Brain Health and Nutrition

Family sharing a meal. Nutrition is crucial for brain healthThe brain and eyes are intimately connected, and the nutrients essential for eye health are the same as for brain health. A retinal scan can detect the early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis before symptoms appear.

Numerous studies have shown that dietary factors help prevent brain and eye disease. They have a critical effect on neuronal function and synaptic plasticity. Recent findings have shed light on key processes through which nutrition influences brain health and cognitive performance. Alongside lifestyle factors like physical activity, what we eat has played a significant part in the development of our mental abilities and the evolution of the human brain. Continue reading “Brain Health and Nutrition”

The Body-Mind-Organ Connection

mind body organ woman touching stomachThe human body contains approximately 36 trillion cells. Cells communicate with each other every millisecond of life to coordinate functioning and maximize health. The mind-body connection includes how you think, and how organs communicate back and forth with the brain.

Keeping in balance in Western medicine is referred to as “homeostasis”. An example of homeostasis is maintaining the optimum body temperature at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When you exercise, your body sweats to cool off. If you are cold, you shiver involuntarily to create more body heat. Continue reading “The Body-Mind-Organ Connection”

Could a Japanese Food Reverse Heart Disease? Nattokinase, Natto and Atherosclerosis

natto By The original uploader was Shades0404 at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY 2.5Researchers are finding that food and supplements containing nattokinase may reverse atherosclerosis. Current treatments for hardening of the arteries slow down the progression of heart disease. Effectively reversing atherosclerotic lesions would be a dream come true for drug manufacturers. Nattokinase is the most active ingredient in natto. Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. Could we increase our longevity by consuming natto or nattokinase supplements? Continue reading “Could a Japanese Food Reverse Heart Disease? Nattokinase, Natto and Atherosclerosis”

Why Might Seniors Need Digestive Enzyme Supplements?

sauerkraut digestive enzyme supplementsOur body naturally produces enzymes for digestion, so why might we need digestive enzyme supplements? Some fresh and fermented foods contain large amounts of digestive enzymes. How do these chemical catalysts help digestion? What happens if we do not have enough enzymes? Do we produce enough enzymes as we age? Does our diet today contain enough digestive enzymes? Continue reading “Why Might Seniors Need Digestive Enzyme Supplements?”

Traumatic Brain Injury in Football Players Reversed with Ginko, Fish Oil, and Other Natural Supplements

football traumatic brain injury natural ginkoA significant study has found that the deleterious effects of traumatic brain injury in American football players can be mitigated using a natural regimen of weight loss (if needed), fish oil, vitamins, and brain-enhancing supplements including ginkgo biloba. The positive results could help reverse brain damage in contact sport athletes, alcohol and drug addicts, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and people who have had brain damage from concussions.

Continue reading “Traumatic Brain Injury in Football Players Reversed with Ginko, Fish Oil, and Other Natural Supplements”

How Enzymes Help the Body and the Eyes

Raw vegetables are rich in enzymesAn enzyme acts as a catalyst to increase the rate of a chemical reaction. Enzymes are proteins. Scientists have named 3,000+ different enzymes, but perhaps 50,000 additional enzymes may exist. Enzymes all have specific functions that result in biochemical reactions. For example, certain enzymes are involved in the absorption of oxygen and production of energy; other enzymes help nutrients get into the cells.

Digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are the most well-known, because they help break down food. Tay-Sachs disease and juvenile diabetes (Type I) are caused by genetic problems that inhibit the pancreas’s ability to generate the necessary enzymes in enough quantity.

Continue reading “How Enzymes Help the Body and the Eyes”