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Gardenia, widely used in TCM, found to prevent cognitive impairmentand neurotoxicity Darrell Miller 5/9/19
Omega-3s can improve blood flow in the brain and prevent aging,according to international study Darrell Miller 4/23/19
Rosemary can be used to enhance memory in university students VitaNet, LLC Staff 11/1/18
Known as the "bliss molecule", anandamide is a natural way to stimulate a sense of happiness VitaNet, LLC Staff 8/10/18
Alzheimer's Disease: What You Can Do to Prevent Holiday Memories from Vanishing Darrell Miller 11/26/17
Top 7 Benefits of Green Tea: The No. 1 Anti-Aging Beverage Darrell Miller 6/27/17
Marijuana for your memory? Study suggests wonder drug can reverse memory loss in older people Darrell Miller 5/29/17
Cannabis could boost memory of older people Darrell Miller 5/15/17
Antioxidants to Protect Against Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline, Part 2 of 2 Darrell Miller 2/22/17
Honeybee memories: Another piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle? Darrell Miller 12/14/16
Superaging: why some 80 year olds have the memory capacity of 20 year olds Darrell Miller 11/8/16
How Huperzine Helps With Memory Darrell Miller 7/30/15
The benefit of Amino Acid L-Tyrosin for our brains Darrell Miller 1/21/14
Memory And Focus Darrell Miller 5/8/07
Phosphatidyl Serine - HEALTHY COGNITION BRAIN FUNCTION Darrell Miller 12/21/05
PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE Darrell Miller 12/19/05
Keeping Your Edge - The state of your outer body reflects the inner you. Darrell Miller 6/12/05
Improove Memory ... Darrell Miller 6/9/05
Liquid Calcium 1200 with Magnesium Darrell Miller 6/2/05
Re: Acetyl-L-Carnitine - Anti-Aging Brain Nutrient ... Darrell Miller 5/31/05




Gardenia, widely used in TCM, found to prevent cognitive impairmentand neurotoxicity
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Date: May 09, 2019 09:56 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Gardenia, widely used in TCM, found to prevent cognitive impairmentand neurotoxicity





Nobody wants to think about losing their memories as they begin to age. Luckily, a Chinese medicinal herb called gardenia has been shown to contain components that can help improve cognitive function. Scientists studied mice that were given daily doses of gardenia, and the research revealed that a component called GJ-4 had the ability to help repair cognitive damage, reduce brain inflammation, and even help expand the body's ability to hold antioxidants which help promote brain function.

Key Takeaways:

  • Crocin, which is found in gardenia fruit has neuro protective properties
  • Crocin has shown in lab tests to help stave off the degenerative disease that effect memory and neuro function
  • Gardenia essential oil has anti inflammatory, anti microbial and culinary properties

"In the study, researchers looked at Chinese herbs, which have been used medicinally for thousands of years, as a good source for potential drugs for Alzheimer’s."

Read more: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-03-28-gardenia-found-to-prevent-cognitive-impairment-and-neurotoxicity.html

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Omega-3s can improve blood flow in the brain and prevent aging,according to international study
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Date: April 23, 2019 03:23 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Omega-3s can improve blood flow in the brain and prevent aging,according to international study





The inflammation of brain cells, often associated with a decrease in blood flow, can result in several troublesome cognitive symptoms such as not being able to retain memories. Omega-3s actually have the ability to protect cells against related damage, making them highly beneficial in sustaining optimal cognitive function. Not only can it help with brain health, but omega-3s also improve heart health by reducing triglyceride levels while regulating blood pressure. Both of these help contribute to a reduction in heart disease risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • Omega 3s can be gained from certain foods, such as fatty fish, nuts, and seaweed.
  • Omega 3 Vitamins can improve brain function, correcting depression, anxiety, and preventing memory problems.
  • Taking Omega 3s can contribute to better heart health and lower risk of cancer.

"A study published in the journal Nutrients showed how omega-3 supplementation is beneficial for memory decline caused by aging."

Read more: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-02-28-omega-3s-can-improve-blood-flow-in-the-brain-and-prevent-aging-according-to-international-study.html

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Rosemary can be used to enhance memory in university students
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Date: November 01, 2018 10:51 AM
Author: VitaNet, LLC Staff (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Rosemary can be used to enhance memory in university students





We all know the stress that college kids go through on a daily basis. Keeping up with their studies while also trying to maintain the life of a normal kid is very difficult. College is the time period where students need to figure some things out about themselves. Also, they need to retain information. Some people have better memories than others and that is evident in so many walks of life. Now, studies show that rosemary helps memory.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involving Rosemary sought to understand how the plant affected the memory of University students and their quality of sleep among others.
  • The study that was carried out found out that on the scores the students were tested for, Rosemary had significant effects on memory, depression and sleep quality.
  • Rosemary’s effect is attributed to the fact that it is loaded with phytochemicals that interact with neurotransmitters that send signals to the brain.

"Rosemary, known for its distinct fragrance, can also improve memory according to a recent study, proving that the herb’s effects on your brain go beyond making food more appetizing."

Read more: https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-10-18-rosemary-can-be-used-to-enhance-memory.html

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Known as the "bliss molecule", anandamide is a natural way to stimulate a sense of happiness
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Date: August 10, 2018 05:53 PM
Author: VitaNet, LLC Staff (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Known as the "bliss molecule", anandamide is a natural way to stimulate a sense of happiness





Known as the "bliss molecule", anandamide is a natural way to stimulate a sense of happiness

Anandamide is a natural endocannabinoid produced in your body and found in certain foods that stimulates the same pleasure receptors as psychoactive THC. Anandamide and other endocannabinoids can help protect the brain from stress and damage, and encourage balanced moods and better consolidation of memories. The only two foods with large amounts of anandamide are (famously expensive) black truffles and chocolate, especially cacao powder and nibs, which are less processed. Several other foods, including black pepper, olive oil, grapes, broccoli, spinach and others can also raise your anandamide levels.

Key Takeaways:

  • Anandamide stimulates the same pleasure receptors that the main cannabinoid in marijuana does.
  • Endocannabinoids can shield the mind against major depression and PTSD.
  • A lack of sufficient endocannabinoids may play a significant role in diseases like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

"The “bliss molecule” is a natural neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid that creates a sense of happiness, an article on Be Brain Fit stated."

Read more: https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-08-08-anandamide-is-a-natural-way-to-stimulate-a-sense-of-happiness.html

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Alzheimer's Disease: What You Can Do to Prevent Holiday Memories from Vanishing
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Date: November 26, 2017 03:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Alzheimer's Disease: What You Can Do to Prevent Holiday memories from Vanishing





Alzheimer's, like most diseases comes with its own set of problems, the memory loss being number one. Much like other diseases it is important to find those symptoms early. One easy way to help with that is mind exercises. These help with neuro plasticity and will allow your brain to function in top condition for years to come. Much like exercising works for the heart, muscles, and flexibility these exercises keep the brain healthy. Try them out!

