3 Secrets to Shielding Your Brain from Memory Loss

If you expect to live into your 80s and beyond, which I dare say most of us do, there’s an important statistic you need to be aware of…

According to the National Institute on Aging, by the time you reach your 80s, you have a 50% chance of suffering from significant cognitive decline. That’s right, the odds that you’ll literally lose your mind by the time you’re in your 80s are no better than the toss of a coin!

Cognitive decline

It’s sad but true — there is no cure for age-related cognitive decline, and experts say that the problem is becoming increasingly widespread. But that doesn't mean you have to be a “sitting duck,” just waiting to become another victim.

While the cause of this sharp rise in age-related cognitive decline is not fully understood, one thing is for sure — if you want to keep your mind and memory intact as you age, you can’t risk a passive “it won’t be me” mentality.

There may not be a cure for cognitive decline, this doesn't mean you’re helpless. Just a few simple steps can help stack the odds in your favor for an active brain and healthy memory throughout your life.

The Sad Truth: If You Wait for Treatment…

It’s Too Late

If concern about losing your cognitive abilities prompts you to ask your doctor about prevention strategies, you probably won’t be happy with the answer you get. You’ll most likely be told that there’s little you can do and no need to worry. But according to NIH’s National Institute on Aging, the sad truth is that current drugs are only marginally effective at treating brain decay and have many side effects. So why aren't doctors focusing their attention on prevention?

Memory loss

Brain decay is terrifying — from losing your memories and being unable to recognize familiar faces… to losing the ability to take care of yourself. My advice to you, whether you’re 45 or 75, is to start protecting your mind now, before you become just another sad statistic.

The 3 Secrets to Life-Long Brain Health

What I’ve learned is that amazing new research is proving that specific nutrients, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, may be the secret remedy long overlooked by traditional medicine. The science shows that these nutrients have an undeniable positive impact on brain health.

Old people suffered from Cognitive decline

Based on my research, the following three nutrients are the “best of the best” and what I believe to be the overlooked “secrets” to preventing cognitive decline.

1. This Antioxidant Is the Brain’s Fountain of Youth

Your brain depends on the powerful antioxidant CoQ10 to keep it healthy. This makes sense since CoQ10 is a primary player in your body’s energy production processes, and your brain has incredibly high demands for cellular energy.

Research shows that a deficit of CoQ10 severely compromises brain function, leading to sluggish thinking and memory impairment. Yet, far too many people are deficient in CoQ10, especially seniors. That’s because as you get older, your body produces less and less CoQ10.

However, when you do have adequate levels, your mind and memory thrive! According to a UCSD study, proper levels of CoQ10 can slow brain deterioration by 44%. Furthermore, studies show that people with high levels of CoQ10 have sharper mental acuity, better motor abilities and more mental energy. CoQ10 also benefits your heart and overall energy levels.

It’s important to take the right kind of CoQ10, since many supplements out there are junk. I’ll cover this in more detail in my “buyer’s guide” below.

2. The Omega-3 That Your Brain Craves

One particular omega-3 called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is absolutely critical to optimal brain function. As you age, your brain’s ability to absorb DHA declines and your levels can drop significantly. This literally starves your mind, compromising both brain function and memory retention.

The results of scientific studies on the brain protecting effects of DHA are incredibly compelling. For example one study showed a 60% decrease in cognitive decline in those who had a regular intake of DHA. Additionally, research has shown that those suffering from cognitive decline have dramatically lower levels of DHA in their brains.

Omega-3 rich fish oil

Overall, if you really dig into the research, it’s basically irrefutable that DHA can speed up brain wave activity, help to create more synapses in the brain and preserve healthy memory function.

Sadly, too many people have critically low levels of DHA, especially people over the age of 65. However, I recommend you take only a specific type of DHA to make sure you’re not doing more harm than good — more on that later.

3. One of the Most Powerful Brain Protectors Ever

Here are 2 factoids about the nation of India. The first one you’ll probably find only moderately interesting, and perhaps not too surprising. However, the second one might wow you.

