Stressed? Clenching your fist may be beneficial…

When I’m feeling stressed I head outside for a stroll and get some fresh air, but if you’re one of the many people who grab a stress-relieving ball and clench your fists, you’ll be thrilled to hear it may actually be beneficial – and not just for the stress!

It is believed the movements activate brain regions, which are key to the storing and recall of memories. Researchers in the US suggest that those who are short of a pen and paper should try the trick when attempting to commit a phone number or shopping list to memory.

So does it work? Click here to find out!

The Kevin Trudeau Show: 7-14-12

Today, Kevin explains why the government doesn’t want you to know about certain technologies that are currently being produced and how the end of organic products in America is near. Plus, find out how to eliminate herpes, HPV, and other viruses that are lurking within your body when Dr. Ray Lala calls in from New Zealand!

Self Help:
Push The Viruses OUT!
The Secret To Perfect Health
Untainted Meat & Dairy
Get Vitamin D3 Free For Life!
Eliminate Depression Symptoms
Tap Your Way To Happiness
Test Your PH
Emergency Preparedness
Travel Water Filter

Health:
Grandma’s Home Remedies
Plants Can Think and Remember
New Lawsuit Filed over GMO Alfalfa
Apple Founder Steve Jobs Has 6 Weeks to Live?

Wealth:
The Billionaire’s Guide To Not Paying Taxes
The 10 Most Counterfeited Products Sold in America

Technology:
Teen Builds Backyard Death Ray

Unbelievable:
Rutgers University Pays Snooki 32K To Speak

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Choline: The Nutrient That Improves Your Memory

December 6, 2011

Men’s Health

By Cassie Shortsleeve

“You could also try KT’s Mega Memory course too.”  –KTRN

We’ve all been there: The awkward, why can’t I remember your name scenario. And while plenty of products claim to erase the wrinkles on your face, Boston University scientists have found a nutrient that protects your brain from aging, too.

The researchers discovered that people with a diet rich in choline—a nutrient in the vitamin B family—scored significantly higher on both verbal and visual memory tests, according to a study of 1,300 adults. Brain scans showed that subjects with high-choline diets were also less likely to show the signs associated with dementia.

Research from the USDA has also shown choline lowers blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine—which, when present in high levels, can lead to heart disease, cancer, and dementia. Extra choline also helps in constructing the “memory” neurotransmitter (acetylcholine).

Click here for the full report.

Boost Testosterone Naturally

November 2, 2011

Natural News

By Dr. David Jockers

Most people associate testosterone with facial hair, gigantic muscles & illegal steroids. Naturally produced testosterone plays a very important role in male/female metabolic function. Lowered testosterone is a chronic epidemic that is threatening lives all around the world. Boost your testosterone levels naturally through healthy lifestyle measures.

Testosterone is an anabolic steroid hormone that plays a critical role in metabolism, sex drive, muscle building, mood regulation, memory & cognitive function. Normal testosterone levels play a huge role in maintaining optimal weight as well as reducing risk of degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, & certain cancers.

Women produce testosterone but in significantly lower amounts than men. In the man, testosterone is produced in the testes and adrenal glands.

Meanwhile, women produce it in the adrenals & ovaries. Testosterone is known to peak in the early twenties and then drop about 10% with each successive decade. Post-menopausal women lose the function of their ovaries and are at risk for low testosterone later in life. With inadequate testosterone, women are at much greater risk for developing osteoporosis/osteopenia and other chronic diseases.

Men are said to lose 1.5% of their testosterone production each year beyond 30. Men, who lose a greater proportion of their testosterone, are said to have andropause. The Alliance for Aging Research has indicated that one third of American men over the age of 39 have reported two or more symptoms of low testosterone. Symptoms of male andropause include lowered libido, decreased muscle mass, increased abdominal fat accumulation, depression and lack of drive.

The changes involved in andropause are gradual over time. They often go unnoticed for years. In a large study of 858 males over 40, men with low testosterone had an 88% increase risk of death compared with those who had normal levels.

