Alzheimer's disease is directly related to slowing down the activity of your brain, which is regulated by the brain chemical, acetylcholine. The good news is that I've seen many cases of significant progress achieved, simply by following an acetylcholine protocol, as outlined in my book, The Edge Effect.
A Remarkable Story of Full Recovery: a 55 year-old gentleman came to me with a memory loss issue of a 70 year-old man. Three years later, with an acetylcholine protocol, his memory was restored to that of a 35 year-old.
With Alzheimer's disease, as with any other condition affecting your mind and body, your health is in your hands. If you have any concern that you might be a candidate for this devastating disease, seek treatment as early as possible. We at PATH Medical can help.
We're all aware that amino acids are present and important throughout our bodies. Muscle, for example, is very high in protein and amino acids. But the most exciting area of amino acid research is the study of brain metabolism.
Essentially, amino acids run your brain. Your central nervous system is almost completely regulated by amino acids and their peptides. Communication within the brain and between your brain and the rest of your body's extensive nervous system occurs through chemical "languages" by which brain cells or neurons communicate.
There are about 50 such "languages" that neurotransmitters use to transmit messages from one neuron, or nerve cell, to a specific organ such as a muscle or gland that releases hormones. Neurotransmitters are powerful chemicals that can regulate numerous physical and behavioral processes, including cognitive and mental performance, emotional states, and the pain response.
For a complete brain and body exam, contact us at PATH Medical. We approach a full physical exam the same way you were born - head first.
Cysteine is a nonessential amino acid, yet a biochemical powerhouse. Ever since the Greeks used garlic therapeutically, elemental sulfur has been employed to treat a wide variety of disorders. Cysteine, a higher quality source of sulfur than garlic, is active in many different situations in the body because of its special properties of the thiol grouping at the end of each molecule.
Thiol compounds not only prevent oxidation of sensitive tissues, which can cause aging and cancer, by sacrificing themselves for oxidation first, but they also help the body process and render harmless toxic chemicals and carcinogens. This is what makes cysteine, and its well-known star derivatives N-acetylcholine-cysteine and glutathione, extremely powerful components.
Foods rich in cysteine are high in sulfur. They include egg yolks and red peppers. Other good sources are garlic, onion, muscle protein, asparagus, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
As you get older, your metabolism naturally slows down. Your metabolism is determined by a massive genetic equation, which takes into account your age and your current health. This equation looks like this:
Rate of Metabolism =
Your hormones [growth hormones, estrogen, testosterone]
Your bone strength, muscle strength, and active neurons [working brain chemistry]
The number of diseases you currently have
As you age, your hormones drop, muscle is lost, bone density is lost, and your brain cells fizzle. At the same time you accumulate illnesses. All of these factor into your metabolic rate. However, by reversing these individual health issues, you can increase your metabolism, feel younger, and lose weight.
When you were young, the food you ate supported your growing brain and body. Yet once you reached your final adult height, you may have experienced weight gain even when you were eating the exact same foods in the same quantities. The problem: Your metabolism weakened over time. To compensate, you need more voltage, or Dopamine, to jump-start your fat-burning furnace. Without it, you'll just continue to accumulate body fat.
The good news is that you can jump-start your fat-burning furnace by concentrating on foods and nutrients that naturally increase your metabolism and boost your dopamine. Your metabolism works as an automatic system that is set by the fuel you throw at it. If you've been eating junk, your metabolism is working like a low-burning fire. However, when you provide it with lots of dopamine, this brain chemical acts like a pile of coal, and ignites your metabolism to burn off your calories.
Remove Foods That Deplete Dopamine
Many common foods actually can deplete your levels of dopamine. For example, sugar and its many hidden forms (high fructose corn syrup, fructose, dextrose, sucralose, molasses, syrup, and others) should be avoided. Better alternatives would be pure honey, or maple syrup because they contain additional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that may benefit your health. Stevia is another natural sugar substitute. It's 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, so just a tiny amount will do the trick, and it contains 0 calories.
Also avoid simple carbohydrates and high glycemic foods which are foods you crave if you are dealing with a dopamine deficiency, because they give you the feeling of increased energy in the short term. These are generally the "white" foods such as cakes, crackers, chips, potatoes, white breads and rice, processed foods, etc.
Which Foods Should You Eat?
Instead of sugar-laden and "white" foods, choose more colorful versions that have more nutrients. Whole grain, colorful carbs (such as sweet potatoes, and brown rice) provide lots of energy without being instantly converted into body fat. Although they don't create more dopamine, they won't feed into the food addiction cycle.