Fact 1:The nation of India has the highest consumption rate of the spice turmeric in the word. Turmeric is the primary spice used in curries. 

Fact 2:India has one of the lowest rates of cognitive decline in the world, with a death rate that is 8 times lower than that of the U.S.

What’s the connection between these two facts? The answer can be found in a powerful antioxidant called curcumin, which is a component of the curry spice turmeric. In fact, research shows that curcumin has profound protective benefits for the brain.

Curcumin rich in Tumeric

One study shows that curcumin turns on a key gene signal involved with nerve protection, which boosts antioxidant enzymes in the brain and helps to prevent neurodegeneration. Other research has shown that curcumin not only has positive benefits on memory, but also acts as a potent anti-inflammatory. However, it’s important to take a standardized extract of curcumin to make sure you’re getting therapeutic amounts of the active ingredient.

So How Do You Put These 3 Secrets to Good Use?

I want to remind you that by the time you reach 80, you have a 50% chance of suffering from cognitive decline.

That’s why I firmly believe that CoQ10, DHA and curcumin are the best tools available to you for brain protection, along with healthy eating, exercise and keeping your mind active. However, readers ask me all the time how they can put these secrets to good use on a practical basis.

It’s important to understand that you can’t just take any supplement. If you’re not careful, you could end up wasting your time and money, and more importantly, missing out on the opportunity to prevent something terrible from happening.

Suggested daily dosages

Here are some quick tips for you: 

• CoQ10: Many CoQ10 supplements contain “fake” CoQ10 synthesized from tobacco leaves of all things. Look for the words “trans-form” on the label to make sure it’s natural CoQ10. Don’t take less than 100 mg per day. 
• DHA: Lots of DHA supplements have too little DHA to be beneficial. 100 mg is a good amount. I prefer plant-based DHA, so I don’t have to worry about any marine pollutants like mercury. 
• Curcumin: The “good stuff” in curcumin is called curcuminoids. And too many supplements have too little of it. Look for a supplement that provides about 200 mg per day and is standardized to 95% total curcuminiods.

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5 Reasons to Kick Plastic Containers Out of Your Life

Plastic has its role in modern society. It’s an essential part of our cars, computers, mobile phones, children’s toys – and practically most everything we use on a day-to-day basis. But there’s one place where plastic has worn out its welcome – and that’s as a container for the food we eat and the water we drink.

The bottom line is that plastic is made from toxic materials. It’s a known fact that these toxins can leach into whatever they come into contact with. And it’s a known fact that when the compounds that make up plastic are ingested, they damage your body on a cellular level and cause health problems.

Plastic in our daily life

The pundits will say that the human body can easily handle the “small” amounts (which the government insultingly likes to call “acceptably safe levels”) of toxins that are ingested from plastic. But I find this excuse to be one of the world’s biggest cop-outs. If the human body wasn't designed to ingest plastic, then no amount is good.

Here are 5 reasons why you should avoid plastic containers:

Toxic Compounds in Plastic can Make You Really Sick.

It’s typical to suffer from a variety of health problems as you age. But is this just “part of getting older”? Or is this perhaps the result of a toxic overload in the body? It’s common knowledge that illness and disorders such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, heart disease, vision impairment and many others health problems are all on the rise. Could this be in some way associated with the increasing amount of plastic in our lives? Plastic food and beverage containers became popular fairly recently (in the 1970s) and have become ubiquitous in our lives since then. More and more research is proving that toxic compounds found in plastic cause health problems ranging from cancer to infertility.

Don't use plastic as your drinking bottle

There’s no Such Thing as a Safe Plastic.

Plastics that contain the super toxic compound bisphenol A (BPA) have been in the news a lot lately. And for this reason, consumers have been duped into thinking that if a product is “BPA-free” it’s perfectly safe. But this is a lie. Lots of companies have caught on to the fact that they can sell more of a product if it’s labeled as “BPA-free.” But guess what? It may be BPA-free, but in its place, these companies are using BPS, a close cousin of BPA that may be equally as toxic! The bottom line is – you can’t 100% trust that any plastic doesn't contain compounds that are toxic to your body.