Reducing Inflammation
The key to stabilizing testosterone levels begins with an anti-inflammatory diet. This should be loaded with phytonutrient rich fruits and vegetables. Grains and sugars stimulate higher levels of insulin and cortisol. Cortisol is the anti-thesis to testosterone. The body produces high cortisol when faced with chronic chemical, physical, & emotional stressors. Healthy blood sugar balance is critical to stabilizing cortisol and boosting testosterone.

Healthy fat sources are extremely critical for good hormone function. Fats and cholesterol play a critical role in forming the structure and rigidity of our cell membranes. These fats impact cell messaging by acting as enzyme and hormone regulators. The nutrition plan should consist of ample amounts of good fats such as avocado, coconut, & olive oil. Saturated fats, cholesterol, conjugated linoleic acids and essential omega 3 fatty acid from healthy grass-fed animal products are excellent.

Xenoestrogens, artificial hormone mimicking substances, are linked to lower testosterone levels. These xenoestrogens are found in tap water, plastics, home cleaning agents, deodorants, soaps, make-up & body lotions. Many medications also contain heavy amounts of synthetic xenoestrogens as well. Avoiding these sources along with ensuring a diet rich in raw and lightly cooked fruits and vegetables will provide fiber and phytonutrients that help the body eliminate these toxic substances.

Click here for the full report from Natural News.

6 Ways To Protect Your Memory

October 6, 2011

Fox News

By: Laurie Tarkan

Losing your memory is not necessarily an inevitable part of life. Though genetics plays a significant role in whether people develop dementia, more and more research is showing that having a healthy lifestyle and staying mentally challenged may lower your chance of losing your memory and your mind.
Here are six lifestyle factors that will give your mind a boost:

1. Get Moving

A number of studies have shown that exercising, especially light exercise, slows the onset of memory loss and dementia. One study of older adults found that walking and doing other light activities like gardening preserved their memory longer than those who were sedentary. Another recent study found that exercise counteracts the brain shrinkage that occurs with age. While the older exercisers gained two percent of their brain volume, non-exercisers lost brain tissue.
The benefits appear to start accruing early. One study found that exercise in midlife significantly reduced the incidence of dementia three decades later. And another study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine looked at people in their 20s and found that young adults who followed exercise guidelines – moderate exercise five times a week for 30 minutes – had a better memory compared to those who didn’t.

2. Eat Fruits and Veggies

A recent study found that elders who ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables when they 30 years younger had lower risks of dementia. Oxidative stress and inflammation are thought to be involved in dementia. Fruits and vegetables contain loads of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may protect the brain against this damage.

3. Reduce Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Risk factors for heart disease, like diabetes, chronic stress, high cholesterol, and being overweight or obese have also been implicated in dementia. Some of these factors, like diabetes, are particularly potent if they arise in midlife, rather than later in life. So getting these risk factors under control through exercising and diet when you’re young may delay cognitive losses later on.

4. Get Culture

Participating in cultural activities and reading are also protective. A new study found that being open to new ideas can also delay dementia. Being open means you are curious, have a thirst for knowledge and are able to think creatively about new ideas. In contrast, closed individuals are more rigid in their beliefs and less emotionally involved with experiences.
“Individuals with higher openness are more actively engaged in cognitively enriching activities and these activities are protective of cognitive performance,” the study authors wrote.

5. Take Care of Your Teeth

Studies of twins have found that developing periodontal disease early in life is associated with a risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
“Over three times more often, the twin with more tooth loss is the twin who develops dementia, and we find the same for Alzheimer’s disease,” says the study author Margaret Gatz,, of the University of Southern California.

6. Got a Difficult Job? Perfect!

The type of work you do may also protect you against cognitive decline. The research on twins shows that having a job that involves complex work with people—careers that involve persuasion, mentoring, instruction and supervision—is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Working with complicated data also reduces risk.