Dopamine enhancing foods are by nature calorie dense, so eating in moderation will be key in not consuming more calories than your body needs. Foods high in the amino acid, phenylalanine, will boost your metabolism. These include such proteins as lean beef, chicken, cottage cheese, eggs, oat flakes, yogurt, turkey, etc.
The amino acid, tyrosine, is another precursor to dopamine. Tyrosine-rich foods include: beef, chicken, cottage cheese, duck, granola, pork, wheat germ, wild game, yogurt, etc.
By increasing your consumption of phenylalanine and tyrosine, you can reverse your dopamine deficiency. Be sure to add spices to your meals - they are nutrient-dense and provide between 20 to 80 different nutrients. Try to include hot or cold tea to your day - they are metabolic enhancers that can help you burn calories and body fat. Colorful vegetables and salads should be included in your meals as a low-calorie, antioxidant-rich, and nutrient-dense benefit.
Call to schedule an appointment for a full exam. We can help you to reverse the affects of aging so you can be a Younger, Thinner, Healthier You.
If you're looking for a delicious, vegetarian, Rainbow Power Recipe, this meal is a nutrient powerhouse. This spicy curry dish includes chili peppers that are a metabolism-boosting Dopamine food; ginger and sweet potatoes support GABA; and cumin boosts Serotonin.
Protein is the second most abundant substance in our bodies after water. It constitutes three-fourths of the dry weight of most body cells. It is involved in the biochemical structure of genes, blood, tissue, muscle, collagen, skin, hair, and nails. It's also a major constituent of all the many hormones, enzymes, nutrient carriers, infection-fighting antibodies, neurotransmitters, and other chemical messengers in the body - just for starters. This continuous cell-building and regeneration necessary for life requires non-stop supplies of protein.
There are no universally accepted dietary requirements for protein. However, the World Health Organization recommends 0.3 to 0.4 grams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight per day, or about 30 to 40 grams for an average adult male weighing approximately 150 pounds. The protein consumed must be high-quality and contain all or most of the essential amino acids.
Poor digestion, infection, stress, drug use, age, etc. are factors that influence the availability of them. As long as the body has a reliable source of dietary proteins containing the essential amino acids, it can adequately meet most of its needs for new protein production. But the removal of even one essential amino acid from the diet leads rather rapidly to a lower level of protein synthesis in the body, which sooner or later, will lead to some type of physical disorder.
Can you have have the spine of a 70-year-old when you feel like a healthy 55-year-old? The answer is YES. Women, especially around the age of 50, can experience loss of bone density after reaching menopause.
To truly understand aging and disease, we have to drill down into the disease. Osteoporosis is commonly hormone-mediated, and frequently in conjunction with declining estrogen levels. Specifically, bone destruction, which is a normal metabolic process, begins to occur more rapidly than bone rebuilding.This process is regulated in part by estrogen, which, along with vitamin D and other nutrients, plays an important role in calcium uptake into bone.
You can see in this broad understanding of osteoporosis, that it is actually the product of an imbalanced hormonal system. It's an outward manifestation of a deeper problem with the brain, which produces or regulates about 90% of our hormones.
At PATH Medical, we look at all organ systems with diagnostic tests to detect problems with Bone Density, Brain Function, Hormone Imbalances, Kidney Health, Heart Health, etc. Then we treat you with a whole-body approach.
Our brain chemical, acetylcholine, is a natural moisturizer that helps retain fluid and maintains the membrane coatings of cells. All acetylcholine deficiencies lead to dehydration.
Because it controls moisture levels throughout the body, when you experience a deficiency, moisture evaporates and dryness occurs, followed by inflammation. This three-part process is the predecessor of arthritis. Arthritis flares up when joint lubrication is lost and the body loses its ability to relubricate, or maintain healthy joints.
Interestingly, when the brain loses its moisture, cognitive deterioration begins. This is why as we age, cognitive deterioration and bone loss often occur simultaneously.
Arthritis can be treated by following an acetylcholine-boosting regimen, including hormone therapies, proper diet, supplements, and exercise. I can help. Call to schedule an appointment or phone consultation.
Serotonin is the brain chemical that allows you to experience pleasure and feel good about yourself. When your serotonin levels are strong, you feel alive and excited about taking on new challenges. At night, serotonin allows the brain to recharge and rebalance as you experience deep, restful sleep, so every morning you begin with a fresh start. That's why I equate balanced serotonin to complete serenity. And when your brain is balanced and refreshed, you'll even find it a whole lot easier to lose weight.
