Posted on Leave a comment

Start When You’re Young to Protect Your Brain

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

Many people only consider the health of their brain when they notice their memory getting worse, but supporting the health of your brain when you’re young can make a big difference later in life. Often, once a person’s memory is severely affected, it may be too late to fully heal the brain, but there are still plenty of things you can do to help support the brain. In this week’s episode we’ll discuss some of the things you can do to support a healthy brain, as well as the importance of starting when you’re young to protect your brain.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

GPC Liquid – GPC Liquid is a good choice when higher doses of GPC are desired, and the dropper is calibrated to allow for easy titration. GPC has a naturally delicious, sweet taste on its own so no additional sweeteners were added to this product.

B Complex Ultra – B vitamins are essential nutrients required for optimal health and functioning of numerous systems and biochemical reactions in the body, including energy production, brain, liver and nerve cell function, and muscle tone in the GI tract. Activated forms of folate (Metafolin®‡ L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate) and vitamin B12(methylcobalamin) are used for enhanced absorption and bioavailability. This high-potency B-complex vitamin supplement is formulated to be hypoallergenic and yeast free.

Niacin Slow-Release – Slow release of niacin over several hours helps avoid the uncomfortable flushing action of this B vitamin so that its full benefits on cholesterol metabolism can be obtained.

You can also listen to Start When You’re Young to Protect Your Brain on our YouTube channel here.

Posted on Leave a comment

Hope for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

Azheimer’s disease and dementia are conditions that more commonly affect people over age 65, but can occur earlier in life. The severity of these conditions can vary from person to person, and may worsen as they get older. We regularly receive questions about ways to support brain health and potentially decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Fortunately, there is plenty of promising research in this area that could help shed some light on prevention and treatment. In this week’s episode, we want to give hope for Alzheimer’s and dementia. We’ll discuss some possible causes, and supplements and lifestyle habits that might help reduce the risk of developing these conditions.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Stress Response – A comprehensive formula of nutrients and botanicals with demonstrated and unique neurosupportive effects creates a robust and multifactorial approach to support daily brain health and function.†

B12 Folate Plus – Supplies bioactive forms of three essential B vitamins: vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin B6 in small, easy-to-swallow vegetarian capsules.

Omega Supreme – Omega Supreme is a convenient once-daily omega-3 fatty acid supplement offering 1,000 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the natural, triglyceride form per soft gel.

You can also listen to Hope for Alzheimer’s in Dementia on our YouTube channel here.

Posted on Leave a comment

How Stress Ages Us

Chronic stress affects many people and can be caused by financial struggles, marital issues, health issues, demanding careers, or a number of other different things. We may think chronic stress just makes us tired and more agitated, but we often don’t consider the effects it can have on our body. Stress can age us and increase our risk of developing certain diseases, but why? Let’s talk about what happens when we’re stressed, and what we can do about it.

Adrenal Glands, Cortisol, and Adrenaline

Being overworked, fighting with your spouse, experiencing financial difficulties, being sleep deprived, having nutritional deficiencies, or dealing with emotional disorders like depression and anxiety can all contribute to stress. When you are stressed, your adrenal glands release cortisol and adrenaline. When adrenaline is released, a person typically experiences an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and may feel more energy for a short period of time. This can be helpful in a dangerous situation, but a chronic release of adrenaline can damage the heart, and may even contribute to vision and hearing loss due to the effects of prolonged blood vessel constriction.

Cortisol also gets released during times of stress and it can help regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and metabolism, and can help reduce inflammation. However, it needs to be released in the right amounts or it can have some negative effects on your health, as is the case with high or low cortisol. Low cortisol, also called adrenal fatigue, may be due to an underlying health condition, but the most common cause is being stressed for such a long period of time that your adrenal glands essentially “burn out”. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing and releasing certain hormones, and are critical to your health. They also control the “fight-or-flight” response, and release hormones accordingly. However, when we stay in the “fight-or-flight” (stressed out) mode for too long, our adrenal glands get tired, and greatly decrease the amount of cortisol they produce and release. This can lead to depression, food cravings, low blood pressure, irritability, diarrhea, etc.

Conversely, high cortisol usually occurs before adrenal fatigue develops. Being stressed leads to a release of cortisol, and a continual release of cortisol due to chronic stress can cause high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, irritability, muscle weakness, increased thirst, etc. Keeping your stress levels down can help keep your cortisol levels balanced.

Aging

The ways in which chronic stress age us physically can be complicated, and the research is still ongoing, but there are a few things we know. Stress can damage DNA and lead to an increased risk of developing conditions like heart disease, Parkinson’s, and cancer. Vision and hearing may also be affected by stress due to the prolonged release of adernaline as discussed above. Adrenaline causes blood vessels to constrict, potentially reducing the blood flow to the eyes and ears.

Stress can also speed up the aging process in some indirect ways. When a person experiences stress they are more likey to crave unhealthy foods and alcohol, less likely to engage in exercise, and may find it more difficult to get enough quality sleep each night. Each of these things can speed up the aging process, contribute to a lower quality-of-life, and increase a person’s risk of developing certain conditions.