Click here for the full report from Fox News

Memory Loss Doesn’t Equal Loss of Humanity

October 3rd, 2011

The Huffington Post

By: Rita Altman, R.N.

People with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss often seem to live in a different reality or a different time and place. Despite this disconnect, we should not simply dismiss a person as “gone” or focus so narrowly on all the abilities that the person has lost. Instead, we must focus on the uniqueness of each person and bring an open mind to how we address their needs — the basic human needs we all share.

The most basic human need is for safety and security. Although there is certainly a physical component, it is really the consistent, caring relationships with others that give a person with memory loss a feeling of well-being. At Sunrise Senior Living, we satisfy this need by our designated care model, in which each resident is consistently cared for by the same care managers. Designated care managers become trusted friends who know each resident’s likes and dislikes, as well as all of the small details that can mean the difference between a resident having a good day and having a great day. Although a resident may not remember their designated care manager’s name, a familiar face and reassuring hug can go a long way to help them feel secure.

Another basic need all human beings share is the need for love and friendship. People with memory loss might feel embarrassed or afraid to communicate with others because of their forgetfulness or difficulties finding the right words. These feelings can lead to loneliness, isolation and depression. That’s why it’s especially important that caregivers do all they can to fulfill their loved one’s need for meaningful social interactions with family and friends. Even when a person with memory loss seems to be living in his or her own reality, it is still possible — and beneficial — to connect with the person on an emotional level and express your love for them.

We also all share a basic need for meaning and purpose in life. As memory loss progresses, it becomes more difficult for a person to perform life skill tasks. However, there are still many ways we can enrich the person’s life by adapting activities so that they can participate in a way that is meaningful. Life enriching experiences go beyond “typical” activities; they actually speak to who a person is, to their specific interests, and to what provides fulfillment for each individual. In addition to boosting a person’s self-confidence and enhancing their quality of life, personalized life enrichment also helps reduce frustration and anxiety.

I know of a resident who had just moved into one of Sunrise’s memory care neighborhoods and seemed very withdrawn. The life enrichment manager spent some time talking with him and learned that he no longer felt as if he had a purpose in life. He mentioned that he used to love placing a flag on his front porch every morning and taking it down each evening. The flag symbolized his love of country and all the years he served in the military. She arranged for him to do the same thing, and he now hangs the flag outside the memory care neighborhood every day. This validates the resident’s need for purpose as well as his strong sense of patriotism.

The basic human need to be listened to and heard is also important. Each of us desires to communicate and form relationships with others. However, memory loss can make it very difficult for a person to express their thoughts with words. That’s why it’s vitally important that caregivers take the time to really focus on the meaning behind their loved ones’ words and actions. This takes patience, steadfastness and most of all, empathy. Making eye contact and giving your loved one your full attention makes them feel important and acknowledged, which are feelings that can often be missing for those with memory loss.

Below is a video that we recently developed at Sunrise that provides an overview of the above approaches as well as additional tips for caregivers. Fundamentally, we need to recognize that every person — regardless of memory loss — is still a human being with the same needs as the rest of us. It is up to us as caregivers to help meet those needs.

Click here for the full report from The Huffington Post

Zinc Found Critical Within The Brain To Improve Memory And Cognition

September 29th, 2011

Natural News

By: John Phillip

Zinc is an essential mineral known to improve skin tone, aid wound healing, fight cancer and shorten the length of the common cold. Researchers publishing in the journal Neuron now identify the crucial role this super-nutrient plays in support of memory formation and cognitive stability. Additionally, they have found that zinc may also play a part in controlling the devastating occurrence of epileptic seizures. For the first time, scientists have been able to watch zinc in action as the nutrient regulates communications between neurons and the hippocampus to improve memory and learning capabilities. Ensuring proper intake of zinc is an important step toward optimal brain function and may prevent cognitive decline as we age.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and chemists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaborated to study the effects of zinc on brain function. Scientists experimenting with mice used a chemical that binds with zinc to eliminate it from the brain of the test animals. They found that in the absence of the mineral, communications between neurons was significantly diminished and that zinc is vital for controlling the efficiency between nerve cells in the hippocampus.

