Category - Brain-support
Smoke Less With Herbal Supplement Sulfonil
Sulfonil is a patented supplement made up of certain sulfur compounds that bind to the same receptors in the brain that nicotine in cigarette smoke stimulates. Sulfonil binds to these receptors more firmly than nicotine and essentially blocks nicotine from stimulating the receptors, temporarily reducing the desire to smoke. In a small two week study with 24 individuals, participants had less desire to smoke while using Sulfonil. Researchers concluded that Sulfonil may offer significant nutritional support those who want to quit smoking.
Order this product at SundropsOnline.com: Sulfonil
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Dr. OZ: Vinpocetine, Hawthorn, and Algae Cal Calcium For Memory, Blood Pressure, and Bones
This week, Dr. Oz brought us some tips to help with memory, blood pressure and bone strength. Read on to find the real info behind the good doctor's suggestions.
Vinpocetine: An Extract Of Periwinkle
According to a 1999 study in the Alternative Medicine Review, vinpocetine may be most useful for the kind of memory problems and dementia found in people whose blood vessels don't bring enough enough blood to their brains.
This type of memory problem can be called vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia and can happen after a stroke, when a blood vessel becomes blocked, or when aging, high blood pressure, or atherosclerosis act to narrow blood vessels in the brain.
Vinpocetine dilates blood vessels in the brain, providing hungry brain cells with oxygen. In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, vinpocetine improved learning, memory, and global measures of brain performance in people with mild to moderate vascular dementia.
Dr. Oz says the dose is 10mg three times per day.
Hawthorn For Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Hawthorn may be beneficial for high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol. In a 2006 study, hawthorn lowered blood pressure in a group of diiabetics. In a different study with animals, hawthorn performed better than a statin drug in lowering cholesterol in animals eating a high cholesterol diet.
Dr. Oz's recommended dose is 150mg three times daily.
AlgaeCal: The Super Calcium
AlgaeCal is literally calcium made from Algae. It is better for bones than rock based calcium, as Dr. Oz pointed out. Another name for rock based calcium is calcium carbonate like you find in Caltrate brand calcium. Because AlgaeCal is very porous with many tiny holes and much surface area, your digestive system can to work away at it more effectively and utilise less stomach acid in the process.
Many calciums, like the calcium carbonate Dr. Oz talked about, take lots of stomach acid to digest. Not everyone has this much stomach acid, especially as we get older. This fact alone accounts for much of the difference in calcium absorption rates.
The bone density research with Algae Cal is promising. A University of Texas study involving postmenopausal women recorded a 2.18% gain in bone density within 6 months of using AlgaeCal.
Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 is a new player on the bone density field. Vitamin K2 is different from from the regular vitamin K ( K1), which pertains mostly to blood clotting. K2 is a boon for bone density because it turns on proteins that remove calcium from the wrong places, like artery walls, and deposits calcium in the right places, like bones. It promotes bone building and slows bone loss.
It is beneficial both from a bone and a cardiovascular standpoint. Researchers found that 45mcg MK-4 type vitamin K2 prevented additional fractures in patients with osteoporosis.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a huge factor for bone density. Vitamin D deficiency is very common and low levels are linked to poor bone density.
Order these products at SundropsOnline.com: Vinpocetine Hawthorn Algae Cal Vitamin K2 Vitamin D 5000iu
Altern Med Review 1999. J Am Geriatr Soc 2010. Br J Gen Prac 2006. Am J Clin Med 2009. J Indian Med Assoc 2010. Nutri J. Clin Calcium 2009.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Dental X-Rays Increase Brain Cancer Risk. Could Antioxidants Protect?
A recent study in the journal Cancer concluded that the more exposure you have had to dental x-rays, the greater your chance of developing a usually benign but potentially serious brain tumor called a meningioma. Symptomatic brain tumors of this kind cause neurological problems and must be removed with surgery.
Participants who reported yearly bite-wing x-rays had 40-90% greater chance of meningioma. People whose exposures began under age 10 and those whose overall lifetime exposures were highest were at the greatest risk. Bite-wing x-rays and full panoramic x-rays were both linked to meningioma.
X-rays break parts of our DNA. We have repair mechanisms for our DNA, but sometimes the repair not enough. Damaged DNA can cause cells to grow out of control and make tumors.
Can You Protect Yourself?
If you need x-rays for good dental health, are there nutrients that have been shown to bolster DNA and cellular health against the damaging effects of radiation?
Polyphenol Antioxidants From Plants
Polyphenols are a certain category of plant antioxidant that have protected against radiation in animal studies. Resveratrol, quercetin, and green tea, all polyphenol antioxidants, have inhibited damage due to radiation.
- Resveratrol blocked damage caused by radiation in mouse chromosomes, and reduced damage to organs.
- Quercetin inhibited DNA damage to human immune cells caused by x-rays.
- In an animal study, green tea protected against hair loss from radiation exposure. Hair follicles cells are among the most sensitive in the body to radiation damage.
Turmeric May Block Damage
Curcumin, an extract of the spice turmeric, is rapidly gaining fame for it potent anti-inflammatory properties, but it may also prove protective against the damaging effects of radiation. It was shown to protect healthy cells from radiation.