Toys made from plastic claims to be BPA Free and safe, do they?

Plastics can Cause Fertility and Reproductive Problems.

The ability to produce a healthy child is a wondrous miracle and an amazing event in one’s life. But toxic compounds found in plastic could be making this difficult, if not impossible, for millions of people. What was once speculation is now becoming fact as more and more research is proving that this is a very real problem. For example, almost all plastics contain toxic chemicals that have a negative effect on immunity and hormone regulation, both of which directly affect fertility. Specifically, BPA has been found to make it more difficult for women to conceive and to cause increased risk of miscarriages. New research is also showing that toxins found in plastic can cause birth defects and developmental problems in children.

Another problem cause by plastic pollution - Infertility

Chemicals in Plastic can Make You Fat.

There are lots of reasons why nearly two-thirds of American adults are either overweight or obese. But one of them may be the vast amounts of plastics our food and beverages come in contact with. After all, America is the world’s largest consumer of disposable plastic containers. Interesting new research published in Environmental Health Perspectives explains that a chemical widely used in plastics, called bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), may actually cause stem cells to become fat cells. According to one of the study’s authors, “Exposure to these kinds of chemicals can reprogram your metabolism and make it more likely for you to store calories instead of passing them through.” Have you found that losing weight is next to impossible, despite eating less and exercising more? Perhaps it’s chemicals in plastics that make losing weight harder than it needs to be.

Chemicals in Plastic can make me become Fat?

Plastics are Just Terrible for Our Planet.

Whether you are a hardcore environmentalist or if being “green” is low on your list of priorities, the fact of the matter is that you live on planet Earth, and so will your children and your children’s children. We all have a responsibility to keep the planet has livable as possible. Firstly, plastics are in most cases made from petrochemicals through an energy intensive process that itself creates lots of pollution and toxic discharge. The fact is, every plastic container you use is making the planet less habitable. Also, most plastic in the world is not recycled and usually ends up in landfills, where it degrades very slowly. According to Wikipedia, “Since the 1950s, one billion tons of plastic have been discarded and may persist for hundreds or even thousands of years.”

Tons of non-biodegradable plastic in wasteland

What Are Your Best Solutions?

Like I said earlier, plastics are a nearly unavoidable part of our everyday lives. But there is a big difference between the plastic on your computer and the plastic that may come into contact with your lunch. You don’t eat your computer. The best solution, which is affordable, convenient and really safe is glass and certain types of metal. Here are some great solutions I've found.

• Break-proof glass water bottles: This glass water bottle has a rubber coating that prevents breakage. It makes water taste amazing! I take mine everywhere I go and it helps me avoid using plastic water bottles.
• Stainless steel straws: My kids don’t use plastic straws anymore, and instead use these stainless steel straws.
• Stainless steel containers: Dump your plastic Tupperware and instead go for stainless steel containers. Glass containers are great too, but most of them still have plastic lids.
• Glass water coolers: If you have a water cooler at your home or office, more and more companies are offering glass containers instead of plastic ones.
• Alternative to non-stick cookware: The coating on your non-stick cookware may be a type of plastic. Instead choose ceramic cookware or enameled cast iron.

Sneaky Sources of BPA

Even if you remove all plastic from your food and water supply, there are still some sneaky ways that highly toxic BPA can find its way into your life. Here are the most common:

• Cash register receipts: This usually shocks most people. But if you handle a receipt with your hands, then eat your food with your hands, BPA is getting in your system. Avoid receipts or wash your hands immediately after touching one.
• The lining of most canned foods.
• Some baby bottles and pacifiers
• Many toys and other children’s products
• Some aluminum water bottles (stainless steel is generally safe)
• Canned soda and beer

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The Dark Side of Coffee

Are you tired all the time? Incredibly, most of the patients I see complain of persistent, ongoing fatigue. Sometimes lack of sleep is a factor, but in almost all cases, there is another, often overlooked factor at play.

Coffee is good or bad?