Key Takeaways:

  • Getting an annual memory check up can help catch Alzheimer's disease in it's early stages.
  • A healthy diet, physical and mental exercise, and vitamin supplements can help improve your cognitive health.
  • The vital brain aging program can add many years of making happy memories, instead of forgetting them.

"Prevention and early detection of first signs of cognitive impairment and treating its cause is key to maintaining a healthy brain throughout life"

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/opinion/tn-dpt-me-commentary-shankle-20171122-story.html

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Top 7 Benefits of Green Tea: The No. 1 Anti-Aging Beverage
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Date: June 27, 2017 04:14 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Top 7 Benefits of Green Tea: The No. 1 Anti-Aging Beverage





There are numerous benefits to drinking green tea. It is consumed more than any other drink after water. Green tea is extremely beneficial and has more antioxidants than any other tea on the market. It fights heart disease, diabetes, it can help with weight loss, and most importantly it can help elders with their memories and bone density. The article lists all the benefits that green tea has, along with it's rich history, and most importantly how to steep and drink the tea.

Key Takeaways:

  • Green tea is high in antioxidants and has many benefits to use.
  • Green Tea is thought to be an anti aging compound. In Japan where Green Tea is used daily, the population has a higher longevity rate.
  • Green Tea has been used for thousands of years in some cultures.

"According to dozens of studies, regularly drinking green tea may reduce your risk of developing heart disease or Alzheimer’s, help you maintain better bone mineral density, ward off eye diseases that affect vision in older age, prevent strokes, and even extend your life."

Read more: https://draxe.com/benefits-of-green-tea/

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Marijuana for your memory? Study suggests wonder drug can reverse memory loss in older people
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Date: May 29, 2017 09:14 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Marijuana for your memory? Study suggests wonder drug can reverse memory loss in older people





Marijuana has been a hot topic for many years, but nothing like it is today. For years, people believed it caused addiction, destroyed brain cells, and many other nefarious results. Yet today, with legalization of this drug becoming ever more popular, many studies are looking into its efficacy for MS, pain, inflammation, anxiety and depression. A recent study indicated it might even help with the memories of elders. In Time we will learn its many benefits, but at the present, its used most for pain.

Key Takeaways:

  • Scientists found that the THC in marijuana boosts memory and learning ability for older people.
  • Many senior citizens already take CBD for chronic pain instead of prescription painkillers.
  • The multitude of health benefits of marijuana should aid in the legalization process.

"The findings showed that marijuana clearly had a positive effect on mature and aging brains, though it has yet to be studied further in humans."

Read more: http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-05-15-marijuana-for-your-memory-study-suggests-wonder-drug-can-reverse-memory-loss.html

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Cannabis could boost memory of older people
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Date: May 15, 2017 10:44 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Cannabis could boost memory of older people





The cannabis debate is still going strong even though benefits are discovered all the time. There are some who champion it while others feel it is unhealthy in any form and want it to remain illegal. This outlines one more possible benefit related to cannabis for the elderly. It can apparently help boost their memories. They often have issues remembering so this ciykd ve good for them. It's always important to weight benefits against negative outcomes, though.

Read more: Cannabis could boost memory of older people

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Antioxidants to Protect Against Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline, Part 2 of 2
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Date: February 22, 2017 04:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Antioxidants to Protect Against Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline, Part 2 of 2





In this article, author Mark Becker highlights in part 2 of his segment about how antioxidants are used to protect against memory loss and cognitive decline and support brain health. Scientists studied the effects on mice in a 2012 University of Illinois study showing that mice exposed to caffeine were able to form new memories 33% faster than non-caffeinated mice.

Antioxidants to Protect Against Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline, Part 2 of 2

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Honeybee memories: Another piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle?
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Date: December 14, 2016 12:59 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Honeybee memories: Another piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle?





A recent study at the University of Queensland has set out to research how Alzheimer’s can affect memory by studying how honeybees create and forget memories. They found that honeybees have an amazing memory. Not only can they remember where a food source was once found, but they also can orient themselves based on landmarks and remember how good the source was. The theory was that methylation of DNA is a molecular change in the brain that causes memories to be formed. By preventing some bees from being able to methylate, they were able to prevent them from forming memories.

Key Takeaways:

  • A breakdown of memory processes in humans can lead to conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
  • New research exploring the simpler brain of a honeybee moves us a step towards understanding the different processes behind long-term memory formation.
  • Understanding their brain functions may allow us, in the future, to develop treatments for brain diseases that also develop over a lifetime.

"Scientists know that when a memory is formed, molecular changes can trigger physical changes to the brain, including new or altered neural connections and activity."



Reference:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161208125919.htm

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Superaging: why some 80 year olds have the memory capacity of 20 year olds
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Date: November 08, 2016 09:54 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (support@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Superaging: why some 80 year olds have the memory capacity of 20 year olds






Superagers is a term used by researchers to describe a minority of senior citizens who appear to maintain memories as dependable as those many years younger. Science is just beginning to explain why superagers have such strong memories. While certain sections of superagers’ brains may deteriorate, their memory networks stay as functional as those of an 18-32 year old person. Neurology researchers at the Journal of Neuroscience are surprised by these recent findings. By observing superagers, researchers hope to learn more about the slowing down of cognitive function and the conditions associated with it.

Key Takeaways:

  • Now, researchers have provided some insight as to why and how some of our senior citizens are able to hold on to their robust memories.
  • So, measuring the thickness of the cortex gives scientists an idea about how much aging has downgraded parts of the brain.
  • They remain more engaged in life activities like work and family, which is believed to keep them healthy longer.

"Now, researchers have provided some insight as to why and how some of our senior citizens are able to hold on to their robust memories."



Reference:

//www.naturalnews.com/055886_memory_superagers_cognitive_research.html


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How Huperzine Helps With Memory
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Date: July 30, 2015 04:00 PM
Author: Darrell Miller
Subject: How Huperzine Helps With Memory

Memory refers to the process by which information is encoded, stored and retrieved when required.  Encoding makes information from the outside world to be sensed in form of physical and chemical stimuli.  In the first stage, information has to be changed in order to be put into the encoding process.  Storage is the process by which the information is maintained over duration of time.  The third of final stage is the retrieval process where the information stored is returned back to the consciousness.

Brain

One of the major problems that many people undergo is memory loss.  This is a condition in which a person cannot recall information or events that they would be able to remember in normal circumstances.  One of the most effective ways to help improve memory is by taking Huperzine.  This is a drug that has proven to help boost memory and learning.

