How Tart Cherry Offers Support For Memory Health – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 238
Tart cherry has been studied for its benefits for brain health, specifically memory. Here’s what you need to know.
Tag: memory
How Tocotrienols Supports Brain Health – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 207
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph Subscribe Today! Vitamin E is a very well-known nutritional supplement. It’s a chain-breaking antioxidant and fatty tissue. Considering that the brain is about 60% fat, it would seem that Vitamin E should be very important for …
The Gut-Brain Axis: The Link Between Your Gut and Brain, Part 2 – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 176
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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Welcome back to our episode on the gut-brain axis, the influence your gut has on your brain. In Part 1, I discussed how gut bacteria and your diet influence your memory. Check out Part 1 here if you missed it! Now, we’re going to look at how the gut impacts your mood.
PROBIOTICS, DEPRESSION AND STRESS
A study done at McMaster University in Canada published in the Journal of Gastroenterology showed that probiotics can improve symptoms of depression. Researchers worked with 44 adults who had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. Half of the group took a daily dose of bifidobacterium longum for 12 weeks, while the other half took placebo at the same frequency. At the 6 week mark, 64% of the patients taking the probiotic had decreased scores on tests for depression. Only 32% of patients on placebo saw decreases in these scores. The patients were also given functional MRIs, which showed that the improvement in these scores was connected to changes in multiple brain regions involved with mood control.
Griffith University in Queensland, Australia performed a systematic review and meta analysis that was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The researchers looked at 7 different studies with over 300 participants and found that probiotics reduce psychological symptoms, stress, depression and anxiety. This helps prove the validity of the gut-brain axis.
The Benefits of Probiotics for Allergies – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 124. Listen Now >>
A study in the Journal of Cephalalgia looked at patients who suffer from migraines. The researchers worked with people who have episodic migraines, meaning they have 14 or less migraines a month, as well as people who have chronic migraines, meaning 15 or more migraines a month. A group of these patients took a probiotic supplement with 14 different strains of gut-friendly bacteria for 10 weeks, while another group took placebo. Researchers found that the probiotic significantly improved a number of migraine-related symptoms in the patients. Patients with episodic migraines saw a 40% decrease in migraine days, and people with chronic migraines saw a decrease of 45%. Researchers also found that the probiotics reduced the intensity of episodic migraines by 29%, and of chronic migraines by 31%.
These studies are evidence that bacteria in the intestines affect the health of the brain. For all studies mentioned in this podcast episode, please listen to the full episode now by clicking the play button above or wherever you stream podcasts!
WHAT REDUCES HEALTHY BACTERIA IN THE BODY?
Here are some things that can reduce the amount of healthy bacteria you have in your body:
- NSAID drugs like Advil, Aleve, Celebrex and Aspirin
- Certain drugs for high blood pressure
- Certain drugs for diabetes
- Antibiotic drugs
- Steroid drugs like Medrol and Prednisone
- Hormones like estrogen and progesterone
- Aging
- Obesity/having a big gut
- Elevated blood sugar
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Inhalation of cleaning products such as ammonia and bleach
NOT ALL PROBIOTICS ARE EQUAL
Not all probiotic supplements are made the same. Here are some qualities that you should look for when choosing a probiotic supplement:
- “Colony-forming unit” written on the label: This means that the bacteria in the supplement are actually alive.
- At least two strains of healthy bacteria, with at least a billion of each, in the formula: This is what makes the probiotic beneficial.
Questions about the gut-brain axis, Probiotics or anything regarding digestion/brain health? Leave us a comment below to join the discussion!
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. For all studies mentioned in this podcast episode, please listen to the full episode now by clicking the play button above or wherever you stream podcasts! 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.
The Gut-Brain Axis: The Link Between Your Gut and Brain, Part 1 – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 175
Our gut is often referred to as our second brain. Expressions like “a gut feeling” or “butterflies in my stomach” refer to this connection. Much of this communication has to do with the trillions of bacteria that reside in our digestive tract.
How Green Tea Supports Memory – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 170
Over the last three decades, green tea has been studied for its beneficial effects, including its neuroprotective effects. Studies have shown green tea is a powerful extract for brain health, especially memory.
How to Manage Stress As You Return to School – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 166
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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For many people, this is an extremely stressful time. On top of living through a global pandemic, students and employees are heading back to school and work. For the schools that are already open and welcoming students back, there have already been reported cases at their locations. So, it’s completely understandable that both students and parents returning to school or employees returning to work are feeling the extreme impact of stress. A very important nutrient you should know about is called Phosphatidylserine.
What is Phosphatidylserine?
This is an essential brain nutrient, as it helps the brain and its neurons to support memory function and neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability to clean up minor damage that may have occurred due to oxidative stress and inflammation. It is the capacity to replace damaged neurons and make new ones. Phosphatidylserine plays an essential role in this.
This nutrient surrounds the inner portion of the brain, around all of the neural tissues. This is key because our brain is composed of many different fats, including omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D. But we have to also look at phospho-lipids and the most important is Phosphatidylserine. The issue is that, under times of stress, the body does not have enough innate ability to utilize this important nutrient’s stores. This can impair our ability to focus and retain new information. Stress can also impair our memory, both short term and long term. Many college students going back to school in a virtual environment or even back to school physically may drive up more stress. This is especially true for freshman college students.
Normally, through diet alone, many do not obtain this nutrient in adequate amounts. So this because a crucial brain health nutrient, especially during the aging process. The natural production and exposure of Phosphatidylserine declines with age and chronic stress.
Why 5-HTP Has Been Studied for Depression, Anxiety and Stress. Listen Now >>
Clinical Studies
Published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers were assessing the roles and importance of Phosphatidylserine as a phospho-lipid, as well as a dietary supplement in the brain. They looked at over 137 different published research studies and found that it had a positive effect when it came to cognitive ability and retention.
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.