Yet as we get older, serotonin levels begin to wane. You may notice that your mood is the first aspect of your overall health that has changed. While dopamine and GABA deficiencies affect our emotional life, serotonin deficiencies are markedly different, and even more pronounced. Instead of feeling fatigued (low dopamine) or anxious (low GABA), without serotonin we don't feel much of anything. That's why the stereotypical aged person is often portrayed as crotchety or withdrawn. This is an example of someone who has burned out their serotonin.
Both sleep disturbances and depression are associated with low serotonin levels, and therefore influence weight gain. Emotional upheavals can subliminally lead you to self-medicate through food, fostering specific food cravings that when satisfied, can temporarily change your mood. For example, have you ever told anyone "I eat when I'm depressed"? If so, think about the foods you choose when you are in a funk. If you are low in serotonin, chances are very good that you are a "salty snack" binger: simple carbs and salty foods actually provide more energy to combat fatigue, and actually help to release stored serotonin. But even though highly salted carbs, like potato chips, provide the lift you are looking for, they don't provide the nutrition your body desperately needs.
You can boost your serotonin levels in a variety of healthy ways and become younger. You can learn how to get out of a black mood without the help of fattening foods so you can reverse your bad and often dangerous eating habits. You can also learn the tricks you need to get a better night's sleep so your brain can rest, allowing you to make better food choices the next day.
Strategies to Create/Increase Serotonin
If you are low in serotonin, tryptophan is vital because it induces the creation of this brain chemical. Tryptophan is an amino acid the brain and body needs, but cannot make on its own. The foods that are key to producing serotonin are those low-calorie foods that are high in tryptophan, such as avocados, eggs, or cottage cheese. Here's a list of foods containing significant amounts of this amino acid. Try to incorporate as many of these as possible into your diet each day:
While many spices can make your meals more flavorful, specific spices will act as antidepressants, naturally increasing your serotonin levels. Good choices are saffron, marjoram, peppermint, spearmint, dill, nutmeg, licorice (anise), and turmeric.
Many foods that are high in tryptophan do not provide significant levels in diet-size portions. You would have to eat a whole cup of granola to get the levels you need. Another way to increase your tryptophan and other serotonin-boosting nutrients without adding calories is through vitamin and mineral supplements.
Consult your healthcare provider to see which of the following supplements may be appropriate for you. Some supplements can interfere with medications you might be taking - especially antidepressants.
Even when we're young, very few people are extremely high in only one brain chemical, or only low in another. Most of us are a combination of highs and lows. In fact, brain chemicals are synergistically related to each other: When one is high, the other is low. Dopamine and Acetylcholine are the brain's "on" switches, providing you with lots of energy. GABA and Serotonin are the "off" switches - they help calm the body.
When your brain is balanced, you are creating the exact right amount of each chemical, and you'll feel energetic, creative, and calm, and will have the ability to reset your brain with restful sleep at night. But as we get older, the structure of the neuronal highway gets worn down and becomes less efficient as both a chemical producer and transmitter. That's when you start to lose the speed of Acetylcholine or the energy of Dopamine. Without these, you'll feel the low-Serotonin blues, which lead to higher anxiety as GABA becomes imbalanced, which forces a low-Serotonin inability to sleep.
All these symptoms can contribute to your feeling older than your actual age, because they are literally aging your brain. This is why a youthful brain is perhaps the most crucial challenge of aging, and why you must keep your brain as young as possible throughout your life. We at PATH Medical can help you balance your brain for a Younger You.
Cottage Cheese - Good for What Stresses & Hurts You
Cottage cheese contains one whole gram of methionine, as well as tyrosine, per serving (1/2 cup). Methionine, an essential amino acid, in larger doses, may be effective in treating osteoarthritis and other kinds of chronic pain. It can also be a useful adjunct therapy for Parkinson's disease because it stimulates production of the pain-relieving L-dopa. Furthermore, taking methionine can help relieve the anxiety that comes with acutely stressful situations when taken in conjunction with tyrosine.
While I'm not supporting that you eat your way out of stress and anxiety, a little low-fat cottage cheese can go a long way. So if you find yourself "stressing" about what to have for lunch, cottage cheese is a great choice on a Younger (Thinner) You Diet.
Part 6 of the Series: Aging and the "Pauses of Life"
Menopause - The Decline in Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, and More
Did you know that once menopause begins, the rest of the "pauses" quickly progress, as the imbalances feed on each other? Consequently, your health breaks down. The roll down the hill goes faster and faster, especially if our brains aren't in good shape. The imbalances in the estrogen-progesterone ratio can feel chaotic at best.