Here are some of the ways on how Huperzine help with memory:

1. Boost the level of acetylcholine

Acetylcholine is a very important transmitter in the brain responsible for carrying out several functions including those associated to memory and cognition. It is released into the space between two cells, where it then stimulates nerve impulses from one cell to the other. When acetylcholine fails to work effectively, several types of brain dysfunction occurs. A shortage of acetylcholine is known to be the common cause of memory loss, decreased intelligence and learning ability. Huperzine helps in reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine and boost the duration and strength of nerve impulse. It makes the neurotransmitter more available leading to better memory and improved overall brain functioning.

2. Protection against free radicals

Huperzine offers protection against free radicals that are known to be the major cause of modern diseases. It decreases the activity of heightened free radical activity in the brain. This goes a long way in reducing the risk of having memory loss. It has also proved to be effective in helping adolescents improve their learning abilities and memories.

References:

//www.smart-publications.com/articles/huperzine-a-the-proven-therapeutic-treatment-for-memory-loss

Read More

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The benefit of Amino Acid L-Tyrosin for our brains
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Date: January 21, 2014 09:47 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: The benefit of Amino Acid L-Tyrosin for our brains

L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid because it can be made from phenylalanine, the another amino acid by our body. But from some researchers the body cannot make tyrosine from phenylalanine if stressed. In otherhand, L-Tyrosine is definitely present in many kinds of foods, such as milk, meats, eggs, nuts, cheese, bananas, beans and some seafood like fish.

Benefits of L-Tyrosine

By using this food stuff can increased the amount of L-Tyrosine in our body. And Also L-Tyrosine can we get from some suplement. L-Tyrosine has benefits for our brains. L-Tyrosine need for creating the neurotransmitters such as dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. It can called stress hormone. This compounds that transmit chemical signals in our brains. The neurotransmitters that was produced by L-Tyrosine have effect significant for your mood, memory, concentration, focus and alertness. The neurotransmitter dopamine can affects the incentive mechanism in our brain which indicates it involved in feeling of happiness. Dopamine is also helps we keep motivated and handle problem that can make streesed. But too much stress can make our dopamine level decreased. It can make our brain less active and weak. The neurotransmitter epinephrine ability to increases our energy, heart rate and breathing. It because epinephrine produces oxygen with rich blood that travels to our brain. Moreover the neurotransmitter epinephrine can boosting our memory, enhance cognitive performance, polishing our senses and reducing pain level of sensitivity. And the third compound of neurotransmitters is norepinephrine. It can helps increase our concentrate and to develop new memories. Norepinephrine is also travels through our blood and can stimulate our brains. The effect of our body does not produce enough neurotransmitters, we will become depressed, fatigued, confused and also develop memory loss. So if you want to enhance your memories and don’t let your body has less L-tyrosine to products stressed hormone that you need. Food supplements have shown good results in improving the amount L-tyrosine in our body.

Reference:

  1. //www.bodybuilding.com/fun/md1.htm

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Memory And Focus
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Date: May 08, 2007 02:05 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Memory And Focus

Memory & Focus

 

Some people think getting older often means getting slower. It’s true that as we age, we may find we can’t walk quite as fast, climb as many flights of stairs, or play sports as hard as we could when we were twenty. However, we k now that a healthy diet, regular exercise, and the right dietary supplements can make a huge difference in our health, strength, and mobility as we age.

This is true for our mental abilities as well. We may not think as quickly as we used to, might misplace our keys more often, and experience more “tip-of-my-tongue” word searches. These so-called “middle-aged moments” most often have minor consequences: a missed appointment or the forgotten name of an acquaintance. However, in a small number of cases, these mental slips can also be the first sign of serious diseases of aging, such as Alzheimer’s disease of other dementias.

The good news is, just like our physical health, we can improve how we function mentally. Eating healthy foods, taking the right supplements, and participating in regular mental exercise can significantly increase our mental endurance, improve our memory, and optimize our ability to focus.

In fact, groundbreaking and ongoing research has discovered that specific herbs and vitamins, particularly Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa monnieri, folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12, and the important co-enzyme and antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid, all have powerful effects on memory and focus. These nutritional supplements have been scientifically shown to quickly reduce mild age-related memory chances, as well as greatly reducing the risk of developing more serious problems like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other brain diseases later on in life.

 

Q. What is the difference between age related memory decline and dementia?

A. As we get older, our nerve cells need more time to spark and connect, slowing the process of bringing memories and events to mind. Another theory is that, as we age, we accumulate more knowledge and memories. The mind then has to sort through much more data to reference a memory. Almost everyone middle-aged and older notices this slowdown. Memory decline and problems with mental focus are a normal part of aging.

While it’s true that the older we get, our chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease increase, this illness is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible, progressive dementia that slowly kills nerve cells in areas of the brain where memory, learning, though, and language take place. Often first appearing as people begin retirement, Alzheimer’s disease makes the “golden years” a time of loss and devastation. memories vanish, relationships are erased, and independence is gradually lost.

After Alzheimer’s disease, the second most common cause of dementia in older people is multi-infarct dementia. Caused by a series of mini-strokes that damage or destroy brain tissue over time, multi-infarct dementia usually affects people between the ages of 60 and 75. Men are slightly more at risk. High blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for multi-infarct dementia.

Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, Huntington’s disease, Creutzfelt-Jakob disease, and alcoholism can also cause progressive and irreversible dementia.

While normal age-related memory and focus loss may mean we can’t remember where we put our car keys, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia may mean we can’t remember what our car keys are used for.

 

Q. Are any types of memory and focus loss reversible?

A. Yes. As women enter menopause, they frequently experience trouble remembering. This memory interference is caused by hormone fluctuations and can affect speech, thinking, and attention. Symptoms of menopause-related memory loss and poor focus include recognizing faces less well than in the past, missing scheduled appointments, and misplacing articles. Once a woman passes through menopause, her ability to remember and focus most often improves.

Certain medications, such as the heavily prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs called stains, can temporarily interfere with memory. Low vitamin B levels, artherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and thyroid disease can cause disruption of mental focus and memory loss. These problems usually resolve with treatment of the underlying disorder.

A certain type of stoke, called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) can cause memory loss that may be reversible. A TIA is a brief episode of stroke symptoms that come on quickly. Sometimes referred to as a “mini-stroke” or “warning stroke,” a TIA is caused by a temporary interruption in the blood supply to the brain. But, unlike a stroke, a TIA does not lead to permanent brain damage. While a TIA is usually short-lived, it is likely to occur again if not properly managed and can be a warning of future stroke.

 

Q. I seem to forget a lot of things. How can I be sure I don’t have Alzheimer’s disease or some other dementia?

A. If you, or other around you, are concerned about your memory, you should be examined by your health care practitioner. Once the cause of your memory and focus problem is diagnosed, treatment can begin. All causes of memory loss and mental focus disruption can be treated, even Alzheimer’s disease. While presently irreversible dementias cannot be cured, the progression of the disease may be slowed, and in some cases, stopped..

