Foods That Feed Your Brain

Eating more of these foods -- you are certain to remember so much more. Scientists are discovering new ways food and supplements affect your brain. Here's the latest research on nutritional ways to boost memory, mood and kids' IQ scores and to protect against mental decline as you get older.

Curry for the brain. Why does Alzheimer's disease strike only 1% of India's over-65 population vs. 10% of America's? New UCLA research finds one reason may be Indian food's curry spices, especially turmeric, which contains the antioxidant curcumin. Daily low doses of curcumin slashed deposits of brain plaque (a hallmark of Alzheimer's) by 50% in mice. Probable reason: Curcumin is a strong anti-inflammatory, similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, also tied to fewer Alzheimer's cases. But curcumin may be safer than NSAIDs in preventing Alzheimer's, researchers concluded.

Fish oil for depression. Studies show fish-eaters get less depression. Now Dutch research reports fish oil may help cure depression. "It's a breakthrough finding," says psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal of Georgetown University, author of the new book The Emotional Revolution. Fish oil contains two omega-3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA. In a study of people with ordinary "unipolar" depression, adding just 2,000 milligrams of EPA-type fish oil capsules daily to regular medication halved depression scores in three weeks, possibly because fish oil raises brain levels of serotonin, a mood-controlling neurotransmitter. In recent Harvard research, very high doses of fish oil also relieved manic depression.

Vitamins boost kids' IQ. Want your children to score higher on IQ tests? Try vitamins, says David Benton, a psychologist at Britain's University of Wales Swansea. In a new analysis of the evidence, he finds 10 of 13 studies confirm that a daily multivitamin/mineral pill raises non-verbal IQ test scores in kids with nutrient-deficient diets. Vitamins can't give a normal kid the brain of a genius, but Benton says supplements can correct marginal deficiencies from a poor diet that cause substandard intellectual functioning. He estimates that one-third to half of children might boost non-verbal IQ scores, sometimes "dramatically," by taking supplements

Folic acid, an all-round brain saver. To keep memory sharp as you age, eat lots of folic acid, a B vitamin found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits and dried beans, say Tufts University researchers. They find that people with the highest blood levels of folic acid have little or no memory loss after middle age. Folic acid also seems to help prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. A lack of folic acid allows a buildup of toxic homocysteine, which clogs blood vessels and damages brain cells, says Mark Mattson of the National Institute on Aging. He finds animals low in folic acid develop severe Parkinson's symptoms. An easy brain protector: supplements with 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid.

Minerals boost brainpower. Have trouble concentrating or recalling words? You may have marginal deficiencies of minerals, says Mary J. Kretsch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, Calif. She found that men given a low-zinc diet for three weeks lost their ability to quickly recall specific words, and women with borderline anemia (lack of iron) lost concentration and focus. The danger is especially great in dieting women, Kretsch notes.

In recent research at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, older people who took multivitamin/ mineral supplements for a year improved on tests of short-term memory, concentration, abstract thinking and problem solving.

It's blueberries again -- and spinach. A few years ago, Tufts research proclaimed antioxidant-rich blueberries, strawberries and spinach as brain food. A slew of new evidence confirms it, at least in animals. Elderly rats fed blueberry extract beat younger rats on memory tests at the University of Houston. In Canadian studies, blueberries reduced stroke damage in lab animals. Researchers credited blueberries' anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting activity. And at the University of South Florida, investigator Paula Bickford found that feeding animals spinach reversed learning loss that comes with age. How much might help? In human terms, the animals ate about 1 cup of blueberries a day or a large spinach salad.

Thanks to Jean Carper for the above information.

Why Ritalin for ADD?

Thanks to Dr. James Hollingsworth for a lot of the information in this following discussion of ADD.

Since the Columbine High School incident a few years ago, plus many subsequent school shootings and violence where the shooters were being treated with Ritalin, many question whether it is safe to use.

