Last month I wrote about the various causes of Brain Fog, Memory Loss and Fatigue, showing that, like obesity or heart disease, most of the decrease of brain function is self-caused. Let’s look at four secrets of brain health that can go a long way to help prevent, and actually reverse, the brain degeneration process.
1) Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
This condition is very common in our fast paced, complex, demanding lives. Essentially, this condition reflects the relationship between the brain and the endocrine (neuroendocrine) system. The symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue include fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, heart palpitations, hypoglycemia and depression.
Along with several other hormones, the adrenal glands produce cortisol. Cortisol is the hormone that helps deal with stressful situations without being overwhelmed and under-energized. An imbalance in cortisol, and the other adrenal hormones causes the body and its organ systems to slow down, causes accumulation of toxins and increased inflammation, all of which travel to the brain causing malfunction, degeneration and general havoc. Sleep cycles are also disrupted by imbalanced hormone levels leading to increased fatigue and poor brain function.
Reversing and curing Adrenal Fatigue starts with testing the adrenal glands for the production of several key hormones (cortisol, 17 hydroxyprogesterone, insulin, Gliadin antibodies, and DHEA). This test can clearly identify exactly what the adrenal problem is so we can use target supplements and lifestyle changes to get you back on track.
2) Phosphatidyl serine supplementation
This compound (a phospholipid) is made in the body and it naturally attaches to nerve cell membranes where its function is to enhance signal transmission in nerve cells. It has very good memory-enhancing properties and has been used to treat age related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease for many years. In a 2010 study in the Journal of Clinical biochemistry and Nutrition, phosphatidyl serine supplements caused significant improvement in memory. It enables your brain cells to metabolize glucose and bind with neurotransmitters. It also increases communication between the cells in your brain which increases overall function. I think its major positive attributes are the ability to decrease cortisol levels, enhance athletic performance and add muscle while also increasing brain function. It’s very safe to use with no known side effects.
3) Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, affects the brain a great deal because your brain uses glucose as its primary fuel. Your brain does not have the ability to store fuel. This means it must have a continual and stable supply of glucose. Symptoms of low blood sugar often occur before eating and include: Confusion, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, forgetfulness and can mimic all of the symptoms of low thyroid disorders. Laboratory tests of blood sugar will show low normal levels with overall lowered levels of many other blood tests. Sugar surges cause so many problems with other endocrine glands that many doctors feel that hypoglycemia should be one of the first issues addressed to fix a foggy brain.
4) Gluten Intolerance
Gluten is a protein that is found in many grains, including wheat, rye and barley and interestingly can cause unusual reactions in the brain. In fact, most of the research on gluten shows that the initial symptoms of gluten sensitivity is disturbance in the nervous system causing balance and cognitive problems.
Irritable bowel syndrome is usually caused by gluten sensitivity or other grains. It leads to a immune reaction that will attack gluten. This damages the inner layers of the bowel, and causes “leaky gut syndrome.” Eventually, the inflammation spreads from the gut to the rest of the body resulting in widespread pain and brain fog. Gluten sensitivity can be identified through specialized testing and dietary modification. Many of our patients who have elected to follow our treatment program for reducing inflammation and healing leaky gut syndrome report significant changes in their memory and concentration levels.
Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL). Visit us at WalnutCreekHealth.com.
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