Research on memory loss and mental focus disruption has increased dramatically in the past few years. Discoveries regarding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, as well as age-related loss of memory and focus have recently been made. Most importantly, many new treatment options, including the use of nutritional supplements, have been developed.

 

Q. How can nutritional supplements improve memory and focus?

A. Several herbs and vitamins have been demonstrated to improve memory and mental focus. While some nutritional supplements work now to improve memory and focus, others work to prevent problems we might develop later.

One of the most researched herbs, Ginkgo biloba, has been found to be effective in improving currently experienced memory and focus loss; in other words, problems we are having now. Ginkgo has been studied in individuals who have age-related memory loss, as well as in those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It seems that ginkgo can improve many brain functions, such as speeding up memory recall, protecting brain cells from chemical changes and free radical damage, improving blood flow to the brain, and helping nerve cells communicate with each other better.

Several studies examined ginkgo’s effect in healthy people who were experiencing normal age-related memory and focus problems. They determined that ginkgo improved memory, attention, and clarity of thinking. Ginkgo can also help restore memories that may be lost in TIAs, those mini-strokes that were discussed earlier.

In studies of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, the results showed that ginkgo slowed down the disease in those severely afflicted and actually improved those with very mild or moderate disease. In one of these studies, ginkgo was compared to four prescription cholinesterase inhibitors, medications commonly used to treat individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Using written mental tests, the researchers found that ginkgo worked just as effectively as the prescription drugs. While those taking one of the cholinesterase inhibitors dropped out of the study because of disturbing side effects, ginkgo had no side effects and improved symptoms equally as well.

 

Q. Hoe does Bacopa monnieri help memory and focus?

A. Like ginkgo, bacopa works on the memory and focus problems we are experiencing now. Bacopa grows in India and has a long history as a natural medicine. In a recent study, bacopa was compared to a placebo in its effect on memory. Adults between the ages of 40 and 65 were divided into 2 groups. Half got the bacopa and half got a placebo. Researchers, who didn’t k now which patients got the bacopa, tested both groups’ memory before the study, at three months, and when the study ended six weeks later. The results showed the group taking the bacopa extract was able to remember new information much better than the group taking the placebo.

 

Q. How does alpha lipoic acid help memory and focus?

A. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a vitamin-like coenzyme that prevents memory and focus problems we might have later on. ALA is an incredibly powerful antioxidant that works especially well with other antioxidants. An antioxidant’s job is to disarm damaging free radicals, those naturally occurring molecules that damage cells and cause disease. ALA has potent antioxidant action in almost all the tissues of the body, helps generate energy from food an oxygen, can get directly to the nerves, and plays an important role in the “antioxidant network”.

Researchers have discovered unmistakable free radical damage in Alzheimer’s disease. Accordingly, ALA’s effect in the illness has been studied extensively. Researchers have learned that ALA not only prevents free radical damage in Alzheimer’s disease, but also regulates protective chemicals in the brain that help improve symptoms.

In a recent study, people with Alzheimer’s disease were given tests that measured through and memory. They were then given ALA supplements for an average of 11 months. At the end of the study, the participants were tested again. The results showed that every person had higher scores on the thought and memory tests than they had at the beginning.

ALA is unique among antioxidants, as it can neutralize free radicals in both the fat and the water of cells. In contrast, the well known vitamin C is only water-soluble, while the popular antioxidant vitamin E is only soluble in fat. Because ALA is easily absorbed, enters cells and tissues in a highly usable form, performs a variety of antioxidant actions (including rejuvenation of other antioxidants), and is both fat and water soluble, many researchers label ALA an “ideal antioxidant”.

 

Q. How do vitamins B12 and B6 help memory and focus?

A. Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient in the regulation of nerve transmissions. It is required by the nervous system for normal brain function, and it may also help with mood.

Like ALA, vitamins B6 and B12 help prevent memory and focus problems further on down the road. One important recent discovery is the role of homocysteine in brain diseases. These important B vitamins can reduce homocysteine, an amino acid (the building blocks of protein) that is produced in the human body. Homocysteine irritate s blood vessels, makes it easier for blood to clot, and can cause cholesterol to become more harmful.

Researchers have learned that people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias (including Parkinson’s disease) have elevated homocysteine levels. IN fact, t he amount of homocysteine in the blood corresponds to the severity of the disease. Most people with a high homocysteine level don’t have enough folate, vitamin B5 or vitamin B12 in their diet. Replacing these vitamins helps return the homocysteine level to normal.

Reducing homocysteine levels may prevent the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease, or other brain diseases, and improve the symptoms of those already afflicted.

 

Q. What about folic acid?

A. Folic acid has long been recognized as a vital nutrient for the brain and spinal cord. Recent research has demonstrated that folic acid has significant importance in Alzheimer’s disease.

An ongoing study of Alzheimer’s disease that began in 1986 has been studying 678 members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in the hopes of learning how the disease develops, how it might be prevented, and how to treat it. Data collected in the study includes biographies the sisters wrote upon entrance to the order, blood samples from the sisters while they are living, and information gained from the voluntary donation of their brains after death.

Aptly named the “Nun Study,” ground breaking discoveries have already been made. It seems that diet and nutrition have a dramatic influence in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Sisters who had high levels of folic acid showed little evidence of Alzheimer’s-type damage in their brains after death. And, those nuns who had Alzheimer’s disease in spite of high folic acid levels had profoundly less brain damage from the disease. In fact, some sisters who had no outward evidence of Alzheimer’s disease while they were living had surprisingly extensive damage in their brains after death.

 

Q. Besides taking ginkgo, bacopa, B vitamins, folic acid, and ALA, is there other things I can do to prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

A. You may not know if you have a serious B-vitamin deficiency. Routine lab work does not measure the amount of B vitamins in your blood. You might want to ask your health care practitioner to have your B vitamin level in your blood measured, especially if you are having memory and focus problems. Keep in mind that this type of lab work is fairly expensive, however.

Supplements do not replace the need for a healthy diet, especially a diet with high levels of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids. Keeping your body healthy helps keep your brain healthy as well.

It also seems that the use-it-or-lose-it theory applies to our brain as well as our body. Research has shown that people who seek opportunities to keep mentally active, such as reading books, newspapers, and magazines, solving crossword puzzles, playing card games, and visiting museums, lower their risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Conclusion

Dealing with age-related memory loss may be both frustrating and frightening. As the population of America gets older, dementia is continuing to affect a larger proportion of society. Prevention of these devastating diseases has become increasingly important.

In fact, more and more research shows prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is a reality. And age-related memory loss can successfully be improved as well. Taking the scientifically validated nutritional supplements ginkgo, bacopa, vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid, and ALA can improve age-related memory loss and potentially prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as we age.



