Category Archives: brain
Fasting may protect against disease; some say it may even be good for the brain
3 ways to improve memory and boost brain power
by Jonathan Landsman
(NaturalNews) Perhaps the greatest threat to brain function is chronic stress. Challenged by fear and anxiety, the body will produce excessive amounts of cortisol, the “stress hormone”, which eventually damages the brain’s memory center. And, although cortisol is a necessary hormone for survival purposes, excessive amounts destroy our adrenals, immune system plus much more.
Eliminate brain fog – naturally! On the next NaturalNews Talk Hour, a LIVE internet radio broadcast – Dr. Holly Lucille, a nationally recognized leader in naturopathic medicine will teach us how to improve thyroid and adrenal function; elevate our moods; increase our energy and improve mental clarity.
Visit: http://www.naturalhealth365.com and enter your email address for free show details.
Prevent adrenal fatigue and elevate your mood – naturally
Obviously, it goes (almost) without saying, if you can reduce the stress in your life by changing your perspective or making changes in your lifestyle habits – do it. But, nutritionally speaking, you may want to consider boosting your intake of vitamin C to support healthy adrenal function. Remember, the adrenals produce stress hormones and without them – your ability to handle tough situations is diminished.
According to Dr. Lucille, “during stress, the adrenal glands stockpile this antioxidant to protect against free-radical damage. However, ongoing stress depletes this vital nutrient from the adrenal glands.” By the way, Dr. Lucille recommends at least 250 to 500 milligrams (mg) per day of vitamin C for anyone concerned about the negative effects of stress and maintaining a clear mind.
Sharpen your mind with chocolate and essential fatty acids
Cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate, is loaded with brain-boosting antioxidants called flavonoids. Just don’t go and buy any (commercial) brands filled with excess simple sugars, poor quality fats and nasty chemical additives. Scientific research shows that small amounts of dark chocolate, consumed on a regular basis, can improve blood flow to the brain – which enhances cognitive andmemory test scores.
Did you know that the human brain is composed of significant amounts of fat? If you want to avoid being “brain dead” – be sure to include lots of omega-3’s in your diet. Naturally, especially these days, you want to be careful about the quality of fat you eat. If you’re not comfortable eating fish – several times per week – then a good quality omega-3 supplement of about 500 – 1,000 mg per day could help improve brain function.
This week’s guest: Dr. Holly Lucille, a nationally-recognized leader in naturopathic medicine
Learn how to improve memory, brain function and eliminate chronic stress in your life – Thu. Nov. 8
Dr. Holly Lucille is a nationally recognized and licensed naturopathic doctor, an educator and a natural products consultant. She is the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women’s Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health and serves on the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Board of Directors.
An acclaimed expert in the field of naturopathic medicine, Dr. Holly lectures throughout the nation on a variety of natural health topics. Regularly quoted as an expert in both consumer and peer journals, in 2007, Dr. Holly was listed in Time Magazine’s “Alt List” as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People.”
Eliminate brain fog – naturally! On the next NaturalNews Talk Hour, a LIVE internet radio broadcast – Dr. Holly Lucille, a nationally recognized leader in naturopathic medicine will teach us how to improve thyroid and adrenal function; elevate our moods; increase our energy and improve mental clarity.
Visit: http://www.naturalhealth365.com and enter your email address for free show details.
Dietary proteins signal brain satiety to help prevent overeating and obesity
by John Phillip
(NaturalNews) It’s no secret that overconsumption of calories, especially those from high calorie refined and processed carbohydrate junk foods is making America fat and taking nearly a decade off our natural lifespan. Since the early 1970’s, our food supply has been infused with synthesized sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup that is promptly metabolized to fat after ingestion. Nutrition experts have recommended including a natural protein source with each meal to slow glucose and carbohydrate absorption as an aid to healthy weight management.
Publishing in the journal Cell, researchers from the Universite de Lyon in France have now mapped out the signals that travel between your gut and your brain to generate the feeling of satiety after eating a protein-rich meal. Understanding this back and forth loop between the brain and gut may pave the way for future approaches in the treatment and prevention of obesity.
Proteins are found to signal the brain to prevent overeating, leading to obesity
Testing on a mouse model known to accurately simulate the digestive properties of humans, researchers were able to determine that proteins stimulate the secretion of glucose in the intestinal tract. The researchers charted a very complex series of steps that ultimately notifies the brain that we have eaten and are no longer in need of food. Digestion of fast-releasing carbohydrates or sugars does not trigger the same feedback mechanism, and encourages excess food consumption.
