Brain Health & Supportive Tips

Although most of us think of Alzheimer’s and dementia as diseases that present themselves later in life, science is showing otherwise.

Alzheimer’s and dementia can have a younger onset, and these cases are growing rapidly. It is estimated that by 2050 someone in the United States will develop this disease every 33 seconds. (http://www.alz.org/facts/overview.asp)

Why is this happening?

Medical science research points to the fact that these diseases are a result of lifestyle factors that develop over a period of time, not just due to the fact that we age.

Brains Require Glucose

We need glucose for optimal brain functioning, this is true. It is also true that the way in which we chose to get it is very important. The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is causing us to overdose on sugar and refined carbohydrates. This contributes to both insulin resistance in the body (type 2 diabetes), and insulin resistance in the brain (type 3 diabetes). (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/)

If you are one of many individuals that thrives on a healthy ketogenic lifestyle, don't worry, your body is perfectly capable of creating it's needed glucose through gluconeogenesis (which I will have to cover in a separate blog in the future). Although if you are noticing a decline in performance at the gym, or are an athlete, you may need more in the way of quality carbohydrates. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30733709/)

We need to learn to make better choices for ourselves. The highly processed sugar laden "healthy food bar" at the health food store is probably not a better option than the donuts at the gas station.

I am willing to speak with my clients at length about healthy food choices and how quality nutrition benefits our health across a lifespan.

Cholesterol? Your Brain Requires It

Let's get over the low-fat, no-cholesterol phase right now, please.

Cholesterol plays a crucial role in neural connections and is vital to normal brain function, including learning and memory. There is a link to people taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol levels suffering from early-onset dementia. (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-not-dementia-its-your-heart-medication/)

Eat good quality cholesterol rich-foods (depending on your dietary preferences) like eggs, shellfish, fish, cheese, meat, and organ meats to support the health of your myelin sheath, nervous system, and brain.

Move Your Body... Brains Require Circulation

Blood supplies the brain with oxygen, glucose, hormones, fat, amino acids, and other nutrients needed to function optimally. Your lymph carries waste (carbon dioxide, ammonia, lactate and hormones), out of the cells.

Daily physical exercise is imperative to optimize the circulation of blood and lymph in the body, and to/from the brain.

Brains Need Rest, Too

Short naps, meditation, a walk outside to enjoy the peace. Our brains need rest on a daily basis.

Brains Require Detoxification

Sleep is one of the most important things you can manage for brain health.

The process of detox for your brain happens almost exclusively while you are sleeping.

During sleep, the glymphatic system opens, letting cerebrospinal fluid flow rapidly throughout the brain. That fluid flushes waste and debris and toxins out of your brain and back into the circulatory system to be eliminated by the normal bodily processes.

I work with clients to help them build a solid routine around sleep so that these processes can take place. Two things you can start today to increase quality sleep is to get at least 10 minutes of natural sunlight exposure early in the morning, and dim or turn off electronics an hour or two before bedtime. Your brain will thank you for it.

Let's take a preventative approach to these diseases.

Learn and incorporate good brain health habits as early as possible, instead of waiting to hear bad news. If you are showing symptoms of these diseases, have been recently diagnosed, or have been struggling for some time, these tips can still offer you support, and are worth incorporating into your daily life.

Prioritize your health!