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Phosphatidyl Serine - HEALTHY COGNITION BRAIN FUNCTION
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Date: December 21, 2005 11:04 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Phosphatidyl Serine - HEALTHY COGNITION BRAIN FUNCTION

“To the dull mind, nature is leaden. To the illumined mind, the whole world burns and sparkles with light.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

From the moment we rise to the moment we rest, our brain is in a decision-making frenzy. When we’re thirsty, our brain tells us that we need water. When we’re hungry, it reminds us that we have a refrigerator full of food. When we’re tired, it lets us know that we need to sleep, and so on. But despite the thousands of decisions we make everyday, our brain still hasn’t figured out a way to let us know what it needs to func¬tion.

Though ironic, this raises a very serious issue. The human brain, like every other organ in the body, demands nutrition - period. Unfortunately, it leaves that up to us to figure out. Thanks to notable advance¬ments in research, we’re finally learning which nutri¬ents are most important for optimal brain function. Phosphatidyl Serine (PS) is a perfect example. This naturally occurring phospholipid has been the subject of numerous studies regarding its ability to boost cognitive function and delay (or potentially reverse) memory deterioration, and suggests that PS may be able to increase the effectiveness of neural transmissions. Interestingly, PS accounts for roughly 15% of the brain’s phospholipid supply. This is enor¬mous because phospholipids play a significant role in the billions of neurotransmissions that take place every second. Yes, billions.

Brain cells are constantly communicating with one another, and send astonishing amounts of impulses throughout the nervous system. This is accomplished via neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that send and receive impulses over the synapses of the brain and throughout the body. Mentally, we’re function¬ing at our best when these cells are well nourished. We can think more clearly, recall memories with ease and operate with greater efficiency. However, a de¬ficiency in neural-nutrients can prevent these mind messengers from functioning as they should. For¬tunately, PS has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to deliver critical nutrients and remove mind-slowing waste.

Consider this. The brain functions in the same man¬ner that a major airport does around the holidays. There are millions of actions taking place. Impulses departing, nutrients arriving, endless communication, the occasional problem and more reactions than any¬one could possibly count. There’s confusion, delay and emotion, not to mention the endless series of transmissions that take place every second. Imagine PS as that ultra-motivated employee who shows up to work everyday anxious to expedite everything in sight. It helps neural travelers get to and from their respec¬tive gates, ensures that they have everything they need, simplifies processes that could result in breakdown, and clears isles that are cluttered with junk. Simply stated, PS is the brain’s overachieving go-getter.

PS can help us think more clearly.

It’s 3:06 in the afternoon and you’re scrambling to get to a meeting that you’re already late for. That fluster could be the result of poor neurotransmission caused by a deficiency in essential nutrients like PS. Moreover, these innocent brain-bursts can exhaust our PS reserves, leaving us somewhere hovering be¬tween frantic and sluggish. Every impulse, thought, action, reaction, movement, emotion and desire is the end result of neurotransmitters in action. PS is a major supporter of these actions. Therefore, as we increase the amount of PS in our system, we gain the ability to think and act with greater ease.

PS can reduce the adverse impacts of stress on our body and mind.

What do we do when we’re down in the dumps? While plopping down on the sofa with a snack might be an easy solution, it comes with a price. Not only does stress interfere with mood, but it can also inspire inactivity, over-eating and sluggishness. This is due largely in part to cortisol - a catabolic hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to emotional stress. Studies done to determine the effectiveness of PS on cortisol suppression have shown that it works by suppressing the hormones that produce cortisol. As a result, supplementing with PS may be able to help reduce the amount of stress related hormones that ultimately leave us singing the blues.

PS can expedite post workout recovery time.

Endurance athletes who carefully monitor their body’s response levels are increasingly turning to PS. Immediately following strenuous activity, the body responds by releasing adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) – a hormone that discourages testosterone and encourages cortisol. By limiting ACTH pro¬duction, PS reduces the amount of muscle tissue breakdown that occurs during exercise. A common misconception is that muscles grow during exercise - wrong. In fact, muscles are torn down during ex¬ercise and grow in-between workouts – hence the term recovery. During recovery, PS helps prevent the activity of growth-inhibiting hormones. This helps athletes recover faster so their gains are realized more quickly.

In short, Phosphatidyl Serine appears to be a completely safe and beneficial dietary supple¬ment that can offer a wide range of physical and mental health benefits. NOW® Phosphatidyl Serine is derived from soy leci¬thin, and includes Choline and Inositol – two metabolites that work synergistically to help in¬crease circulation and cognitive response.



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PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE
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Date: December 19, 2005 09:19 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE

PHOSPHATIDYL SERINE

Phosphatidyl Serine - As we age, our natural production of Phosphatidyl Serine (PS) slows. As a result, our ability to learn, concentrate and recall memories inevitably declines. This multi-tasking phospholipid is a major component of neural membranes, and aids in the transition of impulses as well as the absorption of cognitive nutrients. PS has also been shown to inhibit the secretion of cortisol, a hormone often found elevated in individuals who are frequently stressed and depressed.*



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Keeping Your Edge - The state of your outer body reflects the inner you.
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Date: June 12, 2005 05:22 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Keeping Your Edge - The state of your outer body reflects the inner you.

Keeping Your Edge by Carl Lowe Energy Times, December 2, 2003

If you want to keep your mental edge, better keep your physical edge. As your body goes, so goes your brain: The state of your outer body reflects the inner you.

A flabby body leads to flabby thinking. Weight gain and toneless muscles on the outside are evidence of an out-of-tune brain and thinking processes as soft around the edges as your stomach. But staying in shape physically can boost your mental powers.

As you age, one of the biggest threats to keeping your thoughts sharp is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain deterioration (dementia) that destroys your memory and your ability to think.

Today, about 4.5 million Americans suffer Alzheimer's disease. Over a lifetime, the average cost per person suffering this disease adds up to a staggering $175,000. Consequently, according to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), this disease drains approximately a billion dollars a year from the US economy.

Thanks to an aging population and the growing girth of Americans, the rate of Alzheimer's threatens to explode into an epidemic over the next two decades.

Experts now believe that if you are carrying around too much weight, those extra pounds puts you at a higher risk of losing your thinking abilities. And being seriously overweight greatly expands your chances of developing this debilitating type of dementia.

An 18-year study of about 400 people in Sweden, all aged 70 at the beginning of the research, concluded that your chances of suffering dementia significantly increases with every extra pound (Archives for Internal Medicine 7/03).

Cholesterol Conquers Minds

In addition to the extra risk to your thinking capacity from body fat, having high levels of cholesterol in your blood also threatens your brain's ability to reason. Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have found that:

* Excess amounts of cholesterol can lead to accumulation of APP, a protein found normally in moderate amounts in both the brain and the heart.

* Excess APP linked to cholesterol can, in turn, lead to the development of larger amounts of a substance called amyloid protein.