For more than a half century, scientists have understood that high concentrations of zinc are deposited within nerve cells; called vesicles, they package the transmitters which enable the nerve cells to communicate. The highest concentrations of brain zinc are found among the neurons of the hippocampus that control the high functions of learning and memory.

Researchers Find Zinc Levels in the Brain Control Memory and Learning Functions

By artificially regulating the level of zinc in the brain of the test animals, researchers were able to confirm that eliminating zinc from the neural vesicles also prevented enhanced communication. By increasing levels of the mineral, they were able to significantly restore enhanced communications in the hippocampal region to improve learning and memory capabilities.

The results of this study conducted on mice can be extrapolated to humans because zinc is known to play a similar role in the brain of both species. Zinc deficiency in the typical western diet is rapidly becoming a serious problem that threatens human health. Due to poor farming practices and the abundance of nutrient-deprived processed foods, many children and adults suffer from a chronic insufficiency of the mineral.

Over time, lack of zinc from dietary sources can result in immune system depression, decline in sexual health and increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Dietary sources of zinc include organic liver, beef and lamb. Vegetarians can include nuts, seeds and peas to obtain the micronutrient. Alternatively, zinc supplements are available (30 to 50 mg per day) to help maintain healthy systemic levels that improve memory, learning and cognition.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

The Pill And The Way Women Remember Things

September 14th, 2011

The Huffington Post

By: Amanda Chan

The Pill could play a role in how women remember things, according to a new, somewhat small study.

The team of researchers reported observing that women who take birth control pills were better able to remember the “gist” of an emotional event, while women not on birth control were able to better recall the details of that event.

It’s important to note that birth control pills were not shown in the study to damage memory — rather, “it’s a change in the type of information they remember, not a deficit,” study researcher Shawn Nielsen, of the University of California, Irvine, said in a statement.

The change in memory could occur because birth control pills prevent pregnancy by altering women’s sex hormone levels. Those hormones have also been associated with “left brain” memory, researchers said.

In the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory study, 34 women on birth control and 32 women who were naturally cycling looked at pictures of a mother and son and a car accident. Some women were told that the car hit a curb, while the others were told the car hit the boy and left him critically injured.

A week later, all the women were asked about how much they recalled from the pictures and the details of what happened. Women on birth control — even when they were on the Pill for just a month — better remembered the main events that happened (for instance, that the boy went to the hospital and then the doctors performed surgery on him to reattach his feet), the study reported.

But the women not on birth control better remembered the smaller details, like that there was a fire hydrant by the car, researchers said.

The Telegraph reported that birth control’s effect on the brain has been researched before, and that studies have even suggested that it could enlarge part of the brain to increase a woman’s “emotional skills.”

However, this is the first study to show the effects of hormonal contraception use on emotional memory, Nielsen said.

And even though the number of people in the study was relatively small, researchers conducted a statistical analysis to find that the size of the effect was “relatively large for a human behavioral study,” Nielsen told HuffPost. Researchers plan to continue investigating the effects that hormonal contraception could have on emotional memory.

Birth control pills are 99.9 percent effective when taken correctly and work by preventing a woman’s ovary from releasing an egg, thereby making it impossible to join with the sperm, WebMD reported. Side effects can include lighter periods, changes in mood, sore breasts, nausea, weight gain and spotting between periods. More severe side effects include stomach and chest pain, aching legs and severe headaches.

Click here for the full report from The Huffington Post

Study Finds That Memory Works Differently in the Age of Google

August 19th, 2011

Columbia.edu

The rise of Internet search engines like Google has changed the way our brain remembers information, according to research by Columbia University psychologist Betsy Sparrow published July 14 in Science.

