Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by SmartTribes Institute Aging is inevitable. We are all looking for that magic switch to slow down aging, boost energy levels, and keep your memory sharp. Unfortunately, that switch does not exist. The good news is that we have science on our side, specifically …
Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash Cognition is a mental action that allows the acquiring of knowledge and understanding. These actions include reasoning, attention, memory and processing. As we age, cognitive decline can settle in, causing impairment, especially in those 65 years old and older. …
A new study involving mice, suggests that EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), the most abundant catechin and biologically active component in green tea, could alleviate high-fat and high-fructose (HFFD)-induced insulin resistance and cognitive impairment.
After water, green tea is the most consumed beverage in the world; and there’s good reason for it! The tea plant is rich in valuable antioxidants that tout numerous health benefits from immunity to oral health to weight management. And the evidence is very impressive
The tea plant is rich in valuable antioxidants known as polyphenols. The polyphenols in green tea are called catechins, of which EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is the most active and well known.
Xuebo Liu, Ph.D., a researcher at the College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, in Yangling, China, reports, “”The ancient habit of drinking green tea may be a more acceptable alternative to medicine when it comes to combating obesity, insulin resistance, and memory impairment.”
Liu and colleagues divided 3-month-old male mice into three groups based on diet:
1) a control group fed with a standard diet,
2) a group fed with an HFFD diet, and
3) a group fed with an HFFD diet and 2 grams of EGCG per liter of drinking water.
For 16 weeks, researchers monitored the mice and found that those fed with HFFD had a higher final body weight than the control mice, and a significantly higher final body weight than the HFFD+EGCG mice. In performing a Morris water maze test, researchers found that mice in the HFFD group took longer to find the platform compared to mice in the control group. The HFFD+EGCG group had a significantly lower escape latency and escape distance than the HFFD group on each test day. When the hidden platform was removed to perform a probe trial, HFFD-treated mice spent less time in the target quadrant when compared with control mice, with fewer platform crossings. The HFFD+EGCG group exhibited a significant increase in the average time spent in the target quadrant and had greater numbers of platform crossings, showing that EGCG could improve HFFD-induced memory impairment.
Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash Two new studies show that dark chocolate reduces stress and inflammation, while improving memory, immunity, and mood. Let’s get snackin’! Lee S. Berk, DrPH, associate dean of research affairs, School of Allied Health Professions and a researcher in psychoneuroimmunology …
Photo by Jacob Townsend on Unsplash A good nights sleep is the key to all things healthy; everything from your focus to your digestion is impacted by your sleep routine. With our busy schedules, its hard to get the rest that helps us feel refreshed, …
Researchers from the University of California (UCLA) have discovered that adults that spend more time sitting in the day had greater thinning of the medial temporal lobe, the area of the brain that is important for making new memories.
The small study included 35 adults between the ages of 45 and 75, without dementia. In the report, published in the journal PLOS ONE, the authors concluded that even high levels of physical activity did not make a difference. The data on average hours spent sitting every day and physical activity levels came from detailed questionnaires that the men and women filled in. Medical temporal lobe thickness was measured with MRA scans of their brains.
When the data was analyzed, the researchers found “no significant correlations” between levels of physical activity and medical temporal lobe thickness. However, they did find that the more sedentary people had less medical temporal lobe thickness. Because of this, the authors suggest that “sedentary behavior may have deleterious effects on glycemic control”, which could result in increased variability of blood sugar and lead to reduced blood flow in the brain, which in turn, impairs brain health.
There is a slowing of brain function that occurs naturally as we age. The numerous tiny power plants found in each nerve cell become old and wrinkles and their efficiency decreases, having a direct correlation on your brain energy. When you restore energy production, you improve the efficiency. By incorporating specific nutrients that address the health of these tiny power plants and lifestyle changes, you can protect your brain and increase your energy.
Foods like walnuts, blueberries, cocoa and cinnamon have been hailed as memory boosters. You’ll want to avoid processed foods, trans-fat and sugar. You can even take supplements to promote good brain health too.
Exercise increased the oxygen levels in your brain, decreases stress hormones and increased the effect of helpful brain chemicals. Research has proved that aerobic activity and resistance training combined boosts brain power, and improves cognitive abilities.
Skipping those 7-9 hours of sleep each night has been shown to interfere with the brain’s ability to form new memories. Sleep helps to maintain healthy physical and mental health, especially our memory.
Superior brain health supplements have been shown to benefit mental clarity, memory function, cognitive ability, and focus. Supplements like Phophatidylserine, NADH, DHA, ALA, and Ubiquinol have been shown in numerous studies to benefit brain health.
Read the full study here: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195549