* Pieces of amyloid protein can form plaque on the brain, destroying cells and leading to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

"Past research has shown that high cholesterol levels appear to increase APP levels, which in turn leads to increased levels of beta amyloid protein and the risk of accumulation of amyloid beta peptide," says Vassilios Papadopoulos, PhD, professor of cell biology at Georgetown. "Our research showed that high cholesterol levels also increase the rate at which the amyloid beta peptides break off and form the tangles that kill brain cells." Added to that, the Georgetown scientists have demonstrated that high cholesterol seems to cause the body to boost its production of the protein, apolipoprotein E (APOE), a chemical that normally helps take cholesterol out of cells. But when APOE accumulates, this chemical leads to an excess of free cholesterol, which kills nerve cells.

"Our study adds to the growing body of evidence implicating high cholesterol as a significant risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, and breaks new ground in showing the damage caused by excessive levels of cholesterol," says Dr. Papadopoulos.

Since high blood pressure also increases your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (BMJ 6/14/01), devoting yourself to a heart-healthy lifestyle (eating plenty of fiber, cutting back on saturated fat in red meat and avoiding trans fats in cookies and cakes) can increase your chances of keeping your wits about you as you move through life.

Brain Food

As part of that heart-healthy lifestyle that keeps your brain functioning at top capacity, experts recommend regular helpings of omega-3 fatty acids, the type of fats found in fish, flax and hemp.

In research that focused on people between the ages of 65 to 94, researchers have found that eating seafood at least once a week drops your risk of Alzheimer's by about 60% compared with folks who forego fish (Archives of Neurology 7/03).

Along with fish, the scientists recommended munching more nuts, which are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

In the report on the relationship between eating and Alzheimer's, Robert Friedland, MD, of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, noted: "A high antioxidant/low saturated fat diet pattern with a greater amount of fish, chicken, fruits and vegetables and less red meat and dairy products is likely to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, as that for heart disease and stroke."

Wake Up Your Brain

If your thinking has been fuzzy lately, take a nap.

Getting enough sleep right after you learn something new helps maintain your learning abilities, according to research at the University of Chicago. In a test of how sleep can help people remember words and language, these researchers taught students to recognize a unique vocabulary spoken by a machine. After the learning session, students were then tested on their new abilities.

The scientists found that students trained in the morning tested poorly when tested later the same evening. But when students were trained right before bedtime and then tested the next morning, their test scores soared (Nature 9/9/03).

"Sleep has at least two separate effects on learning," according to the researchers. "Sleep consolidates memories, protecting them against subsequent interference or decay. Sleep also appears to 'recover' or restore memories."

The concept of this research originated in observations of birds.

"We were surprised several years ago to discover that birds apparently 'dream of singing' and this might be important for song learning," says researcher Daniel Margoliash, professor of biology and anatomy at the University of Chicago.

While you may not dream of singing like a bird, you may dream of having a sharper intellect. Luckily, the tools for sharpening your mental powers are easy to find and put to good use: Methods for keeping your brain in shape are basically the same techniques effective for keeping your body and heart in shape.

Pleasant dreams!



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Improove Memory ...
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Date: June 09, 2005 05:49 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Improove Memory ...

Mesmerizing Memory by Cal Orey Energy Times, January 1, 1999

In the 60s, the same rock 'n' rollers who belted out "One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small," often espoused the belief that certain pills could expand the mind. While counter-culture pill purveyors were pilloried for their pill-popping claims, 90s nutritional research has uncovered a stash of supplements that may amplify mental improvement.

Like a blues singer bending a high note, researchers are now humming with dramatic assertions that certain nutritional supplements can sustain and enhance concentration and memory function. For instance, studies reveal possible benefits for cognitive powers from vitamin C, magnesium and Ginkgo biloba. A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 278:1327-1332) said that an extract of Ginkgo biloba "can stabilize and, in some cases, improve the cognitive function and social behavior of demented patients."

A researcher in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences noted that a daily dose of vitamin E may "help protect the brain and its memories from the ravages of time." And the beat goes on: other evidence indicates that zinc, iron and boron may pump up short-term memory attention span and cut the time it takes to perform mental tasks.

Neuronutrients
Neuronutrients-mentally helpful vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and trace elements-offer an exciting key to keeping mental functions from succumbing to the degenerations of aging and disease. According to Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, author of Brain Longevity (Warner Books) and an energetic campaigner for mental fitness through nutrition and exercise, vitamin E "can not only prevent deterioration of the brain, but actually reverse an important element of deterioration." Dr. Khalsa describes vitamin E as one of the most potent antioxidants, a fighter of the electrically charged free radicals that attack and break down cell membranes and nerve endings.

Lester Packer, PhD, professor of molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley, told a joint 1996 United Nations-World Health Organization conference on Aging that "there is a growing body of evidence indicating that the free radical theory of aging and aging-related disease is valid," and that dietary and supplemental antioxidants can help fight illness and mental deterioration.

Vitamin E and other memory aids are believed to protect brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, "the ferrymen of the brain's communication system," that influence concentration and memory. Experts say that sustaining the level of these nerve chemicals in the brain can potentially improve all mental processes.

Brain Well-Being
"Your brain is intricately bound up with your physical state of well-being and is, therefore, vulnerable to any kind of physical abuse, especially that of chemical or substance abuse," report Thomas H. Crook III, PhD, and Brenda Adderly, MHA, co-authors of The Memory Cure (Pocket Books).

Too much alcohol, for example, commonly causes progressive mental decline, according to Secrets of the Superyoung (Villard) by David Weeks and Jamie James. The authors also point out that "the memory tends to worsen noticeably after 15 years of alcohol drinking, and much sooner in people who go on massive binges."

"The effects of cigarette smoke are subtler because the poisonous effects of carbon monoxide in each puff are temporarily offset by the alerting effects of the nicotine," they add. Can't remember the name of that singer cavorting in a music video? Tests have shown that smokers are worse at connecting peoples' names to their faces than nonsmokers.

Cognition Ignition
A first step in beginning your brain-boosting regimen consists of intensified intellectual activity, insists Rebecca Rupp, writer of Committed to Memory: How We Remember and Why We Forget (Crown): n Keep working: The mental challenges and social interactions of a job prevents lapses in the brain's synapses.

n Learn something new: A second language, musical instrument, or unique puzzles and games keep neurons working like new.

n Turn off the TV: Read. Studies show that passively watching TV requires less concentration than eating cereal. Mental rejuvenation also requires physical activity. Exercise increases oxygen flow to the brain, which supports memory, concentration and cognition. One study has shown that exercise significantly brightened the moods of middle-aged and older women, regardless of whether they were pre- or post-menopausal, with or without hormone replacement therapy.

Supplemental Brain Help
As you provide for your physical and mental vitality through healthy exercise and diet, you can augment your regimens with other supplements that research has shown to boost brain power.

