Brain Health

Medical Aesthetics & Laser Spa Serving Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, St. Albert & Nearby Edmonton, Alberta

What is the point of living longer if your brain function is unable to keep up?

When thinking about longevity it is important to take into account maintenance and improvement of memory and brain processing.

BHRT itself is excellent for preserving brain function. In fact, after the reproductive organs, the brain has the highest levels of sex hormone receptors of any tissue in the body. This design makes BHRT an excellent brain health promotion strategy that can be further enhanced with targeted supplementation.

Omega 3’s

Omegas 3’s are critical for brain and heart health; it is suggested that it is our Omega 3 rich diet that is responsible for the remarkable brain development in humans. In contrast, Omega 6’s promote inflammation in the body, with inflammation being the main cause of disease and illness. Unfortunately, modern food processing has created an imbalance with Omega 6’s dominating and Omega 3’s under represented. This imbalance is why it is so important to supplement only Omega 3’s.

Recommended Standard Dose:

      • 1 capsule twice per day with meals
      • each capsule being a minimum 1000mg of Omega 3 with both EPA and DHA
      • available from True Balance
 
There is significant individual response to omega 3 supplementation; one dose is not optimal for everyone. For interested parties, or those with a strong family history of heart disease, advanced testing of the AA/EPA ratio is available at private labs through True Balance. This ratio will determine if your dose is optimal for you. An optimal AA/EPA ratio has been shown to reduce all-cause 5 year mortality by 25%.We recommend and sell only 5-star rated fish oil, due to risks of contamination. It is of guaranteed potency, dioxin and mercury free according to the International Fish Oil Association.
 
Resveratrol
This natural compound which slows down the aging process, boosts blood flow to the brain, and promotes heart health. In addition to the role it plays in stimulating brain function, resveratrol is also a key ally of our body’s immune system.
 

Recommended Standard Dose:

        • 1 capsule daily, minimum 250mg

Alpha-lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that works to protect brain and nerve tissue.

Recommended Standard Dose:

  • 600mg per day

Probiotics
Research conducted in just the last few years has started to conclude that eating food rich in probiotics can influence brain behavior, and may modulate the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression.  Today’s researchers are further exploring the role gut bacteria may play in maladies ranging from chronic pain to autism.

Recommended Standard Dose:

  • at least 10 billion active cultures, including lactobaccilus acidophilus and bifidobacterium
  • to be taken with food

Coconut Oil
Coconut oil uniquely consists of medium-chain triglycerides which are smaller and can be used as a backup source of energy.  They’re broken down into ketones by the liver, and readily cross the blood-brain barrier to provide instant energy to brain cells.

Recommended Standard Dose

  • 1tsp to 2tbs per day, of an organic variety

Vitamin D
Over the past several years, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk for such brain-related disorders as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, and even dementia. A new study published in the journal Neurology, correlated low levels of vitamin D to increased risk of developing dementia to a far greater degree then anyone had predicted.

Recommended Standard Dose:

  • 5000iu per day

DHEA

DHEA is produced by the adrenal glands and is the natural balancer for Cortisol. Cortisol is produced to manage stress and unsurprisingly rises as we age, although chronic elevations of this stress hormone actually damage important brain memory centers.

Important actions of DHEA include:

          • Protection of brain function
          • Boosts immune function
          • Improved bone density
 

Unfortunately, DHEA gradually declines as we age. This means that by the time we reach the age of 80 levels are almost unmeasurable. Most BHRT programs include a modest dose of DHEA, adequate to restore levels to those seen in a 25 year old. Check out DHEA under Other Hormones for more information regarding DHEA treatment.

Ortho Sleep

Sleep is an essential part of everyday life with modern research telling us we require at least 7 hours of healthy sleep for proper memory assimilation, immune function and cancer prevention. Many of us have difficulty fitting in this amount of sleep with busy lifestyles and the resulting stress. To make the sleep situation even worse many people have an overall Estrogen Dominance, one of the main symptoms of which is insomnia.

Ortho Sleep includes Melatonin and a number of mind calming herbs that have been shown to promote sleep. Recommended Standard Dose:

            • Take 1-2 capsule at bedtime
            • Can also be taken upon waking in the night
            • available from True Balance

This is part of Dr. Brown’s program even though he has no problem with sleep—a side effect of an Obstetricians life!

For other great tips to help with sleep disturbance take a look at our Sleep Suggestions.

Cognitex

Cognitex is great for those who are looking for additional improvement to brain function. This supplement contains pregnenolone as well as several other agents that have been proven to reduce brain decline associated with aging. Recommended Standard Dose:

              • Take 1 to 3 capsules in the morning as directed on bottle
              • available here

For more suggestions take a look at lifestyle factors that may be affecting your overall brain health on our Lifestyle page!