You
Especially for the Truth Warriors!
May your amour be ever strong,
May your voice outlast long,
May your courage never tire,
And your spirit soar ever higher.
Murphy’s Law
Stress Less
Best Ever Knock Knock Joke
I Ate 100 TBSP Of BUTTER In 10 Days: Here Is What Happened To My BLOOD
This presentation is very informative and enlightening on the benefits butter has even in what many would consider excessive daily amounts. Weight remained constant, glucose and insulin levels went DOWN on 10 spoons of butter a day!
On Increasing Your Health Span
This is the purpose I have with the data I share in my book How To Live The Healthiest Life. I continue to receive great feedback from those who acquire it. I encourage you to do so too. Not because I need the purchase price but because you will benefit from the data. I have put literally thousands of hours into collecting and compiling this data for you to take advantage of to maximise your health span. Get it here: https://howtolivethehealthiestlife.com/
Healthy Life Jingles
Our bodies are complex, their nutrient needs many,
With too simple a diet, good health we won’t have any!
They said good fats are bad,
Believe that, you’ve been had.
Olive and coconut oil,
Your body don’t spoil.
Seed and hydrogenated oil,
Your good health attempts will foil.
If your body you’d keep strong,
To eat sweet things would be wrong.
You gain more from detox,
Than you do from botox.
For your body to make ‘nuf D3,
Ten minutes in sun ‘tween 10 and 3.
To keep your body as if new,
Stretch it, walk it, pump it too!
If you intermittent fast,
Your body will better last.
If after good health you lust,
Then exercise is a must.
For motion is lotion,
More good than a potion.
If your loved one you’d have weep,
Just deny yourself some sleep.
Most doctors are schills,
For pharmaceutical pills.
Statins are deadly,
Side effects a medley.
On vaccines SCOTUS decided,
“Unavoidably unsafe” they chided.
Those who say different,
Their words are misspent.
If you are blessed to have your body age,
Keep learning so you can be a sage.
If perchance you do feel blue,
Walk your body, look at things do.
Discover what you love to do,
Find out how to make it pay for you.
Those who carp and criticize,
Fear your power, they deal in lies.
If over you they seek control,
The from their mouths the lies will roll.
To live a long happy life,
Try not to argue with one’s wife.
I have heard the wise lament,
No one wins an argument.
“Bitter on the tongue, sweet on the belly”,
Wiser advice than, “Have some more jelly.”
If for a better world you would strive,
Help others to become more alive.
Of those who gain from fear or loss,
What they tell you is merely dross.
A happier life you’ll live,
If more compassion you will give.
If these ring true for you, check out my book: https://howtolivethehealthiestlife.com/
and my healthy powders, bars and snacks: https://healthelicious.com.au/
Your body will thank you now and your future self will thank you later!
These 11 Natural Compounds Help Build New Brain Cells
Written By:
Your brain is capable of making new cells, but this capability declines with age. That is, unless you take action to combat it using lifestyle strategies and neuroprotective compounds found in nature
It wasn’t long ago that the brain was believed to be incapable of regeneration. The neurons you were born with, it was thought, had to last you a lifetime, and when they were gone or injured, your brain function would suffer. It’s now known that your brain is one of many tissues in your body capable of incredible regeneration.
As you age, your brain can continue to build new brain cells, or neurons, in a process known as neurogenesis. Your brain contains about 100 billion brain cells, building new ones rapidly in childhood. The rate of neurogenesis declines as you get older, but it’s estimated that the hippocampus brain region, where most brain cells appear to be produced, makes 700 to 1,500 new neurons daily.[i]
By embracing practices known to support neurogenesis, you can ensure that your brain is building as many new neurons as possible, keeping your brain function strong into old age.
11 Natural Compounds to Build New Brain Cells
Regular exercise, sleep, stress management, challenging your mind by learning new things and maintaining strong social ties all play a part in this process, but there are also natural compounds known to support neurogenesis.
1. Astragalus
Valued in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia, astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is an adaptogenic herb known to protect the body from physical, mental and emotional stress.[ii] Radix Astragali (RA), a specific variety of astragalus, known as “Huangqi” in Chinese,[iii] contains the active ingredient astragaloside IV (AS-IV), which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties that protect against brain injury.