Antioxidants, including the previously mentioned vitamin E (You haven't forgotten vitamin E already, have you?), provide crucial help for vigorous cerebral function. The free radicals created by tobacco smoke, air pollution, ultraviolet light and certain carcinogenic chemicals deconstruct cell membranes and may foster microscopic brain cell havoc. Antioxidant enzymes convert free radicals to more neutral, benign substances and nutritional antioxidants can neutralize free radicals by linking up with them.

Vitamin C, a brainy antioxidant all star, performs so well that, according to Dr. Khalsa, its levels in the brain are almost 15 times higher than in other parts of the body. This nutrient, he asserts, aids mental and physical longevity. In a UCLA study, people who ingested at least 300 mg of vitamin C daily lived more than six years longer than those who ingested less.

Mental Fat
As a brain protector, selenium ranks high. Your brain consists of about 60% fat and selenium is a master at restricting detrimental fat oxidation. At the same time, zinc takes part in antioxidant processes that quell free radicals and strengthens neuronal cell membranes, protecting nerves from damage.

Added to this mix, magnesium also scavenges free-radicals, according to Dr. Khalsa. Plus, experts recommend grape seed extract (phytochemicals that protect a wide range of cellular structures) to safeguard nerve cells and mental capacity.

B Vitamins for the Mind
John W. Rowe, MD, president of Mount Sinai Hospital and School of Medicine in New York and author of Successful Aging (Pantheon) states that "there is a significant relationship between blood levels of folic acid and vitamins B12 and cognitive decline." In other words, these vitamins seem to be necessary to eliminate a protein called homocysteine, which has been implicated in the development of coronary heart disease and cognitive problems. (Support for Dr. Rowe's conclusion appeared in the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition 63-306.)

Iron Mind
Iron also may strengthen memory. Since iron is involved in distributing oxygen to brain cells (and every other cell in the body), when you lack this mineral you may find it hard to concentrate. In the early 1990s, Harold Sandstead, MD, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Texas, discovered that women whose diets lack zinc and iron experienced more difficulties on standard exams than women with an adequate dietary supply. In his study of women aged 18 to 40, Sandstead found that giving these women more zinc and iron raised their scores on memory tests and average of 20%.

Boron plays a crucial part in mental function. Scientists at the USDA's Human Nutrition Research Center have linked boron deficiencies to chronic lethargy and fatigue. In brain studies, they found that the electrical activity of the gray matter in the boron deficient indicated increased drowsiness and mental sluggishness.

Huperzine Boost
Borrowed from Chinese folk medicine, Huperzine A (HupA) recently has attracted attention from researchers who credit it with enhancing cognitive function and helping folks suffering from disease-related dementia. HupA is an extract of the club moss Huperzia serrata and has been used for centuries in China to treat fever, inflammation and, most recently, dementia. Dr. Alan Kozikowski, professor of chemistry in the neurology department at Georgetown University's Drug Discovery Program, a researcher who first synthesized HupA and studied it extensively, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, 277 (10):776-March 1997), that HupA is safe, having been used to treat 100,000 people in China.

HupA basically protects the brain from free radical damage (due to low levels of antioxidant defenses) and maintains or enhances crucial neurotransmitter action. More specifically, HupA helps reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine, the vital neurotransmitter, and makes this substance more bioavailable. In addition, HupA helps make choline accessible to the brain for the synthesis of acetylcholine, according to a study in Neuropharmacology (30, 1991: 763-768).

Normally, the brain manufactures sufficient levels of the chemical phosphatidylserine, a lecithin-derivative that helps boost neurotransmitter release, but deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folic acid, or of essential fatty acids, may retard that production. Low levels of phosphatidylserine in the brain are related to impaired mental function and depression in the elderly. Scientists reporting in Aging (5, 1993; 123-33) describe "good results" using phosphatidylserine in the treatment of age-related cognitive ills.

Ginkgo Brain Power
Researchers also have demonstrated that Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) increases brain function mostly by boosting acetylcholine receptors and the transmission of nerve impulses, with no significant adverse reactions. GBE is effective not only for folks with Alzheimer's; it also helps when mental function is impaired by vascular deficiencies or depression. Keep in mind that experts believe that GBE requires about 12 weeks of supplementation to reach optimal effectiveness.

Another ingredient in what seems like an alphabet-soup of brain nourishment is DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fat essential for normal brain function. Researchers met recently at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center's Nutrition Information Center to discuss "Keeping Your Brain in Shape: New Insights into DHA." Their findings revealed links between low levels of DHA and Alzheimer's, depression, memory loss, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and certain behavioral traits including aggression and hostility.

Mostly Fat
Since so much of the brain is fat, material like DHA forms the building block of brain tissue and the primary structural fatty acid in its gray matter. Although it is critical for mental and visual well being, the average American's consumption of DHA has declined since we're eating less of DHA's dietary sources: animal organ meats and eggs.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health point out, however, that fish is an excellent dietary source of DHA. In their studies, they discovered that depression rates in Japan and Taiwan, where fish ranks a top spot on the menu, are significantly lower than in North America and Europe.

DHA also is crucial to the neurological development of children, according to findings published in Pediatrics (vol. 101, no. 1, January 1998). Researchers suggest that DHA-rich breast milk should be the model for infant formulas that enhance babies' neurological development. Scientists also have correlated some behavioral problems in children-ADHD, for example-to DHA deficiencies.

If you are a vegetarian, or have other cause for concern about a potential lack of DHA in your diet, you can rely on dietary supplementation of DHA. Bruce J. Holub, PhD, of the University of Guelph in Canada provided vegetarians in his research project with DHA supplements over a 42-day period and substantially increased their DHA blood levels.

The bottom line to enhanced mental performance is to take a balanced approach, says Robert Snider, MD, who specializes in preventive medicine in Massena, New York. "Maintaining brain power includes exercise, stress reduction and good nutrition." The message to keep in mind: Don't lose your nutritional balance or you could lose a piece of your peace of mind.

Recommended Reading: & Brain Builders (Reward Books, 1995), by Richard Leviton.

Brain Longevity (Warner Books, 1997), by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD.

Omega 3 Oils to Improve Mental Health, Fight Degenerative Diseases and Extend Life (Avery, 1996), by Donald Rudin, MD, and Clara Felix.

Successful Aging (Pantheon, 1998), by John W. Rowe, MD, and Robert L. Kahn, PhD.



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Liquid Calcium 1200 with Magnesium
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Date: June 02, 2005 01:21 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Liquid Calcium 1200 with Magnesium

Committed to providing you with the most advanced and effective forms of nutrition, Source Naturals now offers LIQUID CALCIUM 1200 WITH MAGNESIUM. More than a convenient and great tasting way to ensure your daily intake of calcium, Source Naturals LIQUID CALCIUM 1200 WITH MAGNESIUM also supplies 100% of the magnesium and vitamin D your body needs to utilize calcium—enabling this essential mineral to maintain proper bone and muscle function. And all the minerals in Source Naturals LIQUID CALCIUM 1200 WITH MAGNESIUM are highly soluble and more easily assimilated because they’re in the lactate form, which is nondairy yet highly bio-available. Source Naturals LIQUID CALCIUM 1200 WITH MAGNESIUM is ideal for those who dislike taking large tablets or who have trouble digesting them. One of Source Naturals’ most popular formulas, this unique combination of high-quality nutrition and convenience comes without the chalky taste of many other liquid mineral supplements. Great tasting creamy orange natural flavor.