When estrogen production flags, the other "pauses" cascade. Loss of estrogen can create: changes in bone density, leading to osteopause; Heart pump failure, triggering cardiopause; Increased risk of breast cancer, triggering immunopause; Loss of memory and other cognitive deterioration, triggering electropause, and other "pauses." You can find out more on the other pauses in other blogs (beginning October 2016).
Most women are caught unaware by menopause. Despite scrupulous efforts to counteract the combined effects of gravity and aging, her arms have probably been getting progressively flabbier since around age 30. In fact, the typical woman begins losing muscle mass starting around age 25, while weight begins to climb. The unpleasant changes ahead are linked to shifting hormonal tides within the female aging body.
I often use the analogy of a boulder dropping into a still body of water to describe how these changes affect everything from mood and concentration to memory and quality of sleep. Imagine a boulder dropping into a calm, deep body of water, representing your 22-year old self at peak reproduction health. There are ripples, slowly spreading out, heading inexorably for the distant shore. As they approach that shallow shoreline (representing you, at about age 50) they gain strength and height, eventually crashing against the shore with tsunami force. The gentle swells and expanding ripples represent the years of perimenopause between about 22 and 50. The devastation of the tsunami represents menopause hitting with full force.
"Freak Outs" and Other Symptoms
Along with hot flashes, the following symptoms can be experienced during menopause:
The fall of estrogen and progesterone cause a cascade of rising blood sugars and lower mental activity. Women begin to feel both hungry and tired so often, they eat more junk food to stay alert and they exercise less. The good news is that we now have the ability to give low dosages of natural hormones that will transform not only the way you feel but the way you look.
GABA and serotonin agents can stop the "freak-outs" many women experience as a result of declining estrogen levels. This occurs because you're losing progesterone, the hormone that keeps you calm. Without progesterone, many women experience a general "sinking" feeling. With the right treatment, this feeling will go away.
If your hot flashes and other symptoms are severe, you may need to let your doctor know - estrogen-containing products can be a most effective treatment.
Progesterone to the Rescue
Progesterone is a medical gift. It's a natural mood balancer, stress reliever, and brain calmer, and it squashes cortisol (our stress hormone). It is a natural diuretic, antidepressant, antioxidant, and a precursor of cortisone and necessary for survival.
By taking natural estrogen and other bioidentical supplements, you can turn back the clock. While there's no medication that will stop menopause from occuring, you can trick your brain into thinking it is 50 forever.
The only way menopause can be successfully treated is by imitating the body's own mechanisms, which means replacing the hormones that the body naturally has lost. By maintaining and increasing hormone levels, you can restore your health and even reverse the symptoms that have been affecting you. Natural hormones have been found to be capable of doing this without causing negative side effects.
You can also strengthen your overall health by supplementing with vitamin D. Typically I prescribe 5,000 units per day as a natural brain builder.
My Rainbow Diet will allow you to control your weight and stop the cascade of illness associated with obesity. It's remarkable how carrying as little as 10 extra pounds can significantly affect your overall health. Keep your meals full of colorful fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
And discuss with your doctor about taking these code-breaking hormones:
Hormonal Treatment Brain Code Action
By understanding the intricate neurochemical relationships among organs, the brain, and the body's various systems, it is possible to marshal appropriate lines of defense against detrimental aging. These include lifestyle modifications, nutrition and supplement therapy, bioidentical hormone replacement, and if needed, prescription medications to help women achieve optimal health and minimize the ravages of "normal aging."
For more information or help, call us at PATH Medical to make an appointment. Early detection is always key towards better health.
It's possible to have too much of a good thing, and that includes the brain chemical GABA. Producing too much GABA ratchets up your nurturing tendencies. At their worst, people with too much of this neurotransmitter expend their energy looking for love and opportunities to give care at the cost of being hurt when their own needs are not sufficiently met. They can fall into the trap of continuously craving and following the judgments of peers and loved ones.
But what happens - and how can you know - when your GABA starts running low? GABA is produced in the temporal lobes and is associated throughout the brain with calming, rhythmic theta brain waves. GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the nervous system, which keeps all of the other biochemicals in check. It controls the brain's rhythm so that you function, both physically and mentally, at a steady pace. By regulating your internal rhythm, GABA directly affects your personality and determines how you handle life's stresses. When your rhythm is thrown off by a GABA deficiency, you may begin to feel anxious, nervous, or irritable.
A balanced brain creates and receives electricity in a smooth, even flow. When your brain is not producing enough GABA, your brain's electricity is generated in bursts. This is called a brain arrhythmia, or dysrhythmia, and it can upset your system in a variety of ways, none more pronounced than your emotional well-being.