In animal studies, astragaloside IV was found to enhance neurogenesis, angiogenesis and neurological functional recovery,[iv] as well as stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis after stroke, potentially helping the brain to remodel and repair itself.[v]
2. Ginseng
Ginseng (Panax ginseng) contains ginsenosides that have neuroprotective properties. In addition to being antioxidative and anti-inflammatory, ginsenosides, particularly ginsenoside-Rb1 and ginsenoside Rd,[vi] promote neurogenesis.[vii]
3. Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid, known for its antioxidant properties, is commonly used for neurological disorders, as it’s known to cross the blood-brain barrier and positively influence multiple cellular processes. It also has neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects, especially if administered immediately after ischemic injury. In a study of rats, alpha-lipoic acid enhanced neurogenesis, promoting functional recovery after stroke.[viii]
4. Curcumin
Curcumin, an active ingredient in the spice turmeric, promotes brain health by increasing, or at least stabilizing, neurogenesis in adults.[ix] Even after traumatic brain injury, curcumin alleviated neuroinflammation, improved spatial memory and enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis in rats.[x]
This powerful compound is also protective against neurotoxicants like bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical known to impair the process of neurogenesis in the hippocampus, particularly in utero. In developing rats, curcumin reversed much of BPA’s neurotoxic effects, enhancing neurogenesis and providing neuroprotection.[xi]
Moreover, in adult mice, curcumin significantly increased the number of newly generated cells in the hippocampus, leading researchers to explain, “Our findings suggest that curcumin can stimulate developmental and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and a biological activity that may enhance neural plasticity and repair.”[xii]
5. Resveratrol
Resveratrol, a stilbene found in grapes, cocoa, wine and berries, induces neurogenesis.[xiii] Among rats exposed to lead, resveratrol reduced cognitive damage and promoted neurogenesis by regulating the sirtuin (SIRT1) pathway,[xiv] which enhances longevity and mitochondria function for disease prevention.
6. Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that’s been extensively investigated for its role in heart disease and metabolic syndrome, which share the hallmarks of oxidative stress and inflammation that are also contributive to neural dysfunction. Astaxanthin is also known to have a neuroprotective effect, with research suggesting it may also increase neurogenesis and neural plasticity, which refers to the nervous system’s ability to modify itself in response to experiences and injury.[xv]
Not only may astaxanthin increase stem cell proliferation in the hippocampus, which may improve spatial memory, but consuming it may also increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a role in neural development, growth and function.[xvi]
Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also revealed that astaxanthin has “beneficial effects on hippocampal neurogenesis and memory function.”[xvii]
7. Gotu Kola
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica), also known as Indian pennywort, is a perennial plant that stimulates collagen synthesis and promotes wound healing.[xviii] However, it also contains asiatic acid, a triterpenoid that inhibits oxidative stress. In an animal model, the compound was found to counteract the down-regulation of neurogenesis that’s caused by chemotherapy drugs.[xix]
Asiatic acid has also been shown to improve learning and memory in an animal model, and the benefit was linked to an increase in hippocampal neurogenesis.[xx]
8. Bacopa
Bacopa, a perennial plant that’s popular in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, is beneficial for a variety of brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, epilepsy and depression. Among its neuroprotective properties is an ability to modulate neurogenesis along with neuronal plasticity.[xxi]
One study of bacopa extract on rats revealed that the compound exerted neuroprotective effects, potentially by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis via protection against oxidative stress and an increase in BDNF.[xxii]
9. Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo contains compounds that favorably influence BDNF, helping to regulate the growth and survival of brain cells. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) has been found to promote the survival of neural stem cells as well as encourage neural stem cell differentiation, with researchers noting, “Moreover, neurite outgrowth is also dramatically increased upon GBE treatment.”[xxiii]
GBE has been found to significantly increase neurogenesis in the hippocampus,[xxiv] while also increasing the level of BDNF and encouraging the differentiation of stem cells into nerve cells.[xxv]
10. Sulforaphane
Sulforaphane (SFN), found in sulfur-rich vegetables like broccoli and broccoli sprouts, epigenetically enhances BDNF, which supports the survival of existing neurons and encourages the growth of new neurons.[xxvi] According to a review published in the journal Brain Circulation:[xxvii]
“SFN increases neuronal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which promotes neuron generation and upregulates Wnt signaling in neural stem cells, which then increases stem cell proliferation and their differentiation into neurons.”
11. Melatonin
In an animal study, the hormone melatonin not only acted as an antidepressant, improving the behavior of stressed mice, but also increased neurogenesis in the animals.[xxviii]
Melatonin also increased cell proliferation in the hippocampus after three, six and nine months of treatment in another study on mice, delaying the typical decline in neurogenesis that occurs with age. In fact, the researchers noted in Neuroscience Letters, “Together, the data support melatonin as one of the positive endogenous regulators of neurogenesis during aging.”[xxix]
This is only a sampling of the powerful natural compounds known to support the growth of new neurons in your brain. You can get access to 68 different substances that have been researched for neurogenesis by visiting GreenMedInfo.com’s neurogenesis database.