Is the trade off worth the possibility of effects often include violence and psychotic episodes?

What alternative methods are available to parents who have children who are so distressed and out of control?

What is the physical impact on the young developing brain and nervous system?

Both parents and school teachers have observed that excessive intake of sugar and "junk food" exacerbate attention deficit disorder, acting out and inability to concentrate. This suggests a link between poor nutrition and the possibility that giving the brain the necessary nourishment can mitigate or reverse the condition in certain cases.

Dr. Hollingsworth's comments follow.

I would like to talk to you about a common children's (and adults) disorder known as ADD/ADHD and as you will find, other mental conditions. I intend to share with you, using language that you and I would use in a conversation, rather than the technical and functionally explicit language of medicine, what you need to know to make a good rational decision.

His observations come from more than a decade of thought on this matter; as well as, treatment of patients and families with these problems. So here we go.

As you know, attention deficit disorder as well as most other mental problems, are commonly treated pharmacologically.

When the parents of a child with this disorder are discussing this condition with their doctor, a common thread is woven through this blanket diagnosis. This common thread is that the child has a chemical deficiency, and this deficiency results in aberrant behavior.

Typically, drugs such as Ritalin are given to to cover-up that deficiency. In other words, a chemical is given to cover up the symptoms of a chemical deficiency in the brain.

For many of these children and their families the drugs that are given are a Godsend. Family life and school life suffer when children have this condition, and many of these families are on the edge of being not able to cope any longer.

For other families, the trade off of the reduction of the symptoms to the long-term affects to the child is not acceptable and the search for an alternative treatment starts. For me, discovering what this chemical deficiency is, seems to be a smarter course of action. That's where we're heading now.

What I propose is to have you look at this from a different point of view. For those of you that have listened to me discuss a vitamin and mineral supplement, you've heard me say that I think this is the greatest miracle in the history of nutrition. Let me tell you why again. What makes it unique is that the minerals are chelated with fructose. That is, a carbon atom is removed from this sugar chain and a mineral atom is inserted in its place.

What is interesting is that after this transformation occurs the bond angles and the structure of this new molecule, a "substituted fructose", are identical to a real fructose molecule. Therefore, since these structures are the same and the body recognizes substances based on structure, the body treats this "substituted fructose " as a true sugar molecule.

Sugars, including this "substituted fructose " are completely absorbed from the intestinal lumen, or inside of the gut, into the bloodstream that goes to the hepatic portal system and is then circulated throughout the entire body. This is the first part of the miracle of this supplement, that of approximating 100% absorption.

The next part of the miracle is just as interesting. Since cells need sugar to perform the functions of life, sugars are transported across the cell membrane constantly and then taken to the mitochondria and are converted to ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is the currency of energy for cells.

ATP powers the mechanisms that create the stuff of life, such as neurotransmitters, proteins of repair, bone formation, red blood cells, white blood cells, and we could go on and on. Therefore, sugars are taken across cell walls from the blood at higher rates than other substances in the blood, since we need it to convert so much sugar into ATP.

This "substituted fructose " becomes an ideal carrier of minerals not only getting into the bloodstream to an astoundingly high degree but also into the cells of the body that can then use these minerals for the formation of the stuff of life.

What is also nice about using fructose as a carrier is that fructose is not insulin dependent which makes it a wonderful carrier for a diabetic. Fructose uses a completely different metabolic pathway to enter a cell.

You may ask what does this have to do with ADD/ADHD? Well, let me paint a little more of this picture, using the paintbrush of basic anatomy.

The brain rests inside the skull. Between the brain and the skull is the dura mater, which is Latin for "tough mother." The dura mater is a tough membrane that protects the brain. Between the dura mater and the brain is another barrier, the blood brain barrier which is composed of astrocytes, oligocytes, and microglia. These three cell types act as a filter keeping everything that is circulating in the blood that could be harmful to the brain, from reaching the brain.