The following chart demonstrates a scale of conditions that can occur when your GABA is out of balance. The numbers on the left of the table correlate to the approximate number of brain arrhythmic events that occur during a half second of auditory and visual brain stress testing.
Diet and Supplements
A GABA deficiency in its early stages can be restored and maintained without a doctor. You can balance it with diet, vitamin, and supplement choices.
The more GABA-producing foods you eat, the more GABA you will be able to create.Try to incorporate these foods to encourage the production of GABA (almonds, bananas, beef liver, broccoli, brown rice, halibut, lentils, whole grain oats, oranges, potatoes, rice bran, spinach, walnuts, whole grains).
I have created a GABA-balancing program that I call Brain Calm (you can purchase this on pathproduct.com). It contains valine, isoleucine, leucine, inositol, and the B complex vitamins. This formula is the antidote for being edgy: it decreases the symptoms of anxiety, including trembling, hyperventilation, palpitations, ringing in the ears, and cold or clammy hands.
For more advanced stages of GABA deficiency, you may need the assistance of a doctor to restore balance. You can also read my book, The Edge Effect for more information on restoring an unbalanced brain. At PATH Medical, we can help.
For a satisfying and total brain boosting meal, this chicken dish will be sure to warm and nourish you on cold winter nights. It's high in antioxidant spices and infused with vital-nutrient rooibos tea. The taste and smell of the garlic will be sure to please - plus garlic is beneficial for heart health and is a type of natural antibiotic.
Did You Know . . . about Oregano
There are three distinct varieties of oregano. The most familiar one, found in kitchens across the country, is Greek or Mediterranean oregano. Mexican oregano has a more "earthy" flavor. Cuban oregano is not well known outside the Caribbean, but its distinct taste makes it worth looking for.
To find other recipes, look under the Recipe Category of my blog. They're all a great addition to a Rainbow Diet.
With an epidemic of Kidney Disease on the rise, robbing more and more people of their health, it's time to become aware of this burgeoning threat. Characterized by a progressive loss of the kidney's ability to filter toxins from the blood, kidney disease also accelerates aging.
There are numerous causes of of kidney disease, such as metabolic syndrome, resistance to metabolic hormones (insulin, leptin, etc.), and increases in parathyroid hormone levels; but obesity appears to play a central role. Overuse of NSAIDs, as well as exposure to heavy metals may also impair kidney health. Heavy metals (such as mercury and lead) are especially damaging because they resist removal, and wreak havoc on a number of organs and tissues.
At PATH Medical we assess patients' blood for heavy metals, and then meet the challenge with chelation therapy for those with heavy metal contamination. We also use a targeted nutritional support strategy. With so many Americans walking around with kidneys that are on their "last legs," it's time to protect your Kidneys for a longer life.
There are benefits to trying something new every day. The world is full of endless possibilities, and just by exploring them, you'll increase your brain functioning.
By trying a new exercise routine, activity, game, task, book, food, or even television show, you are expanding your brain to create new neuronal connections. You don't have to master an activity, or even like it, for it to change your brain.
The point is to get out of your comfort zone for as little as 15 minutes to see what sparks your interest. Find ways that you can expand your experience. For example, if you love to take walks, choose a different route than usual. Even small changes count.
IT'S YOUR MOVE!
All of us are vulnerable to the ADDICTION cycle when we experience a deficiency in our brain chemical, Dopamine. Disturbances in the dopamine "reward system" are associated with addictive behaviors.
Anything you enjoy doing but can't seem to rein in can cause a release of dopamine. When this happens, you will initially feel that surge of excitement, or "rush." This is true whether the addiction is to drugs, alcohol, or shopping. But if you're already low in dopamine and you abuse drugs or alcohol, you'll feel less and less satisfied with each exposure.
Unfortunately, now that you've experienced a good rush, you'll keep craving the experience again. So not only do you become addicted to the substance or experience, but you become addicted to dopamine, even as your brain produces less and less. Because addiction is almost always a self-medication model, it's exactly how the addiction cycle begins.
The catch is that the brain can't keep up with demand. Instead, it strives to reach homeostasis, or balance, so that each time you are exposed to the addictive substance or behavior, the brain releases less dopamine, not more. When this happens, the euphoric feeling doesn't come back at all. Yet low-dopamine people will still continue to drink or smoke, in hope of it's returning. Unfortunately, these addictions affect every part of your health, including your thinking.