References
[i] Harvard Health Publishing, The book of neurogenesis August 1, 2021 https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-book-of-neurogenesis
[ii] Mount Sinai, Astragalus https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/astragalus
[iii] Front. Pharmacol., 04 December 2020, Sec. Ethnopharmacology https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.562376/full
[iv] Int Immunopharmacol. 2021 Mar ;92:107335. Epub 2021 Jan 8. PMID: 33429332 www.greenmedinfo.com/article/astragaloside-iv-promotes-microgliamacrophages-m2-polarization-and-enhances-ne
[v] Front Pharmacol. 2020 ;11:421. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32317974 www.greenmedinfo.com/article/astragaloside-iv-stimulates-hippocampal-neurogenesis-after-stroke
[vi] Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2015 Apr;36(4):421-8. doi: 10.1038/aps.2014.156. Epub 2015 Mar 16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25832422/
[vii] Front Pharmacol. 2020 ;11:285. Epub 2020 Mar 31. PMID: 32296332 www.greenmedinfo.com/article/available-findings-demonstrated-preclinical-evidence-ginsenoside-rb1-has-poten
[viii] Mol Brain. 2015; 8: 9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339247/
[ix] Adv Nutr. 2017 Nov; 8(6): 804-811. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683005/
[x] Brain Res Bull. 2020 Sep;162:84-93. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.05.009. Epub 2020 Jun 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32502596/
[xi] Mol Neurobiol. 2015 May 12. Epub 2015 May 12. PMID: 25963729 /article/curcumin-provides-neuroprotection-against-bpa-mediated-impaired-neurogenesis-a
[xii] J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Dec;20(6):680-4. PMID: 18362141 www.greenmedinfo.com/article/curcumin-can-stimulate-developmental-and-adult-hippocampal-neurogenesis-and-bi
[xiii] Adv Nutr. 2017 Nov; 8(6): 804-811. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683005/
[xiv] Environ Toxicol. 2021 Aug;36(8):1664-1673. doi: 10.1002/tox.23162. Epub 2021 May 12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33978298/
[xv] Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1015:1-15. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-62817-2_1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29080018/
[xvi] GeroScience. 2019 Feb; 41(1): 77-87. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6423184/
[xvii] Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 May 28; 116(22): 10988-10993. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6561194/
[xviii] Indian J Pharm Sci. 2010 Sep-Oct; 72(5): 546-556. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116297/
[xix] Nutrients. 2018 Aug 9;10(8):1053. doi: 10.3390/nu10081053. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30096914/
[xx] Nutrients. 2016 May; 8(5): 303. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882715/
[xxi] Curr Top Med Chem. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.2174/1568026622666220119111538. Online ahead of print. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35043757/
[xxii] Neurochem Res. 2016 Nov;41(11):3083-3094. doi: 10.1007/s11064-016-2029-3. Epub 2016 Aug 10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27506204/
[xxiii] Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2015 Aug;35(6):861-9. doi: 10.1007/s10571-015-0180-z. Epub 2015 Mar 31.
[xxiv] Anat Sci Int. 2016 Jun;91(3):280-9. doi: 10.1007/s12565-015-0297-7. Epub 2015 Aug 22.
[xxv] Neural Regen Res. 2019 Jul;14(7):1152-1157. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.251191.
[xxvi] Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017 Feb;61(2). doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201600194. Epub 2016 Nov 30.
[xxvii] Brain Circ. 2019 Apr-Jun; 5(2): 74-83. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6611193/
[xxviii] Neurosignals. 2016 Jul 11 ;24(1):48-58. Epub 2016 Jul 11. PMID: 27398923 www.greenmedinfo.com/article/melatonin-improved-depressive-behaviour-stressed-mice
[xxix] Neurosci Lett. 2012 Nov 14;530(1):53-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.09.045. Epub 2012 Oct 6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23043890/
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.
https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/these-11-natural-compounds-help-build-new-brain-cells
© [21 December 2022] GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.”
Changes As You Age
I asked a friend who has crossed 70 and is heading towards 80 what sort of changes she is feeling in herself. She sent me the following:
1 – After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.
2 – I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
3 – I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
4 – I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.
5 – I stopped telling the elderly that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.
6 – I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
7 – I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say “Thank You.”
8 – I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
9 – I walk away from people who don’t value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
10 – I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.
11 – I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
12 – I have learned that it’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
13 – I have learned to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it might be the last.
14 – I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!
Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can’t we practice this at any stage and age?