Yet there is one thing that crosses the blood brain barrier easily. Sugar. Including "substituted fructose."

You might ask why is this significant and why is it necessary for sugar to cross the blood brain barrier? Even though muscles can use sugars, free fatty acids, as well as proteins as a fuel, the brain can only use sugar as a fuel.

The answer lies in the physiology of the brain. It is obvious to you that the heart is an organ that pumps blood; the lungs are an organ which exchange gases according to law of partial pressures; the kidneys are an organ which filter blood; and the brain is also an organ.

But what does the brain do? The Mind is what the brain does. I am using Mind to describe the myriad functions of the brain. If this self maintaining and self regulating brain, which is an organic machine, does not get the proper nutrition it needs to function well, it subsequently is not able to manufacture those substances that are necessary for good brain function and poor Mind results.

Could it be, that the functional materials which are needed by the brain, are not always there and the brain must make do with what it has?

Could the problem be that while "making do," during times of stress that the brain malfunctions in the same way that a car burning bad gas pings and knocks when climbing a hill?

Could it be, if we gave the brain what it needs to function well, that good mind would result?

Could it be, that this unique mineral delivery mechanism of fructose compounding delivers what the brain needs to create the substrates of neurotransmitters and other functional chemicals in the brain to allow the brain to function well?

Could it be that this could help children with functional disorders dealing with attention and performance that stem from poor brain function?

I would suggest to you that these things are true and that in my practice I've lost count of those children whose performance in school and in life and their ability to cope and adapt to stress and change has been dramatically altered and improved by this nutritional supplement.

The question arises, have you noticed the same functional changes with other supplements? The answer is no.

After I graduated from Chiropractic College, I took a nap every day for nearly seven years. If I wasn't sleeping, I was thinking about sleeping or taking a nap. I wasn't lazy, I was just always tired. If I wasn't teaching at the BSU, making house calls, or seeing patients, I was in bed at 9:00 p.m.

During this time I took many nutritional supplements. At one time I was taking 24 supplements each morning and 27 in the afternoon trying to find a way to affect my life. I remember asking my dad, an MD, for a prescription of Ritalin. No effect.

A prescription of thyroid hormone. No effect. Nothing worked.

For me, the day that I started taking the these supplements, seven years of daily naps ended. This has been a long explanation as to why, myself and so many others have benefited greatly by taking these supplements. My brain is finally receiving what is needed for me to perform at my optimal functional level.

J___ was a patient of mine that was diagnosed with narcolepsy. J___ could and would fall asleep anywhere and over the years I've done everything I can to help him. After my experience with these supplements, I called J___ and asked him to come to the office. At the time, he was taking six adult Ritalin doses a day. When he came to my office I suggested that he take five doses of the Vitality Pak per day and to come back in a week. At the end of that time he returned and I asked him did you notice a difference?

He told me with a straight face that he didn't. After some more questioning, he smiled at me and said "do you think there's any significance in the fact that I only took one Ritalin dose a day or every other day? " He was pulling my leg so hard, I almost hauled off and hit him! We both were so excited, for his life had so dramatically changed. Those are the days when it's so much fun being a doctor.

Well, time passed and that event was forgotten. Some time later, a nurse who worked at St. Luke's Hospital, came into my office. When she went into my treatment room, she was having so much stress and frustration from her many problems, she started to cry. Her five year-old son, on Ritalin, was on the verge of being thrown out of the day care center where she was taking him. And as she talked to me, I remembered J___ and a light went on!

I gave her the chelated with fructose supplemens for children, told her the dosage for her boy to take and asked her to call me in three days. She looked at me like she thought I was crazy, and said "These can't make a difference, my boy eats well". I told her, "I've been your doctor for years, just trust me in this and let's see".

Three days later she returned to my office. When she picked up her son that afternoon, the day care workers confronted her asking what she had done. For on this day, there had been no acting out, no violence, and no reasons for time outs.

