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Who Else Wants A Better Memory?

January 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

It’s a common assumption, that memory loss is just a part of growing older. Now, a recent study indicates magnesium deficiency in the brain may be a contributing factor.

In a prior post, we looked at the importance of magnesium for healthy living.  A new magnesium compound appears to boost the levels of this mineral in the brain, enhancing learning and memory functions.

Dr. Guosong Liu is a neuroscientist with the Center for Learning and Memory at Tsinghua University, located in Beijing, China. He led a study which looked at whether Magnesium-L-Threonate (MgT), could improve short-term and long-term memory in rats. The study’s findings showed MgT improved brain function in both young and aged rats.

In the following video, Dr. Liu discusses his research and its implications for improved memory in the brain. This video is courtesy of ihealthtube.com. If you’re having trouble viewing the video in your browser, please click on this link.

iHealthTube.com – Your Brain Needs More Magnesium

A clinical study of the potential of MgT in humans, is currently being conducted by Dr. Liu in California.

Dr Liu’s research is important because age-related brain health has become a global public health issue. For example, America’s population group of  people age 65 or older was 12.9% of its total population.  It’s estimated this segment of older Americans will grow to about 19% of total population by 2030.  For more information, see the Administration on Aging’s website at this link.

An article on the wellness site NewHope360.com, included the following quote from Dr. Liu:

“Half the population of the industrialized countries has a magnesium deficit, which increases with aging.  If normal or even higher levels of magnesium can be maintained, we may be able to significantly slow age-related loss of cognitive function and perhaps prevent or treat diseases that affect cognitive function.”

For more information on Dr. Liu’s research, check this link to WellnessResources.com.

The Bottom Line:  Dr. Liu’s research of the connection between magnesium levels and brain function has consumed the last 10 years of his life.  The world-wide aging of our population demands as many safe, alternative dietary supplements as possible, to help improve our quality of life.  Time will not wait for us to conduct the proper research.  The time is now.

What will you do when your memory fades?

It’s Your Life, Live Well!

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Related posts:

  1. How Meditation May Save Your Brain!
  2. Can Exercise Protect Your Brain?
  3. How To Keep Your Brain Happy!
  4. 5 Ways Magnesium Helps You!
Filed Under: Anti-aging, Dietary Supplements, Memory & Brain Support, New Research Tagged With: , ,

Should You Skip The Flu Shot?

November 10, 2011 by 307 Comments

37313344tz54sex 300x199 Should You Skip The Flu Shot?The signs and banners seem to be everywhere I go.   Hanging outside drugstores and grocery stores, they scream “Flu shots available, no appointment needed”,  and quote a price of $20 or $25 bucks.  I started wondering, are flu shots really effective?

Recently, scientists from the University of Minnesota, did an analysis of 31 studies, to determine the effectiveness of the most commonly used flu vaccine in America.  It’s called the Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV), and it accounts for approximately 90% of all flu shots in America.

The review was published in the journal, The Lancet.  It’s most surprising finding was that for people ages 18 – 65 years, flu shots are only 59% effective in actually preventing flu.   You can check out the full article on the huffingtonpost .com, at this link.

Contrary to what the marketers tell us, this is a poor performance.  Are we being sold a vaccination that is only marginally effective?

Dr. Joseph Mercola wrote an interesting article on his site entitled “Flu Vaccine Exposed”, about 2 years ago.  He apparently based on his review of a video produced by the Thinktwice Global Vaccine Institute, of the same title.  The video look at how flu vaccines are made, what studies say about their effectiveness, and some the the potentially hazardous ingredients found in flu shots.  Basically, the group found that studies showed flu shots to be ineffective and unsafe.

One of the most interesting observations in his article stated:

“Remember that the potential effectiveness of a flu vaccine is dependent on the assumption, made nearly a year in advance, that Asia’s viral strains will be the ones hitting the U.S.  When they guess wrong, the vaccine is worthless from the start.”

Do you remember the Avian flu and the Swine flu?