“Since the advent of search engines, we are reorganizing the way we remember things,” said Sparrow. “Our brains rely on the Internet for memory in much the same way they rely on the memory of a friend, family member or co-worker. We remember less through knowing information itself than by knowing where the information can be found.”

Sparrow’s research reveals that we forget things we are confident we can find on the Internet. We are more likely to remember things we think are not available online. And we are better able to remember where to find something on the Internet than we are at remembering the information itself. This is believed to be the first research of its kind into the impact of search engines on human memory organization.

Sparrow’s paper in Science is titled, “Google Effects on Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Having Information at Our Fingertips.” With colleagues Jenny Liu of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Daniel M. Wegner of Harvard University, Sparrow explains that the Internet has become a primary form of what psychologists call transactive memory—recollections that are external to us but that we know when and how to access.

The research was carried out in four studies.

First, participants were asked to answer a series of difficult trivia questions. Then they were immediately tested to see if they had increased difficulty with a basic color naming task, which showed participants words in either blue or red. Their reaction time to search engine-related words, like Google and Yahoo, indicated that, after the difficult trivia questions, participants were thinking of Internet search engines as the way to find information.

Second, the trivia questions were turned into statements. Participants read the statements and were tested for their recall of them when they believed the statements had been saved—meaning accessible to them later as is the case with the Internet—or erased. Participants did not learn the information as well when they believed the information would be accessible, and performed worse on the memory test than participants who believed the information was erased.

Third, the same trivia statements were used to test memory of both the information itself and where the information could be found. Participants again believed that information either would be saved in general, saved in a specific spot, or erased. They recognized the statements which were erased more than the two categories which were saved.

Fourth, participants believed all trivia statements that they typed would be saved into one of five generic folders. When asked to recall the folder names, they did so at greater rates than they recalled the trivia statements themselves. A deeper analysis revealed that people do not necessarily remember where to find certain information when they remember what it was, and that they particularly tend to remember where to find information when they can’t remember the information itself.

According to Sparrow, a greater understanding of how our memory works in a world with search engines has the potential to change teaching and learning in all fields.

“Perhaps those who teach in any context, be they college professors, doctors or business leaders, will become increasingly focused on imparting greater understanding of ideas and ways of thinking, and less focused on memorization,” said Sparrow. “And perhaps those who learn will become less occupied with facts and more engaged in larger questions of understanding.”

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Columbia’s department of psychology.

Click here for the full report from Columbia.edu

New Mind-Altering Drug Capable of Literally Modifying Your Memories

June 2nd, 2011

Natural News

By: Jonathan Benson

Changing bad memories into good ones could be just a pill away, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Researchers from the University of Montreal in Canada say that metyrapone, a drug that blocks the “stress hormone” cortisol, also appears to alter patients’ memories and minimizing their recollection of negative events — but is this actually a good thing?

For their study, Marie-France Marin and her team evaluated the effects of metyrapone on a group of young men shown a slide show that documented the serious injury of a young girl. In it, the girl is building a birdhouse with her grandparents until a serious accident lands her in the emergency room. In the end, the girl is okay, but the details of her injury involve lots of blood and other disturbing imagery.

Three days after viewing the images of this story, the team gave either a single 750 milligram (mg) dose of metyrapone, a double dose, or a placebo pill to the men in the group. None of the men knew which pill they received. The team then asked the men to retell the story of the girl as they recalled it, both right after receiving the pill, and again four days after taking the pills.

The team found that the men who took the double dose of meyrapone remembered far less of the negative imagery than did the men taking the single or placebo dose. Men in the placebo group scored between 40 and 50 percent in their negative imagery memory test, while men who took the double dose of metyrapone scored around 30 percent.

In explaining these results to Reuters Health, Marin and her team expressed their belief that because metyrapone artificially lowers cortisol levels, it interferes with the way the brain stores memories. These alterations appear to remove the emotional aspects from negative memories that give them a basis in reality, thus changing actual reality into a type of artificial fantasy world.

Click here for the full report from Natural News

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