Antioxidant Cocktail
In animals exposed to large, lethal doses of x-rays, a combination of the antioxidant building block n-acetylcysteine (NAC) along with vitamins C and E significantly increased survival at 30 days. Amazingly, the antioxidant cocktail worked whether the antioxidant mixture was given just before or just after exposure.
NAC is a widely available supplement that your body turns into a super antioxidant called glutathione. VItamins C and E are important because they help recycle glutathione so that it can stay strong and active.
Order these products at SundropsOnline.com: Resveratrol Quercetin Green Tea Curcumin NAC Vitamin C Vitamin E
Anticancer Res. 2006 Radiat Res. 2008 Free Radic Res. 2009 Mutat Res. 2008 In Vivo 2003 Mutat Res. 2006 Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007 Radiat Res. 2008
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Dr. Oz: Real Help for Fibromylagia Pain
Fibromyalgia is an often disabling pain syndrome that occurs for longer than 3 months and affects multiple areas of the body. Dr. Oz had some suggestions to help sufferers, including pain relievers, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, melotonin for sleep, and d-ribose, a sugar that helps make energy.
More New Treatments For Fibromyalgia
rTMS
One new treatment is the rTMS therapy that Dr. OZ presented for treating depression. In rTMS, magnetic fields are applied to the head with the aim of improving brain chemistry. People with fibromyalgia treated with rTMS had a 29% reduction in pain, with few side effects.
Fish Oil
A 2010 study from the Clinical Journal of Pain gave people with different pain conditions 2700-7200mg of omega-3 fats from fish oil per day. All participants, incloding those with fibromyalgia. experienced a significant drop in pain. Fibromyalgia is associated with inflammation, a harmful chronic immune response, and omega-3 fats help reduce inflammation.
Magnesium
A 2012 study found that the lower the magnesium, the higher the pain level in fibromyalgia sufferers. When researchers gave magnesium citrate to study subjects, they had a significant reduction in tender point pain and depression. A combination of magnesium and amytryptaline, an anti-depressant, reduced all fibromyalgia symptoms except numbness.
Magnesium is essential for making energy in the body, which tends to be low in fibromyalgia, as well as slowing pain signals in the nerves, and relaxing muscle tissue.
Lose Some Weight
Higher body fat was related to more body pain, while low lean muscle mass was related to pain symptoms and emotional symptoms. Try to exercise, even if you must begin slowly, and take a look at the Sundrops weight loss page "I want to be thin. How do I get there?"
Pain 2011. Clin J Pain 2010. Rheumatol Int 2012. Reumatol Int 2011.
Find These Products at SundropsOnline.com: Fish Oil Magnesium Citrate
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Multivitamins Increased Short Term Memory
In a study published last month, scientists combined the results from 10 studies and found that taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement increases short term memory.
A study like this carries more credibility than a single study, because researchers are able to average a lot of information.
The same scientists also did two other studies. One showed that a multi-vitamin increased the short term memory of older women in particular. The other study found that multivitamins increased "alertness" and "general day-to-day well-being" in men.
J Alzheimer's Dis 2012 Psychopharmacol 2012 Human Psychopharmacol 2011
Find these supplements at SundropsOnline.com: Multiples: One Month Supply Two Month Supply
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Snoring Toddlers May Turn Into Problem Behavior Kids
Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 1/2 years who snored or had other sleep disrupting breathing problems had a whopping 60% greater risk of behavioral problems at age 7. According to the April Issue of Pediatrics, worse sleeping problems for a longer period of time were linked to worse behavioral outcomes, like hyperactivity.
Even when the sleep disruptions peaked early at 18 months and resolved, kids had a 40-50% increase in behavioral problems at age 7. Sleep disordered little ones were also more likely to experience anxiety and depression as they got older.
Researchers voice the need for pediatricians to question parents about their children's breathing and sleep.
What Can You Do?
There are many possible causes for sleep disorders in kids, so it is best to have your child evaluated by a physician. One of the more common causes is enlarged tonsils.
A Role For Nutrition?
A study published last year identified low Vitamin D levels as a possible risk factor for tonsillitis. 78% of the New Zealand children studied who were undergoing tonsillectomy had low vitamin D levels. In other research, children with recurrent tonisllitis or ear infections were found to be deficient in all the antioxidants studied, like vitamins A, C, and E. In yet another study, zinc was significantly lower in kids with recurrent tonsillitis than in control kids.
When giving supplements to children, it's important that they taste good! Or at least you must be able to sneak them into their food. Try chewy or liquid versions.
Don't forget about good food. A diet tilted towards fruits, especially high-antioxidant berries, and vegetables, will provide more antioxidants. Starchy and sugary foods are less likely to supply what a young body needs.
Pediatrics 2012. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2011. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1997. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryng 2005.
