Entries tagged with: Brain Health
Blog
Bloomington Brain Food Extravaganza
Bloomington Brain Food Extravaganza
I know I’m a little late in posting this, but in August, I made the ultimate brain food trip to Bloomington, Indiana. Read the Post →
Blog
Eat More Curry for a Brain Boost
Eat More Curry for a Brain Boost
Curcumin, found in turmeric root, possesses serious brain boosting powers. Check out my most recent Farmacy Blog post for Psychology today co-written with my graduate student from the Institute for Human Nutrition, Mala Nimalasuriya. Read the Post →
Blog
ADHD and Diet in Kids (WLNY Follow Up)
ADHD and Diet in Kids (WLNY Follow Up)
Does food contribute to Attention Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? I had a great time again with the crew of Live from the Couch on WLNY CBS TV this morning. I wanted to post some of the references for those interested and to recap the information. Read the Post →
The Science
Effect of Randomized Supplementation with High Dose Olive, Flax or Fish Oil on Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acid Levels in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Effect of Randomized Supplementation with High Dose Olive, Flax or Fish Oil on Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acid Levels in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
If you want to improve omega-3 status should you take flax seed oil or fish oil? The shortest of the omega-3 fats, alpha linolenic acid or ALA found in high concentrations in flax seed can be converted to the longer EPA and DHA, which are the omega-3 forms most studied in brain health. This study investigated adults and followed them for 3 months with groups taking either olive oil (no omega-3s), flax seed (ALA), or fish oil (EPA and DHA) and compared their blood. The researchers conclude that to increase the longer-chained EPA and DHA, it is not enough to take ALA from flax seed. But remember, the right fish – wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies to name a few – is also a great choice and loaded with EPA and DHA. Read the abstract →
The Science
ADHD is Associated with a "Western" Dietary Pattern in Adolescents
ADHD is Associated with a "Western" Dietary Pattern in Adolescents
Another large, long prospective trial that implicates a “Western” diet with worse brain health. We have seen numerous studies implicate modern foods in depression and dementia. Now this amazing study from down under. This is the first study to clearly link a “western-style” diet with ADHD. This study followed almost 3000 kids from birth for 14 years. It found that eating more fat, saturated fat, sugar, refined carbs, and sodium and less omega-3s, folates, and fiber doubles the risk of getting an ADHD diagnosis. Kids who ate the most take-out food, potato chips, and soda were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Read the abstract →
The Science
Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Major Depression: One-Year Follow-Up of the SMILE Study
Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Major Depression: One-Year Follow-Up of the SMILE Study
Let’s review the health benefits of an antidepressant I think everyone should start taking: exercise Read the abstract →
The Science
Long-chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake is Associated Positively with Corticolimbic Gray Matter Volume in Healthy Adults
Long-chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake is Associated Positively with Corticolimbic Gray Matter Volume in Healthy Adults
These researchers looked at very specific regions of the brain and found more gray matter (which represents brain cells, and thus brain "strength" and health) in people who ate more fish. Read the abstract →
The Science
Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: the SUN Project
Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: the SUN Project
Less reported is the link between trans fat and depression. Published in Feb 2011, this study nicely connects these industrial fats and depression: those who ate the most trans fats were 42 percent more likely to get depressed. The results were also linear, which meant that even eating lower levels of trans fat increased a person’s risk. Read the abstract →
Blog
More Fish, Bigger Brain
More Fish, Bigger Brain
I’m a sucker for imaging studies. I once volunteered for a study of anxiety so I could get a full MRI of my brain. Read the Post →
Blog
Eat to Build a Better Brain
Eat to Build a Better Brain
The brain tune-up at the end of your fork
Good mental health-feeling your best, focused, energetic, and balanced-begins with the right food choices. And the stats are in, folks. We are not making the right choices. Today, illness rates are at an all-time high, not only for obesity and diabetes, but also all major brain disorders. Two-thirds of Americans are obese and ninety-seven million have pre-diabetes; both conditions wreak havoc on the brain, increasing the risk of depression and dementia. Read the Post →
Blog
From Farm to Pharma
From Farm to Pharma
Behind the sensational headlines about psychiatry, medications and mental health, there is actually a lot of good news--and more importantly, helpful news. We understand more about the brain and mental disorders than ever before. While valid criticisms of psychiatry and individual psychiatrists exist, not enough of this good news is getting airtime. Read the Post →