They thought the boy had been drugged with a sedative. She told them all that was different was that her son had started taking a mineral supplement called Vita-Bears. That was about six years ago; he is still doing well in school and at home.

This was the turning point for me. After these two events, I let moms and dads know what was available to them as a possible alternative. I also then began experimenting when counseling patients and others with mental disorders. I found a remarkable response to these supplements, from almost everyone. Total counseling time and frequency decreased as a result of an increase in functional capability.

Another supplement is a combination of citrus bioflavonoids, dried grape seed and grape skin, dried ginkgo biloba extract (leaves), and dried bilberry extract (berries). Grape seed and grape skin contain a functional chemical called a proanthocyanidin. Proanthocyanidins are the most powerful antioxidants in nature. Beside their function as a free radical scavenger, they have positive side effects. They act as an antihistamine as well as an anti-inflammatory.

Many studies have been accomplished that show the efficacy (that they work) of proanthocyanidins with an ADD/ADHD diagnosis, yet few if any, speculate on the mode of action. All we know, is that proanthocyanidins tend to help the brain function and in a remarkable way.

Could it be, that the proanthocyanidins ability as a free radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory affect the brain function? It seems so. So after my experience in using the Vitality Pak for these conditions and after reading so many testimonials concerning the use of proanthocyanidins, I've since added ProVex Plus.

This combination is remarkable. I usually tell parents to start taking the supplements and notice the changes. Then go talk to their doctor about either reducing the dosage or stopping the (other) medication.

The central nervous system receives millions of brain impulses (NAP'S) and is responsible for relaying these neuro-electrical impulses (information) to our muscles, tissues, ligaments, organs, and nerves throughout the entire body.

When the brain is not functioning correctly due to genetics, food allergies, neurotransmitter imbalances, a simple fall, etc..., harmful chemicals are released which can cause the brain cells to malfunction.

The long-term effect is that the brain's health-maintenance cycle gets out of balance. This imbalance can result in short term and/or long term memory dysfunction and an inability to concentrate.

Notes & Sources:
---Balch, James F, M.D. & Phyllis A, C.N.C.: Prescription for Natural Healing New York, 1997.
---Pederson, Mark: Nutritional Herbology Utah, 1991.
---Haas, Robert: Eat Smart Think Smart: 1994, New York.
---Dr. Roger J. Williams, The Wonderful World Within You, Kansas, 1977.
Curry for the Brain -- J. Neuroscience 2001, Nov. 1; 21(21): 8370-7
Fish Oil for Depression -- Nemets, Boris, et al. American Journal of Psychiatry ; 2002;159:477-479
Vitamins Boost Kid's IQ -- Benton D., Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2001 Jun; 25(4): 297-309
Folic acid and memory loss -- Am J Clinical Nutrition, 2001;73:927-933
Folic-acid and Parkinson's symptoms -- Duan W., and Mattson M., et al. Journal of Neurochemistry 2002 Jan;80(1): 101-10)
Folic acid, Alzheimer's and homocysteine -- Seshadri S., et al. , New England Journal of Medicine, 2002 Feb 14;346(7): 476-83
Zinc and memory -- Food & Nutrition Research Briefs, January 2002, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Iron and concentration -- Kretsch MJ, Eur J Clin Nutr 1998 Jul:52(7): 512-8) (530-752-4171
Supplements and brain function -- Chandra, RK, Nutrition 2001 Sep; 17(9): 709-12
Blueberries and memory -- Presented at Society of Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego, November, 2001
Blueberries and stroke damage -- Press reports, citing Professors Marva Sweeney-Nixon and Kathy Gottschall-Pass at University of Prince Edward Island
Spinach and learning loss-- Presented at Society of Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego, November, 2001, by University of South Florida researcher Paula Bickford.

If you want detailed information on these supplements, send an e-mail along with your telephone number and the best time call.

Click here.

Main Portal

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.