Posts in Brain Health

What is Matcha? (Part 1)

You don't need to have meditated, to surely know that calming the mind is not easy. The monks realized that drinking matcha helped them with their meditation practice. Of course, a scientific analysis wasn't available to confirm what they observed through direct experience which was that the caffeine in the green tea leaves promoted alertness while the L-Theanine increased focus and concentration.

Despite matcha containing roughly 30mg of caffeine per cup, it remains significantly less than a typical cup of coffee which usually holds 200mg of caffeine. Unlike coffee which, for some, can create unpleasant anxiety with a final crescendo being that hard crash, the combination of L-Theanine + caffeine is the perfect yin-yang alchemy. Enjoying a cup of matcha will provide for an extended, bright and clean boost of energy that could last all day without the nervousness or the crash.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Whole FoodsKelly AielloMay 2, 2019Brain-Healthy DietComment

Brain Hypoxia: Everything You Need to Know

Have you or someone you love suffered from brain hypoxia? It affects oxygen flow to the largest part of the brain and can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.

Many people are at risk for hypoxia, including swimmers, divers, athletes, and mountain bikers.

Brain injuries sustained during these activities or otherwise are some of the most dire injuries that can occur to any person. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent death. Often, ongoing treatment post-surgery is required to regain all or most brain function again.

It's a tough and trying road, but it can be done.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about brain hypoxia and what you can do about it.

Brain Health, Conditions, Lifestyle, NeuronutritionKelly AielloApril 25, 2019Concussion, Moody, Neuronutrition, TBI, Hypoxia, Heart Health, Athletes, Health, ExcerciseComment

The Autistic Brain & Autism Awareness: 2019

Are you the parent of a child with ASD?

If so, you know the challenges, hardships, and heartbreak that comes with such a diagnosis.

Your child’s future is uncertain and the present poses many challenges. Having your child wander away from safety is a major concern of many - with almost half of all autistic children known to bolt or wander from safety.

April is Autism Awareness Month - a time to raise awareness about the disorder for those who know little about it, and time to band together as one community to help each other and provide support for those who live with it and the devastation it causes daily.

This week’s post is all about autism - how autism affects the brain, what science has to say about it, and what nutritional changes you can make that may help.

Brain Health, Conditions, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Whole FoodsKelly AielloApril 11, 2019Mental Health, Brain-Healthy Diet, Autism, Carbohydrates, EFA's, Protein, Vitamins, Family, Health, Kids, Serotonin, Dairy, Eggs, Avocados, BlueberriesComment

9 Key Foods that Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation. It’s not just for health headlines; It’s a fact.

Scientists are measuring levels of inflammation in our bodies and finding that it can be devastating for our health. This is especially true when it becomes chronic, but even low levels of inflammation on a chronic basis can create problems and lead to disease.

Inflammation is often thought of as the root cause of all disease. This makes sense when you consider that it has been closely linked to obesity, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes - just to name a few.

As I’ve discussed often, inflammation is a vital part of our immune system's response to injury or infection. It’s our body's way of triggering the immune system to spring to action to repair damaged cells or tissues and defend our body against foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria.

Without inflammation, wounds may become septic and infections deadly. But if the inflammatory process continues for too long, or if inflammation occurs in places where it’s not needed, it can become a problem anywhere in our body or brain.

Luckily, a healthy diet and lifestyle can help keep inflammation under control.

How Stress Messes With Your Health: The Ugly Truth

Not all stress is bad. In fact, stress can save our lives. Your natural fight-or-flight response is crucial to help you get out of a dangerous situation alive.

And even the hormones produced in response to stress, including cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine, aren’t always bad either. Their levels change throughout the course of the day in response to various challenges you face, including waking up in the morning (yes, that is a form of stress), dealing with traffic, managing an unruly child, or being showered with a birthday surprise.

During times when you feel stressed, various hormones (cortisol included) are released. And once the stressful event is over, levels should return back to normal.

This form of acute (or temporary) stress usually won’t mess with your health too much. It is your body’s natural reaction to circumstances, and, as discussed, can be a good thing.