Reducing Stress

There are a few things you can do that may help reduce stress. Meditation, taking a relaxing bath, taking a walk, spending time with loved ones, taking a nap, or finding a calming hobby can all help reduce stress. If your stress is work-related, try to keep your workspace organized and know what needs to be done each day. If you are dealing with financial struggles, try creating a budget plan. Simply reminding yourself that something isn’t worth being stressed out over may also help.

Chronic stress is a problem affecting millions of people, and it can have lasting impacts on physical and mental health. Eating a balanced diet high in organic fruits and vegetables, and gettting at least seven hours of quality sleep every night can help provide the nutrients and energy you need to face the day, and can help increase your body’s ability to handle stress. It is so important to reduce stress whenever possible, so find time to take care of yourself every day.

Posted on Leave a comment

The Aging Effects of Stress

Stress is affecting your quality of life by:

  • It is messing with your brain
  • Increases risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke
  • Stress dials down your immune system
  • Chronic stress contributes to aging
  • Contributing to weight gain and digestive disorders
  • Chronic stress affects your mood and relationships
  • Stress increases pain
  • Stress affects sexuality and reproductive functions
  • Chronic stress affects your skin, hair and teeth
  • Stress contributes to addiction

Product mentioned in today’s show:

Core Support – Core Support helps maintain Phase II detoxification by providing protein, fiber and nutrients to promote normal detoxification function.

Lab Mentioned in Today’s Show:

Comprehensive Panel – Comprehensive Panel w Consult panel contains 13 tests with 102 biomarkers.

Posted on Leave a comment

Aging Gracefully

Billions of dollars are spent every year on cosmetic products and procedures designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging, and the market for these products is expected to continue to increase. However, these cosmetic products and procedures usually only work to cover up things, rather than actually reducing or preventing them. Medical issues also become more common as we age, and many people struggle with joint pain, fatigue, poor memory, and vision problems as they get older. Fortunately, there are some changes you can make in your diet and supplement regimen to help yourself age more gracefully.

Physical Issues and Lifestyle Changes

Wrinkles and age spots aren’t the only issues that can arise as we age, physical problems are just as common. Fatigue, joint pain, poor balance, poor memory/memory loss, brain fog, and more serious issues like heart disease and diabetes all become more common as we get older, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk. One of the best things you can do to age more gracefully is eat a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet high in good fats. Good fats help promote brain health, heart health, and balanced cholesterol levels. Wild-caught fatty fish, olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, and a high-quality fish oil supplement like OrthoMega 820 are all great ways to incorporate more healthy fats into your diet.

Inflammation is something people of all ages should be aware of and actively combating, but it becomes more important as we age. Eating anti-inflammatory foods like good fats, grass-fed meats, lots of organic fruits and vegetables, bone broth, turmeric, etc. is a great way to reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked to many conditions including heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, so adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle can go a long way in reducing your risk of developing certain conditions.

Exercise is another great way to age more gracefully and decrease inflammation. Sedentary lifestyles can contribute to the development of many different medical conditions, and it can increase joint and back pain as we get older. Simply taking a walk several times a week is often enough for many people to notice a difference in how they feel, and it is not as hard on the body as many exercise regimens are.

Supplements

Supplements can help make the aging process a little easier by supplying nutrients our bodies struggle to make as we get older. Collagen is a crucial part of healthy ligaments, skin, nails, and hair and is one of the best suppements you can take at any age, but it’s especially important as we get older. We’re born with plenty of collagen in our body, and our bodies continue to produce it as we get older. However, collagen production in our body greatly reduces after age thirty. Supplementing with CollaGEN is a great way to help promote hair, skin, nail, and joint health.

Fish oil supplements are another great choice as they contain healthy omega-3 fats that most people don’t get enough of. Getting enough omega-3’s in your diet can help promote balanced cholesterol levels, lower inflammation, improve brain function, and decrease your risk of heart disease. Many people struggle to eat enough fish, so taking a supplement like Orthomega 820 is a great way to ensure you’re getting enough omega-3’s each day.

Some other supplements we recommend are:

Membrin – Designed to increase brain function and memory. Contains gingko biloba leaf extract, vinpocetine, and huperzine alkaloids. These ingredients help ensure adequate blood flow in the brain, protect neurons, and help prevent inflammation and oxidative stress.

Core Restore 7-Day Kit – Seven-day detox kit designed to provide the necessary nutrients and herbs to help promote liver detoxification, gut health, and increased glutathione production. Detoxing can be a great way to increase energy levels and decrease inflammation in the body.

OcuView – Designed to increase circulation in the eyes, protect against light damage, and decrease oxidative damage. Contains lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and alpha lipoic acid which all work together to help reduce the risk of age-related macular deterioration.

With the high number of toxins and endocrine disruptors we encounter every day, everyone should be leading a lifestyle designed to decrease inflammation. Try cutting out processed foods and eating a diet high in organic fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like those found in avocados and cold-pressed olive and coconut oil, grass-fed meats, and wild-caught fish. Be sure to drink plenty of clean, filtered water, and try adding in a few supplements. Small changes can go a long way in aging gracefully.