If you rely on coffee or other caffeinated beverages, sugary foods or medication to provide you with the energy you need to make it through the day, please keep reading. I’m going to explain why you’re so tired all the time, and how you can fix the problem and restore your natural energy levels safely and quickly

Feeling tired without a cup of coffee?

Research shows that an astounding 80% of Americans use caffeinated beverages every morning for an energy boost. The fact is, we have become accustomed to consuming huge amounts of caffeine to keep pace with our busy lifestyles and stressful schedules.

The Dark Side of Caffeine

Although caffeine (along with sugar and stimulants like medication for Attention Deficit Disorder) can help boost energy temporarily, it does so at a significant expense. For example, research from Duke Medical School found that the average daily caffeine consumption of many Americans may raise heart attack and stroke risk by up to 20-30%, due to caffeine’s effects in raising blood pressure and increasing blood flow.

Feeling tired always

Additionally, and importantly in the case of those struggling with fatigue, caffeine pushes the body to release more stress hormones, which can leave you feeling burned out and fatigued in the short and long term.

The Hidden Cause of Energy Burnout, Weight Gain and Health Problems

Two small glands near your kidneys, called the adrenal glands, play a large role in producing energy and helping the body to manage stress. Caffeine, sugar and stimulant medications have a significant impact on these glands and drive them to release more of the body’s primary stress hormones, including epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol.

Coffee lover just can't stop drinking

Chronic elevations in cortisol levels can lower your immunity, disrupt your sleep, make you anxious, lower your energy, accelerate the aging process, affect your fertility, kill your sex drive, cause food cravings and increase your weight even if you manage to resist the cravings.

Even worse, when the adrenal glands have been artificially pushed by caffeine and stimulants for too long, they can become exhausted. The ability of the gland to produce even adequate levels of cortisol becomes compromised, and that’s when you may start to experience fatigue, brain fog, decreased ability to handle stress, poor immunity or auto-immune conditions, low body temperature and a general feeling of burnout. This state, called adrenal fatigue, has become epidemic in our society due to hectic lifestyles, poor nutrition and the over-consumption of stimulants like coffee, sugar and certain medications.

If you are among the majority with adrenal fatigue, what can you do? First, you’ll want to get more sleep if at all possible and reduce or eliminate your consumption of sugar, caffeine and stimulant medications (working with your doctor). Second, you’ll want to support your adrenals to coax them back to full vitality.

High sugar content in coffee

Unfortunately, modern medicine does not offer us many solutions to being burned out and tired. Anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants may be suggested if your mood is starting to suffer. Or stimulant medications, which only make the matter worse, are recommended if the fatigue is persistent. Of course, none of these pharmaceutical interventions address the issue of stressed adrenal glands or help to restore balance to the output of adrenal-related stress hormones.

Is There a Natural Solution for Increased Energy and Vitality? 

Luckily, nature has provided us with tools that can improve our energy levels by supporting our natural stress response and boosting our body’s natural energy production without depleting us. As a holistic physician and pioneer in the natural health industry, I have spent years studying and researching nature’s pharmacopeia to bring you a safe, effective and healthy way to boost your energy.

Some study connects between coffee and stress

It’s important to understand that certain nutrients in the B vitamin family are closely linked to supporting the body’s response to stress and assisting the adrenal system in increasing energy and stamina. Vitamins B12, B6 and B5 in particular play critical roles in energy production and have all been shown to enhance adrenal function and cortisol balance during times of stress. Vitamin B12 also facilitates a biochemical reaction in the body necessary for the production of energy while vitamin B6 is vital to over 100 enzymes that catalyze energy producing reactions in the body. Vitamin B5 is part of a co-enzyme complex that is required by the body in order to make energy from food.

Many people are deficient in these vitamins and notice considerable increases in their energy level once they begin taking them in supplemental form. I always recommend B vitamins to my patients with adrenal fatigue, as well as vitamin C and calcium, which are also helpful when someone has been dealing with prolonged stress.

Craving for another cup of coffee? Think twice!

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