When the “threat” (a.k.a. “stressor”) is gone, the reaction subsides, and all is well.

It's the chronic, or long-term stress that's a problem.

You see, your body has specific stress reactions. If these stress reactions are triggered every day or many times a day and cortisol levels are never allowed to subside, your health will pay the price.

This kind of stress (and the stress hormones that go along with it) can have a huge impact on every aspect of your health.

Let's dive into this "stress mess.”

Meals and Mental Health: What You Need to Know About Diet and Alzheimer’s

Poor diet contributes to one in every five deaths globally. Food consumption largely influences health conditions, including those affecting your brain - like Alzheimer's.

When it comes to protecting yourself from Alzheimer’s, many people consume the wrong food, hoping to gain good health but this doesn’t happen.

Alzheimer's is one of the health conditions that develop due to poor diet and nutrition. Studies show that you can protect yourself from the disease by watching what you eat.

Let's first demystify Alzheimer's then take a look at how nutrition comes into play.

Brain Health, NeuronutritionKelly AielloMarch 21, 2019Alzheimer's, Dementia, Memory, Mental Health, Neuronutrition, Antioxidant, EFA's, Vitamins, Omega-3, ProteinComment

The Worst Food For Your Brain

Would you like to guess what may be the worst food for your brain?

Though many foods can be harmful to brain health, one food, in particular, stands out as being the worst - by far.

Let me give you a hint: This food can cause tooth decay, lead to diabetes, weaken bones, age skin, and damage organs. Less known but just as significant, is the fact that it can also cause anxiety, depression, brain fog, neruofatigue, and mood swings.

Ready to take a guess?

That’s right, you guessed it - Sugar!

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Conditions, OtherKelly AielloMarch 14, 2019Alzheimer's, Depression, Memory, Mental Health, Moody, Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Inflammation, Neurotoxins, Serotonin, Addiction, Cravings, SugarComment

8 Essential Brain Foods for Studying and Staying Focused

Discover 8 important brain foods for studying now.

Whether you're studying for a college exam or preparing for a major presentation at work, you've probably wished there was a way to magically improve your concentration. Especially when there are so many attention-grabbers around us - like app notifications, roommates, tv, or family members.

How can you buckle down and study?

There's no magic pill that will improve your concentration, but there are foods that you can eat that stimulate brain health and help you focus.

Next time you're looking for a study snack, reach for one of these eight brain foods for studying.

Brain Health, Breakfast, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Other, Whole FoodsKelly AielloMarch 7, 2019Alzheimer's, Depression, Memory, Mental Health, Neuronutrition, Optimization, Eggs, Antioxidant, EFA's, Omega-3, Zinc, Executive, Hacks, Health, Kids, School, Students, Coffee, Serotonin, Avocados, BlueberriesComment

Mood-Boosting Kale Cucumber Salad Recipe

It’s no secret that what we eat can affect the health of our bodies and brains. It’s also no secret that certain foods can affect our mood.

High-carb foods like donuts, muffins, and granola bars work to make us feel better by boosting dopamine and acting on our brain’s pleasure centres. Unfortunately, getting such a ‘high’ from these foods is not the healthiest way to go.

Luckily, there are healthier alternatives that also work to boost our mood. Even better still, I’ve combined a few of these foods into one healthy dish!

Read on to discover more information along with the recipe.

Brain Health, Conditions, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Lunch, Sides & Snacks, Whole FoodsKelly AielloFebruary 28, 2019Depression, Memory, Mental Health, Moody, Neuronutrition, Fatigue, Thyroid, Antioxidant, Carbohydrates, EFA's, Minerals, Omega-3, Protein, Vitamin C, Whole Foods, Recipe, Salad, Serotonin, Almonds, Gluten-free, Plant Based, Sugar, Sugar-free, Vegan, VegetarianComment

Vitamin D’s Surprising Impact on Brain Health

Did you also know that vitamin D levels significantly impact brain health? Did you know that as you age your body’s ability to turn sunlight into vitamin D decreases?