The Good News is that you can break the cycle. You need to learn how to increase dopamine in a more balanced approach: first choosing foods, then nutrients, and sometimes even medications, so that alcohol, drugs, or shopping doesn't become your only source of a dopamine rush. By increasing levels of dopamine, you'll be able to help yourself break the cycle of addiction and gain control over your life. You'll also be able to create new brain cells to replace the ones you've destroyed in the past.
Remember, addiction is serious and will sometimes require professional help. We at PATH Medical can help you to restore your brain to a balanced chemical state.
THE CORTISOL EQUATION:
LOW DOPAMINE = BIG BELLY FAT =
A HEAVY BURDEN TO CARRY FOR
BOTH BRAIN AND BODY
When you have a dopamine deficiency, the body naturally increases the production of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is the backup energy hormone; it provides us with additional power so the brain and body can continue to function without the right levels of dopamine.
Cortisol is also released when you are under stress, whether or not your dopamine is low. But, when you are stressed, you naturally burn more dopamine, which is why the cortisol is released.
While cortisol can be helpful, I call it the obesity hormone. Even though it effectively keeps your brain running, it does not improve your dopamine levels. It actually forces your metabolism to slow down, because when brain energy falters (low dopamine), the body is forced to send up to the brain its reserve units to pick up the slack, in the form of steroid hormones (cortisol) from the adrenal glands. The cortisol increases the effectiveness of catecholomines like adrenaline and creates the necessary energy, while conveying a feeling of happiness. However, this dopamine substitute is supposed to be a temporary safety mechanism.
When your brain is continually turning to cortisol for energy, it becomes a way of life. In the end, you get puffy, round-faced, blood pressure rises, your appetite increases, and you experience weight gain (especially around your midsection).
It has been linked as a direct cause of belly fat in both men and women: It causes fat to be deposited in the abdominal area where there are the most cortisol receptors. So if you're a "high energy" individual but are stuck with an apple body shape, chances are your cortisol levels, instead of your dopamine, are supporting your body's energy needs.
A big belly is also an indicator that you're at high risk for metabolic syndrome, which from a brain chemistry perspective, is primarily a loss of metabolism: a low dopamine condition. When you see someone with a big belly, think of brain burnout. It is often accompanied by a poor attention span, poor sleep patterns and attention deficit problems.
Cortisol also boosts adrenaline, which can make you feel restless: When your adrenaline is pumping, you might be anxious during the day and not able to sleep at night. These two factors also contribute to weight gain. Anxiety tends to cause us to self-medicate with "comfort foods," and a lack of sleep prevents your brain from resetting its other chemicals to the right levels.
Strategies for Increasing Dopamine:
We at PATH Medical can help you to re-balance your brain. Our exams include a full brain exam, because brainpower is the fire that keeps your mind alive, awake, alert and aware.
To my mind, diets that do not address brain chemistry fail for two reasons, which are:
First, when you restrict certain macronutrients (like carbs or fat), your brain isn't getting all the nutrients it needs, so the body sends out a hunger signal that results in overeating. Instead, my key to weight management is not found in counting carbohydrates, fat grams, or calories; but, instead, in balancing brain chemistry through nutrition - something anyone can do easily and effectively. It is an eating plan you can follow for life.
Second, when we diet, we often deprive ourselves of vital nutrients, so our mental state becomes taxed and we make bad food choices. We are too fatigued, so we eat to boost our energy. We are depressed, so we eat excessively to force sleep. These mental states are aging you far beyond your chronological age. The good news is that by following a diet that enhances brain chemistry, each of these mental states can be completely reversed naturally. That's why my Younger (Thinner) You Diet is all about.
On the Younger (Thinner) You Diet, you will not only lose weight because your are increasing your brain chemical, Dopamine, but as you balance your brain, you will also become more fit as you increase another brain chemical - Acetylcholine. You will become calmer as you learn to stabilize your GABA. And you will be happier and sleep better with more Serotonin.
The Basics of the Younger (Thinner) You Diet
Make sure that you are eating foods that are nutrient dense, rather than calorie dense. This is key in maintaining weight loss and a balanced brain chemistry. You want every square inch of your food to be packed with nutrients, not calories.
The Younger (Thinner) You Diet offers hundreds of good choices: complex carbohydrates, which include lots of fruits and vegetables; lean meats; healthy fats; wonderful herbs and spices that are chock-full of thermogenic nutrients including antioxidants; and soothing, healing teas. A diet rich in these will naturally provide plenty of fiber to aid in digestion. They are also considered "high volume": You can eat lots of them and feel full because they take up space in your stomach, yet they are still low in calories.
