; It helps their grades. And it helps athletes keep their eye on the ball.
[sgmb id=”1″] Healthy Tips from our Scientific Director, Jerry Hickey, R. Ph There is a slowing of brain function that naturally occurs in us as we age. This occurs for two reasons. There is a drop in the concentration of growth factors that repair spaces …
As we age, our brain function slows down naturally. This happens for two main reasons. First off, there is a drop that occurs in the concentration of growth factors that repair spaces between nerves, known as the synaptic region. This leads to a slower healing …
You’ve heard it all before – exercise regularly, follow a healthy diet, stop smoking and drinking. Doctors and scientists have always followed the same guidelines for overall health and wellness. But a new study from the journal Neurology shows a rather new advancement – following one particular diet may make your brain about five years younger.
An MRI was performed on 674 older adults (an average of 80 years old) who participated in the study to compare factors that included total brain volume and total gray matter volume. Gray matter is mainly composed of cell bodies that help carry out most of your conscious thoughts and coordination. White matter is composed of the axons that connect to the cell bodies, controlling pathways the messages or impulses travel through to get to the brain.
Food surveys were completed by the participants describing what they ate in the last year. The study’s results showed that the group who followed a Mediterranean diet had heaver brains with more gray and white matter.
The Mediterranean diet involves meals made of mostly plants like vegetables, fruits and beans. Fish and poultry are also included. The diet advises you to eat three servings of carbs a day, particularly whole grains but to limit the amount of meat, dairy and saturated fat you eat.
A combination of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet (requires you to eat less fish and fruit) dubbed the MIND diet, was created by scientists at Harvard and Rush University in Chicago. Their study concluded that people who ate a diet close to the MIND diet saw a 53% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The Mediterranean diet is suggested by these researchers to help you live longer, manage your weight better and lower the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CNN). Jun Wang, MS and Director of Nutrition for InVite® Health, has reported on the DASH diet in an article he wrote entitled, Supporting Approaches to Managing Hypertension –
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a flexible and balanced eating plan that is based on research studies and specifically designed to lower blood pressure. The DASH diet focuses on the intake of fruits, vegetables, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, which includes whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, nuts and vegetable oils. The diet also limits the intake of sodium, sweets, sugary beverages and red meats. The DASH diet is low in saturated and trans-fats and rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and protein, along with the antioxidant pigments such as polyphenols and carotenoids found in produce. All of these components make this diet one of the best for cardiovascular health.
Former director of Nutrition for InVite® Health, Dr. Millie Lytle, ND, MPH, CNS has also reported on the Mediterranean Diet in an article entitled, Nutrigenomics for Prostate Health, which delved into the relationship between nutrients and genes. In her article, she reports the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet and prostate cancer –
Twenty men with diagnosed prostate cancer adhered to a Mediterranean diet, with specific adaptations, for three months. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and DNA damage were evaluated at baseline and after three months of following the diet. Dietary data was collated from diet diaries and an adaptation of a validated Mediterranean diet questionnaire. A significant reduction in DNA damage compared to baseline was apparent, with particular benefit noted for overall adherence to the diet, increased intake of folate, vitamin, legumes and green tea. Higher intakes of red meat and dairy products were inversely associated with DNA damage, meaning higher red meat and dairy consumption was associated with abnormal cells. The results from this small feasibility study suggest that a high-antioxidant diet, modelled on Mediterranean traditions, may be of benefit for men with prostate cancer. Protection against DNA damage appears to be associated with the diet implemented, theorized to be due to reduction in free radical damage from Reactive Oxygen Species.
For more information on the Mediterranean Diet, visit The Mayo Clinic or speak to a nutritionist or primary physician.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/21/health/mediterranean-diet-healthier-brain/index.html