Vitamin D is a critical nutrient for good health but too many people simply don't get enough of the "sunshine vitamin."

It’s not easy to get most of the year, and it’s not in too many foods. This could help explain why vitamin D deficiencies are very common. But what does vitamin D actually do? And what does a deficiency of it really mean anyway?

Keep reading to get the lowdown on this critical, all-too-often deficient vitamin. And discover three ways you can get enough of it.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How To Feed Your Brain

The Gut-Brain Connection: How To Feed Your Brain If there was ever a call for "digestive health," this is it!

Yes, it's true. Your gut is considered your "second brain."

There is no denying it anymore.

And because of the new scientific discoveries about the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system, and the amazing influence your gut microbes can have on all aspects of your health (including that of your brain), it's no wonder that what you eat feeds not only your body but can directly affect your brain.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Digestive HealthKelly AielloFebruary 14, 2019Memory, Mental Health, Moody, Neuronutrition, Parkinson's, Microbiome, Omega-3, Whole Foods, SerotoninComment

6 Vitamins Good for the Brain that You Should be Taking

The brain is one of your most important organs, so it's crucial to care for it. Check out these 6 vitamins good for the brain to add to your routine.

Your brain is like a jet engine.

It's complicated. It uses a lot of fuel to perform at its best. And without it, you'd be grounded.

We all know that. But did you know that about 75% of your brain is made of water? That means that a little dehydration goes a long way toward hampering brain function. Though water is important, it isn't the only thing that your brain needs for peak performance.

Vitamins and nutrients are essential to keep your brain functioning at 100%. And some vitamins are superstars when it comes to improving brain function.

In this article, we'll talk about 6 vitamins good for the brain and why you should take them.

January is Mental Wellness Month

What does mental wellness look like to you? It can look, feel, and mean something different to each of us.

Regardless of what it means to you, there are some common things we can all do to help maintain our own good mental health.

Read on to discover 4 common phases of mental wellness and 7 tips on how you may be able to improve yours.

Brain Health, Conditions, Lifestyle, Neuronutrition, OtherKelly AielloJanuary 24, 2019Depression, Mental Health, Memory, Moody, Neuronutrition, Fatigue, Family, Hacks, Health, Sleep, Nutritionist, PerformanceComment

Self-Care and Stress Management: Tips for Caregivers

Last week I discussed cortisol - what it is and natural ways to lower it. Cortisol helps us deal with a multitude of stressors and stressful situations. It is important for survival, but too much can cause problems.

What happens if your cortisol levels are always high?

If you live a very stressful life or happen to be a caregiver to a loved one, you need to set boundaries and start taking care of you!

Read on for ideas to help you better manage stress, especially if you happen to be a caregiver.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 17, 2019Alzheimer's, Dementia, Mental Health, Neuronutrition, TBI, Cortisol, Family, Hacks, Health, Mindfulness, Self Care, Stress, FatigueComment

Cortisol: What it is and Natural Ways to Lower it

We’ve all experienced stress.

Maybe you live in a constant state of stress with seemingly no way out.

If you can’t sleep because your mind is constantly buzzing, if you are fired up and cannot turn off your brain, or if you feel so exhausted all the time that you cannot complete even one of the items on your never-ending to-do list, then you understand what I’m talking about.

If this sounds like you, read this week’s blog post to discover what cortisol is, what too much cortisol can do to our bodies, and most importantly, what we can do to lower it.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 10, 2019TBI, Neuronutrition, EFA's, Performance, Executive, Meditation, Mindfulness, Neurofatigue, Lifestyle, CortisolComment

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Cortisol: What it is and Natural Ways to Lower it

We’ve all experienced stress.

Maybe you live in a constant state of stress with seemingly no way out.

If you can’t sleep because your mind is constantly buzzing, if you are fired up and cannot turn off your brain, or if you feel so exhausted all the time that you cannot complete even one of the items on your never-ending to-do list, then you understand what I’m talking about.

If this sounds like you, read this week’s blog post to discover what cortisol is, what too much cortisol can do to our bodies, and most importantly, what we can do to lower it.