Dr. Mercola goes further by stating:

“…I think it says a lot that 70% of doctors and nurses, and 62% of other health care workers do NOT get the yearly flu shot.”

Dr. Mercola believes that flu could be an idication of vitamin D deficiency.  He presents findings from five studies, which appear to give plausibility to his theory.

How can you protect yourself against the flu without getting a flu shot?  Dr. Mercola recommends the following actions:

  • Take a vitamin D3 supplement;
  • Get plenty of exercise;
  • Minimize the stress in your life;
  • Proper diet;
  • Make sure to get adequate sleep; and
  • Be sure to wash your hands regularly.

Be sure to check out the video and Dr. Mercola’s entire article at this link.

For information regarding the 2011 – 2012Flu Season guidelines from the CDC, including high risk groups, at this link.

The Bottom Line:  You’ll have to reach your own decision about getting a flu shot.  I suggest you start by asking your own doctor, if she has gotten her own flu shot.  If you decide to get a flu shot, you might also want to consider Dr. Mercola’s suggestions.  I mean, a little extra vitamin D3 and some extra hand washing probably will not hurt you.  Your immune system is your ultimite protector against the flu.  Perhaps now is a good time to build up your immune system?

Choose your action carefully.

It’s your life, live well.

Photo:  Piyaphantawong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Related posts:

  1. Will You Beat The Flu?
  2. The New Secret Of Vitamin C!
  3. Don’t take vitamin D without reading this! (Part4)
  4. Don’t take vitamin D without reading this! (Part 1)
Filed Under: Mens Health, New Research, Vitamins, Womens Health Tagged With: ,

Can Vitamins Kill You?

October 20, 2011 by 302 Comments

57088gbkse1evw1 300x199 Can Vitamins Kill You?I found the recent media attention given to a “study” proclaiming that vitamins kill people, to be fascinating and confusing at the same time.  I’ve taken vitamins and other supplements since about 1986, and last I checked, I’m in pretty darn good shape for a middle-aged man.  In fact, my lab results from my most recent physical, were the best they’ve been in years.  Should I be scared to continue taking my vitamins?

Dr Mark Hyman, a practicing physician, put any possible fears aside in a recent blog post for AOL Healthy Living. He wrote the best explanation of the problems with the design of the study, and the misguided conclusions it reached, that I’ve read.

In case you have not read, there was a study done on older white women in Iowa, which looked for an association between taking vitamins and death in these women.

It was an observational study, which looks for correlations or clues, that would lend themselves to further research to prove cause and effect.  According to Dr Hyman, observational studies should never be used as guides for public health statements or clinical medicine practice.

In his post, Dr. Hyman stated:

“Unfortunately negative studies on vitamins get huge media attention, while the fact that over 100,000 Americans die and 2.2 million suffer serious adverse reactions from medication use in hospitals when used as prescribed is quitely ignored.  Did you know that anti-inflammatories like asprin and ibuprofen kill more people every year than AIDS or asthma or leukemia?”

The “Vitamins Kill You” study, was found to be flawed by Dr. Hyman in the following ways:

  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) wasn’t taken consideration.  This in spite of a previous well-known study that found increased risk of breat cancer, heart attack, stroke and death in women receiving HRT.
  • Supplements containing Iron should never be given to older women, unless they have anemia.
  • Patient backgounds were ignored.  How was their health before the study began and why did they take vitamins?
  • The study population consisted of only older white women. Thus, wasn’t representative and does not lead itself to generalized conclusions.
  • The quality, forms, and dosages used by the women, were not identified.
  • No comparisons were made between vitamins and the use of other medications, as cause of death.

In other words, the ”study” didn’t prove anything.

You can read Dr. Hyman’s entire post at this link here.

The Bottom Line:  It’s imperative that before you consider anything covered in the “mass media” to be true, read it for yourself.  Then do some research, to find out what ”real experts” think about any study and it’s implications for your health.  Don’t put your health and well-being in the hands of a “talking head”, who may not know or care what a study really means.