Calcium is well-known for its role in building strong bones and teeth, but this essential mineral has many other vital functions, including regulating the transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body and the passage of nutrients into and wastes out of cells. Magnesium, too, has numerous metabolic functions in the body. More than 300 different enzymes depend on magnesium, including ones that help convert dietary sugars and fats into energy. Magnesium is needed to synthesize DNA, RNA, and the brain proteins that store and retrieve memories. What’s more, your body uses magnesium to make sure calcium gets into your bones, not your soft tissues.

Calcium and Magnesium Work Together

Even with sufficient calcium in the diet, bone health still depends on adequate levels of magnesium. That’s because vitamin D needs magnesium to synthesize the calcium-binding proteins that transport calcium from the intestine into the blood. Magnesium also controls secretion of thyrocalcitonin, the hormone that directs calcium into bones. And adequate magnesium helps prevent over-secretion of parathyroid hormone that dissolves calcium from bones.

Cardiovascular Health

Taking magnesium with calcium is not only a wise strategy to ensure a healthy skeletal system, it’s also heart smart. Both calcium and magnesium support proper blood coagulation. Calcium affects muscle contraction while magnesium affects muscle relaxation including the heart muscle. The micromuscles surrounding arteries require sufficient magnesium to keep from excessive constriction or spasm. And with potassium, magnesium regulates the heart’s electrical activity. Epidemiological studies worldwide show a direct relationship between heart health and levels of magnesium and calcium in drinking water. A 30-year study of more than 7,000 men found a significant association between higher daily magnesium intake and cardiovascular health. Magnesium supplementation is important because modern diets are low in this vital mineral, and many factors increase magnesium loss from the body. Alcohol is the most notorious depleter of magnesium. Dietary imbalances such as high intakes of fat and/or calcium can intensify magnesium inadequacy. Stress hormones also deplete calcium from bones.

Calcium without the Cow

Source Naturals LIQUID CALCIUM 1200 WITHMAGNESIUM’s highly soluble mineral lactates (unrelated to lactose) offer excellent bio-availability for maximal absorption. This great tasting nondairy mineral supplement takes advantage of the latest knowledge in nutritional science to optimize the many vital functions of calcium and magnesium in the body. It is available in 16 oz and 32 oz sizes.

References
Abbott RD et al. Sept 2003. Dietary magnesium intake and the future risk of coronary heart disease (the Honolulu Heart Program). Am J Cardiol 92(6): 665-9. Seelig MS. Oct 1994. Consequences of magnesium deficiency on the enhancement of stress reactions; preventive and therapeutic implications (a review). J Am Coll Nutr 13(5): 429-46.



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Date: May 31, 2005 04:39 PM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)

Acetyl-L-carnitine is truly a mind-body nutrient. It helps synthesize acetylcholine, the brain's principal neurotransmitter responsible for learning and memory. And it is a more bioavailable form of L-carnitine, an amino acid derivative that performs the vital function of transporting longchain fatty acids into the cellular mitochondria where they are oxidized to generate metabolic energy. Supplemental acetyl-L-carnitine supports the activity of brain cells that depend on acetylcholine. It can also reduce the metabolic waste products that damage cells over time. As one of the most important nutrients to help slow the aging process, acetyl-L-carnitine is at the heart of Source Naturals' commitment to empower people to take charge of their own health.

Acetylcholine is the brain's principal neurochemical of thought. Neurons need it to communicate with each other, especially to create and recall memories. Acetylcholine is also involved in muscular coordination. At neuromuscular junctions throughout the body, it tells muscles when to contract. But the efficiency of cells that use acetylcholine naturally declines with age, partly because of decreased activity of the enzyme that synthesizes this neurotransmitter.

Neurotransmitter Production

Acetylcholine is created when the enzyme choline acetyl transferase (CAT) attaches an acetyl group to a choline molecule. CAT activity is heightened by acetyl-L-carnitine, which donates its acetyl group. Acetyl-L-carnitine is made in small amounts naturally in the body, but its production begins to decline in midlife. In well-controlled human studies, supplemental acetyl-L-carnitine slowed the progress of mental decline by notably improving attention and memory. When supplemental acetyl-L-carnitine was combined with lipoic acid (a powerful natural antioxidant), significant improvement in memory was seen in animals. Researchers said that together the two chemicals "tune up" the mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles that power all cells. Mitochondrial decay is believed to be the primary reason for age-related deterioration of cognitive function and energy levels.

Cellular Energy and Protection

As the active form of L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine efficiently transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria where they are converted into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy molecule. Animal studies suggest that supplemental acetyl L-carnitine has a positive effect on energy generation as well as on the structural integrity of aging mitochondria. By supporting fatty acid metabolism, acetyl L-carnitine also helps reduce lipofuscin, a metabolic waste product composed of damaged proteins and rancid fats. The brown "liver spots" on some elderly hands are composed of this aging pigment that gradually builds up in cells of the heart, liver, brain, and lens of the eye.

Muscle Performance

Ninety-five percent of the body's carnitine is found in muscle cells, especially in the heart where mitochondria comprise nearly 50% of a cell's volume. During prolonged exercise, muscles have a high demand for carnitine because fats can account for up to twothirds of the energy burned. L-carnitine supplements can increase exercise endurance and reduce fatigue. Acetyl L-carnitine is also a key nutrient in Source Naturals' legendary neuroceutical formulas MEGAMIND™ and HIGHER MIND™. And because acetyl L-carnitine also generates the basic energy that affects all biological and mental processes, this mind-body nutrient is one of the few nutritional compounds with such a broad range of action in maintaining youthful functioning. Source Naturals ACETYL L-CARNITINE is therefore an essential part of a smart strategy to live well, age well.

References

Carta A. and M. Calvani. Acetyl-L-carnitine: a drug able to slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease? Ann NY Acad Sci 1991; 640: 228-232. Hagen T.M. et al. August 4, 1998. Acetyl-L-carnitine fed to old rats partially restores mitochondrial function and ambulatory activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95(16):9562-6. Liu J. et al. February 19, 2002. Age-associated mitochondrial oxidative decay: Improvement of carnitine acetyltransferase substrate-binding affinity and activity in brain by feeding old rats acetyl-L-carnitine and/or R-alpha-lipoic acid. PNAS 99(4):1876-81. Spagnoli A.U. et al. 1991. Long-term acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology. 41(11):1726-1732.



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