Best of all, you can eat healthy-sized portions of these foods and still lose weight, because the nutrients-to-calorie ratio is the highest of any diet around. You won't feel hungry all day, and at night, you'll sleep well. Not only has this way of eating been proven to improve the way you use and burn your food, but these foods support an anti-aging strategy to get you feeling healthier and younger.
Here's a page from my book, Younger (Thinner) You Diet - How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Help You Lose Weight, Reverse Aging, and Fight Disease. These are a few examples of what to eat to balance your brain chemistry and to lose weight. For more help and/or information, make an appointment with us - we can help you with your health and weight loss needs. You can also find some recipes in the recipe section of my blog (at PATHmed.com) or on Pinterest (search for Eric Braverman, MD).
One of the greatest brain defenses is the addition of spices to your meals. Spices function like little brain medications. They are nutrient dense; each can provide between 20 and 80 different nutrients. By using them regularly, you are benefitting by getting more important vitamins, minerals, and even antioxidants.
Every time you add spices, you're adding nutrients and upgrading your meal without having added a single calorie. And because they are nutrient dense, they are thermogenic, which means they naturally increase your metabolism, helping you to burn more of your food as fuel, and to store less as body fat.
In this recipe, the allspice helps reduce blood pressure. Nutmeg can help alleviate depression. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar and boosts your metabolism, making it a super dopamine-boosting meal. The fruit increases your other biochemicals. Spices are also helpful in better metabolizing your food. Try adding yogurt for an extra health boost.
I like to think of tea as the Tree of Life that saves your health. It's a much healthier option than coffee, because it is also high in nutrients and antioxidants, yet does not contain a single calorie. Make an effort to drink SEVEN 6-ounce servings of tea per day - hot or cold.
The health benefits of drinking tea add up fast. Not only does it get you in the habit of drinking more beverages, you are simultaneously flushing out of your system the toxic foods you've been eating. The nutrients in tea speed up your metabolism.
By itself, tea has no calories and can stimulate digestion, cleanse the body, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and give you lots of energy. These are all necessary for losing weight and reversing the aging of every part of your body.
A cup of hot tea is also the perfect antidote for calming an anxious mind. Both black and white tea are derived from the same green tea, but each has a different taste and appearance. White tea is growing in popularity because it has a higher antioxidant value than green and black.
Green, black, and white teas all contain the nutrient L-theanine, which has been shown to stimulate alpha brain waves. These waves are associated with a relaxed but alert mental state, which may increase attention span. Because theanine helps the mind to stop racing, it also seems to help promote a more restful, sound sleep.
There are many health care professionals, today, that still focus on treating disease once it is diagnosed. They're still not getting the big picture and miss 90% of silent disease. While early detection is key, prevention is equally important in guaranteeing a longer, healthier life. By focusing on preventive treatment, my patients don't experience unexpected illnesses or surprise deaths.
Preventing Heart Attack and Stroke
We can now conclusively predict who is most likely to become the victim of a stroke or heart attack, even though the majority of patients who die of a sudden heart attack have few or no symptoms. For example, a major study of 28,000 women at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital provided conclusive evidence that painless inflammation of heart and blood vessels is a major trigger of heart attacks - even more so than high cholesterol. Women with high levels of inflammation are twice as likely as those with high cholesterol to die from heart attacks and strokes.
The collective condition known as "cardiovascular disease" refers to disorders of the heart as well as the vascular system. Below are signs and symptoms that you want to be on the lookout for; and if they occur, talk to your doctor immediately.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
A C-reactive protein blood test is one of the simplest ways to identify chronic inflammation that may be smoldering in your body. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is another useful technique for identifying heart disease.
The key to prolonging good heart health (and overall health) and continuing to lead a vibrant and active life is the ability to identify the aging parts of your body that may already be experiencing the ravages of silent disease.
Your Waistline Predicts Your Heart Health
You can never start a cardiovascular program soon enough. In assessing your heart attack risk, simply look at the notches on your belt. An increasing waistline is a reliable risk indicator of heart disease.
Potential heart disease patients may benefit from preventive hormone therapy, especially testosterone therapy (in men). Testosterone and other hormones strengthen the heart muscle, which will aid in heart contraction and improve the heart's pumping ability. DHEA may help protect against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Contact our office for an appointment to discuss further hormone therapies.
Natural Supplements For a Younger Heart
Dietary Modifications For a Healthy Heart
By following a healthy lifestyle including exercise and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy whole grains, and plenty of low-fat protein (including eggs, which are a perfect protein source rich in amino acids), you may lose excess weight that can contribute to heart disease and stroke. You also need to eat foods that are low in sodium, which will naturally reduce internal swelling and water retention. For more information on my Braverman Protocol and Rainbow Diet, you can read my book, The Amazing Way to Reverse Heart Disease Naturally. But a yearly exam that includes early detection tests is a must.