Are you going to take your vitamins today?

It’s your life, live well.

Photo:  ddpavumba / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

(Affiliate Link)

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Filed Under: Dietary Supplements, New Research, Vitamins Tagged With: ,

Vitamin D May Lower Risk Of Diabetes!

August 18, 2011 by 48 Comments

Are you at risk for diabetes?  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes affects at least 220 million people worldwide.  Unfortunately, complications from diabetes kill 3.4 million people each year.  The number of deaths are expected to double by the year 2030.  Would you like to reduce your risk of diabetes?

A brand new study conducted by Tufts Medical Center and Harvard, indicates that taking a daily vitamin D3 supplement may lower your risk of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.  The study found that participants taking 2000 IU of vitamin D3 every day for 16 weeks, had a 26% improvement in beta-cell functions within the pancreas.  However, the group not taking vitamin D3, suffered a 14% decline in pancreas function during the same period.

This finding is very important, because low levels of beta-cell function in the pancreas is a predictor of diabetes risk.

Harry Rice, PhD, with the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), found benefit in this study and stated:

“Given the number of health benefits associated with vitamin D, coupled with evidence that certain segments of the population are vitamin D deficient, those not supplementing  their diet with vitamin D may want to rethink that decision.”

The American Diabetes Association (ADA),  has estimated the direct costs of diabetes in the U.S. exceed $174 billion a year.  This figure includes $116 billion spent on diabetes related medication each year.  Also, the numbers of Americans with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, continues to rise every year.

You can find a great summary of the study, at the Nutraingredients-usa.com site link provided here.

The Bottom Line:   If you haven’t discussed taking vitamin D supplements with your doctor, don’t wait any longer.  In addition to vitamin D deficiency linked to such health problems as osteoporosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, diabetes appears to be a new target.  How much more do you have to read about vitamin D, to understand its potential benefits for your health?

Have you taken vitamin D today?

It’s your life, live well.

 

twitt Vitamin D May Lower Risk Of Diabetes!

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Filed Under: Mens Health, New Research, Vitamins, Womens Health Tagged With: , ,

How Meditation May Save Your Brain!

August 11, 2011 by 43 Comments

3793w95onyedzn 198x300 How Meditation May Save Your Brain!Did you know that as you get older your brain shrinks?  Yes, that 3 pound bundle of grey matter in your head, changes with age.   However, the researchers at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, may have found a way to help you save your brain.

Eileen Luders, PhD., and her colleagues have found that people who practice meditation, have stronger connections between the different regions of their brains, than non-practitioners.  Also, the meditation practitioners showed less age-related brain shrinkage.

The researchers studied equal numbers of people practicing various forms of meditation and non-practitioners.  Dr. Luders used a new type of brain imaging, known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to study the structural connectivity of the participants’ brains.  Stronger connections between regions of the brain, lead to faster relay of electrical signals in the brain.  The researchers found evidence of the effects of the stronger connections throughout the brains of the meditation practitioners.

Dr. Luders made the following observations:

“Meditation, however, might not only cause changes in brain anatomy by inducing growth, but also preventing reduction…That is, if practiced regularly and over years, meditation may slow down aging-related brain atrophy, perhaps by positively affecting the immune system.”

In other words, meditation is good for your brain.

You can read a summary of the study, at the eurekalert.org link provided here.

The Bottom Line:  I’ve only recently started meditating, and I’m still learning how to do it correctly.  But, I do feel a better sense of well-being after each session.  This study provides me an extra sense of urgency, to use meditation for better brain health.  What about you?

Can you spare 15 or 30 minutes a day?

It’s your life, live well.

Image: Federico Stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  1. Can Exercise Protect Your Brain?
  2. How To Keep Your Brain Happy!
  3. Can The Mediterranean Diet Save Your Mind?
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Filed Under: Anti-aging, Memory & Brain Support, Mens Health, New Research, Womens Health Tagged With: , ,
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