Find these products at SundropsOnline.com: Lemon Omega-3 Cod Liver Oil, Liquid Vitamin D, Tasty Chewy Kids Multiple, Chewable Zinc
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Dr. OZ: Quercetin Spray, Coconut Oil, and Carnitine
Quercetin Nasal Spray
Animal and test tube studies are full of references to the potential allergy quashing power of quercetin. In these studies, quercetin effectively blunted IgE based reactions. IgE is the immune antibody responsible for all the itchy, sneezy, runny symptoms we love to hate.
Coconut and Palm Kernel Oil
Dr. Oz recommended these oils for a brain energy boost. Coconut and palm kernel oil contain fats called MCTs. MCTs are turned into compounds called ketones in your body, and many scientists believe that these ketones provide an additional and important energy source for your brain. See our post about coconut oil, brain energy, and Alzheimer's for more information on MCTs and brain energy.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps is a remarkably odd sounding supplement. It is actually a fungus that takes over a caterpillar, killing it and assuming its shape in the process. It became popular starting roughly 20 years ago due to a rumored ability to boost performance in world class athletes. Many people take it for energy. Find a study supporting its use for energy on a previous Dr. OZ cordyceps post here.
Dr. Oz says L-Carnitine. Try Acetyl-l-Carnitine Instead!
One of l-carnitine's jobs in the body is take fat inside your cells to be made into energy. If you are looking to increase your energy, a better option is actually acetyl-l-carnitine. It is similar to l-carnitine, but has a little molecule stuck onto the carnitine, the effect of which is to allow the carnitine to cross from your blood into your brain. Regular carnitine doesn't get into the brain as well.
Fatigue is a sensation experienced in the brain, and it makes sense to try to help the brain function better in order to alleviate fatigue. Scientists are studying acetyl-l-carnitine in fatigue, mood, Chronic Fatigue Synrome, and cognitive impairment, because of its potential to increase energy production in the brain. In one study, acetyl-l-carnitine and its cousin propionyl-l-carnitine were found to be more useful than testosterone for symptoms of male aging, including fatigue, depression, and erectile dysfunction.
For the more of the latest information on fatigue, check out our anti-fatigue post "I Should Feel Good. Why am I tired ?"
See our other posts on carnitine: Carnitine and Autistic Symptoms and Enjoy Life While Quitting Alcohol.
Black Currant Juice
Like other dark blue and red colored fruit, black currants are filled to the brim with good-for-you antioxidants. A study found that black currant seed actually reduced shoulder muscle fatigue while typing by increasing blood flow to the muscles.
Expert Opin Invest Drug 2008. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2012. Urology 2004. Altern Med Review 2006. Bratisl Lek Listy 2011. Eur J Appl Physiol 2005.
Find these products at SundropsOnline.com: Activated Quercetin Tablets, Coconut Oil, Coconut Oil Capsules, L-Carnitine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Quercetin spray is now available for order at SundropsOnline.com.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
Common Drugs Block Memory and Increase Death Risk 68%
When older people combine commonly used drugs, they may place themselves at greater risk for memory impairment and even an increased risk of death.
Acetylcholine: The Memory Chemical
Many drugs have anticholinergic properties which means that they block the brain chemical called acetycholine. Acetylcholine plays a pivotal role in processing memories.
The study followed 13,000 men and women over age 65 living in great Britain and recorded how many drugs they took that had anticholinergic properties. The results were surprising!
After ruling out other factors, the study found that the people taking the most of these drugs had a 68% greater risk of death than those who took the least. They were also more likely to have problems thinking and remembering. When people took several different kinds of anticholinergic drugs at once, the combined effect on acetylcholine activity was greater than any single drug would have been.
Drugs in this category include over-the-counter and prescription medicines used to treat allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Take stock of your anticholinergic drug consumption by looking at the Anticholinergic Burden Scale, a listing of known anticholinergic drugs.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
FDA Alert On Statins, Diabetes, and Memory Loss
Yesterday, the FDA issued new safety labeling for statin drugs that named elevated diabetes risk, as well as memory loss and mental confusion as possible side effects of the popular cholesterol lowering drugs.
Statin drugs include Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor, Zocor and Vytorin.
Coq10 and Side Effects
Doctors still favor these drugs as the most powerful reducers of dangerously high cholesterol levels. Those who are concerned about statin side effects may want to consider Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10).
CoQ10 is a vital energy compound natrually found in every cell in the body. If you run out of CoQ10, different parts of your body may not have enough energy to provide for normal activities. Muscles may cramp and brains may grow forgetful.
Because statin drugs block the production of CoQ10 and cholesterol at the same time, scientists strongly suspect that a lot of the side effects from statin drugs come from CoQ10 deficiency and have found that CoQ10 can often relieve side effects.
Vitamin D and Muscle Pain
One more supplement that may blunt statin side effects is the humble but powerful Vitamin D. It was found helpful in the painful muscular symptoms caused by statins. Scientists believe that many people who get these symptoms are having an unfortunate interraction between their statin drug and their state of Vitamin D insufficiency.
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2012. J Postgrad Med 2011. Med Hypotheses 2011.
Find these products at SundropsOnline.com: CoQ10 and Vitamin D
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research and nutritional information included is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician before initiating any new dietary or supplement program. References available by request.