At PATH Medical, we can help you with all of your health, dietary, and supplemental needs.
The anxiety pendulum - as your brain experiences larger and more frequent swings, whether it's from aging, stress, drug or alcohol abuse, or just burned-out GABA, you have engaged in the GABA deficiency. Beyond cortisol release, a GABA loss directly affects all body systems including heart, the immune system, sexual functioning, as well as the bones, muscles, and skin.
Typical symptoms of low levels of GABA include:
Choose a variety of foods that contain GABA nutrients that are high in Vitamin B. The following list contains foods that are high in glutamine, the amino acid that is a precursor to GABA. Bananas, broccoli, and brown rice are all packed with inositol, another B-complex vitamin that boosts GABA production.
For more help and information, contact my office at PATH Medical for a full check-up. We treat the body as a whole - checking every organ system. We all know that our entire body, from the top of our head to the soles of our feet, are intricately interconnected. Our internal organs do not function independently.
Part 5 of the Series: Aging and the "Pauses of Life"
Immunopause - When you can't fight infections
Do you remember childhood as one long string of good health, yet your adult life is one sinus infection after another? With every hormone loss or brain chemical imbalance, our immune code is broken. As early as the beginning of puberty, our immune response slowly begins to decline, which in turn causes us to get sick easier.
Our immune system provides a layer of protection that keeps viruses and infections from harming the brain and the body. When you enter Immunopause,
your immune system cannot protect you from the constant attack of viruses and infections that surround you. As adults, we experience the switching off of the immune system as increased inflammation, which plays a role in every medical condition from heart disease to dermatitis. Serotonin regulates the immune system, and serotonin agents can boost immunity. As inflammation increases, serotonin levels decrease, creating both low- and high-grade fevers as well as sleep abnormalities. Inflammation acts as the immunopause death code, allowing viruses, fungus, and bacteria into every organ of the body.
Meanwhile, aging can be summarized as oxidation - you are literally burning up, including your dopamine. You need this vital biochemical to suppress illness. For example, that's why adrenaline (dopamine family of brain chemicals) is used as an antidote to an allergic reation, such as to a bee sting.
Infections are Alien Invaders
Infections can grow and develop inside the body when the immune system is asleep at the wheel. Tiny microorganisms are let in through the various orifices and work their way into your cells, wreaking havoc along the way. Infections can contribute to further inflammation, and more dangerously, like in the case of AIDS, can destroy your immune system.
Infections that occur in the body can affect our brain. For example, the common flu contributes to Parkinson's disease. When your immune system is compromised, your dopamine level is diminished. That is why Parkinson's drugs, which build dopamine, can help to alleviate flu symptoms.
Infections can occur anywhere in the brain and the body, sending their own aging code and jump-starting the pauses such as:
Take Action: Strengthen Your Immune System and Get Younger
It's relatively easy to boost your immunity. A multi-modal approach including medications, hormones, supplements and specific dietary suggestions will help you break immunopause. I've included a list of nutrients that will help break the immunopause code. Consider these natural treatments, and consider making an appointment to have a full body check-up. Early detection is your best bet in fully recovering from immune diseases - including cancer. PLEASE CONSULT with your doctor before beginning any new protocol. We at PATH Medical can help.
Studies have indicated that cell phone use could alter brain activity due to the emission of electromagnetic radiation. Today's cell and smartphones emit more radiation than ever before as they transmit complex data.
It's recommended that we keep cell phones at a distance by putting them on speaker mode or using a wired headset whenever possible. The next-best option is a wireless Bluetooth headset or earpiece, which emits radiation but at a far lower level. Just holding your phone slightly away from your ear can make a big difference; the intensity of radiation diminishes sharply with distance.
This is why I think texting is better than talking on a phone, because you have to hold the phone completely away from your brain. Keep in mind that cell phones emit the most radiation when they initially establish contact with the cell towers. To reduce exposure, wait a few seconds until after your call has been connected to put it next to your ear. Also, your cell emits less radiation when you are standing still. When you're moving, your signal moves with you from tower to tower and must generate little bursts of radiation to make each digital connection.
Eric R. Braverman, M.D.
Dr. Braverman is a Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brandeis University and NYU Medical School, did brain research at Harvard Medical School, and trained at an affiliate of Yale Medical School. He is acknowledged worldwide as an expert in brain-based diagnosis and treatment, and he lectures to and trains doctors in anti-aging medicine.