The critical finding reported by the research team was that proteins stimulate ‘mu-opioid receptors’ (MOR’s, which also bind morphine) on nerves found in the walls of the portal vein, the major blood vessel that drains blood from the gut. Researchers found that peptides, the products of digested dietary proteins, block MOR’s to curb appetite. The peptides send signals to the brain that are then transmitted back to the gut to stimulate the intestine to release glucose and suppress the desire to eat.
The lead study author, Dr. Gilles Mithieux concluded “These findings explain the satiety effect of dietary protein, which is a long-known but unexplained phenomenon… they provide a novel understanding of the control of food intake and of hunger sensations, which may offer novel approaches to treat obesity in the future.” Nutritionists recommend consuming a natural source of protein with each meal and avoidance of sugary treats and refined carbohydrates, as well as between meal snacks. Good sources of protein include nuts, seeds, legumes and lean chicken, eggs and beef (always select free-range, organically fed choices and limit to no more than ten percent of total calories consumed) to aid weight management practices.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S009286741200760X
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/ind-te070612.php
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-protein-meal-brain-full.html
About the author:
John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of ‘Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan’, a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. VisitMy Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of ‘Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan’.
Meditation and sex have the same effects on your brain, study shows
by PF Louis
(NaturalNews) The approach of western science is usually totally mechanical. So the inclusion of that which is not tangible is often excluded. Neuroscience delves into the brain’s pleasure points according to what areas “light up” in the brain during sex and during meditation.
This type of research tends to oversimplify meditation while honoring sexual pleasure as an ultimate attainment. However, some writings from that quarter of neuroscience do acknowledge that meditation practiced regularly is a more pragmatic practice for steady mood enhancement and opening to pleasurable moments in all facets of life.
The brain and the mind
But does this imply that pleasure is derived from brain function? There are those who would argue that the brain is not the mind, but a cellular switchboard connecting subtle realms to physiological activity. In other words, they consider the brain to be a physical manifestation of the mind, which is not material.
Some adventurous scientists do get into subtle energy, especially with energetic medicine. Though often applied with contrived technological apparatus, they do usually appreciate that they are taking a western approach to what Eastern health practitioners and mystics have understood centuries.
Furthermore, there have been studies performed by western scientists and MDs who have gathered information from so called near death experiences. Many are actually bodily death and returning to a re-enlivened body experiences. Those who had the experiences accurately reported what they were seeing from outside the body.
A woman was pronounced dead in an operating room while heavily anesthetized. She was brought back to life and was able to accurately describe everything that had gone on in the operating room, to the doctors’ and nurses’ astonishment. She had calmly observed it all, including her lifeless body.
These can be considered inexplicable, even fictitious. Many materialistic scientists bring it down to chemical reactions and neurological electrical activities in the brain.
Those who describe witnessing other parts of the physical universe or experiencing a blissful eternal light that touches the source of all life are dismissed by materialist scientists as having hallucinations from within the brain.
Yet those who have those experiences from near or actual death come back with a sense of inner calm and renewed purpose. All this came from the fatty cells, nerve synapses, and electrical currents within the brain? Eastern mystical and spiritual masters say no, we are not our bodies.
Out of body experiences (OBE) and near death experiences (NDE) indicate this. We are souls temporarily in bodies to experience and live out karma. Real bliss transcends bodily pleasure.
Comparing and contrasting meditation and sex
Many who constantly pursue the pleasures of sex come to realize there’s more pain and angst than pleasure in that pursuit. The orgasm comes and goes. Then it’s time to play games again instead of pursuing something more productive. That creates more karma.
Marriage traditionally involves the duty of creating offspring while hopefully enjoying a physical relationship with the spouse. Then comes the challenge of child rearing in an ever increasingly dangerous and unhealthy world.
Meditation practiced daily is available to help one experience a calmer mind and mood with a happier heart for dealing with life’s travails. You don’t need a cooperative partner, and by meditating well often you’ll be creating less karma.
The ultimate meditative experience is blissful oneness with the source of all life, regardless of what you name it. All religious labels refer to this same awareness, according to a few western philosophers, scientists, and mystics both western and eastern.
Meanwhile, we mortals can carry on better by meditating often to unravel some karma toward the ultimate goal of enlightenment, if not this life, then maybe a later one.
Fit heart can slow brain ageing, US researchers say
Phys Ed: Your Brain on Exercise
By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS