Brain health is not something we tend to think about until we must. One day you forgot someone’s name, the following week it may be where you placed your keys. It slowly starts to creep up on you. The word is on the tip of your tongue but, are you drawing a blank?

The time to start taking care of your brain health is today. There are many holistic options that you can look into right now to help your memory and brain health as you age. This topic is particularly important to me because of my family history of dementia. Researchers have not found a specific gene that directly causes Alzheimer’s disease.  Having a genetic variant of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on chromosome 19 does increase a person’s risk. You can test yourself to be sure but the best thing to do is educate yourself on how to prevent damage to the nerve cells in the brain and support your brain health.

Currently, 6.5 million American age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 12.7 million.

The good news is that there are actions that you can be taking regardless of your age to help your long-term brain health. Everything to do with brain disease is related to INFLAMMATION

Do you recall the old saying the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach well… I would like to offer an alternative. The way to someone’s brain is through great gut health.

 Inflammation is what is happening in the brain of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease. Changing your diet to an anti-inflammatory one that feeds your Microbiome will reduce systemic inflammation in the brain and body.

#1 Choose Foods rich in probiotics

·       Kombucha

·       Tempeh

·       Kimchi

·       Sauerkraut

·       Pickles

# 2 Eat Brain Food

·       Vegetables

·       Low-sugar fruit

·       Fermented foods

·       Healthy Fat

o   Olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, grass-fed tallow, almond milk, avocados, coconuts, olives, nuts, nut butter, seeds

·       Protein

·       Herbs

Coconut Oil not only is this great brain food it also reduces inflammation making it well known to prevent and treat neurodegenerative disease states

#3 Drink Filtered Water

Chemicals like chlorine found in tap water can be detrimental to the gut,

#4 Detox and Juice-Fast every season

This is something that I am passionate about as I have seen so many people obtain amazing results, myself included.  Juicing boosts your physical energy, but it can improve your mental clarity. For more on this check out my article Detoxing: Everything you need to know to get cleaned up and back to better health. https://mynaturowellness.com/blog/fsfmgt4bxvfsq0s5z130soimxvq6zf

#5 Supplementation

DHA – Docosahexaenoic acid is well documented for its protective action on the brain. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that makes up more than 90 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain. 50% of the weight of a neuron’s membrane is made of DHA and as a bonus, it’s great for heart health too.

Turmeric- This herb has been used for thousands of years and is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin the active constituent of turmeric activates genes to produce a vast array of antioxidants that protect our mitochondria.

ALA- Alpha Lipoic Acid- This is a fatty acid found inside every cell of the body where it produces energy for the body’s functions. ALA crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts as a powerful antioxidant for the brain.

Vitamin D- Vitamin D is a hormone, not a vitamin surprise. Vit D helps regulate enzymes in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid that are involved in manufacturing neurotransmitters and stimulating nerve growth. Vit D protects neurons from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Prevention is the key to ensuring that you or your loved one maintain your brain health as you age. All that work and time spent building a life just to watch the memories vanish from your loved one’s eyes is heartbreaking.

If you would like to discuss your health you can set up a free 15-minute phone consultation with me at the below link.

Looking for more great information about the brain? I highly recommend Brain Maker and Grain Brain by Dr Perlmutter.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5438379/