Memory and Forgetting - How to Not Lose Your Mind

If you are approaching middle age and you have had the experience of not being able to place a person's name with a face or if you forgot a telephone number for the second or third time, don't worry. This does not mean that you are losing your mind or that you are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. A certain amount of forgetting is normal as you get older.

Memory is complicated and requires the activation of circuits in the brain, primarily between a structure called the hippocampus and an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. Researchers have studied the way memory works and have made some fascinating observations that are incredible value. Large and well designed studies have shown that exercise improves memory.

That is correct.

If you exercise you will not only improve your body, but you will also improve your memory. Exercise help memory by increasing cerebral blood volume, by stimulating the production of a protein that stimulates the birth of new brain cells and facilitating the process by which the brain changes in response to learning.

It has also been demonstrated that what you eat can improve your memory. Foods such as blueberries, walnut and other sources of antioxidants and omega e fatty acids will strengthen you mind.

What could be easier? Instead of worrying about what you have forgotten, move your body more, get your heart rate up and pay attention to what you eat. Don't allow inactivity and poor eating habits to cause you to "lose your mind."

Take Good Care of Yourself and Live Longer

Most of us know someone who has lived to a ripe old age in spite of the fact that they are smokers or abuse their body with alcohol or junk foods. How do you explain their longevity? Have they managed to live to an advanced age in spite of their excesses?

The answer is yes and we finally have a statistically valid study that proves the point. An 11-year study of 20,000 people in Norfolk, England showed that those who did not smoke, were physically active, drank alcohol in moderation and ate at least five servings of fruits or vegetables a day lived 14 years longer than those who did not observe these guidelines.

Those who did none of these things were four times more likely to die by the end of the study. Each factor was beneficial, but the greatest benefit was seen in those who observed all four guidelines. The results held regardless of social class or body weight at the inception of the study.

Think about that one for a while. 14 years!

Deadly Physiology of Stress

Last week I discussed the physiology of stress.

The flood of hormones that result from stress have profound effects on our bodies. The corticosteroids cause a decrease in immune function, and increase in blood sugar, a breakdown of muscle and a decrease in natural killer cell function. The result is an increased risk of disease, an increased risk of infection and an increased risk of cancer. The catecholamines secreted by the adrenal medulla cause an increase in heart rate, an increase in blood pressure, an increase in respiratory rate and a decrease in immune system health.

This results in an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, an increased risk of infection, moodiness and anger and digestive problems. As these stress hormones surge through your body they also crank up your metabolic rate causing the production of more free radicals.

The discovery of the effects of stress on the immune system has been a milestone in understanding how stress causes disease It sheds light on the complex interaction between the mind and the body.

Obesity and You

Are you satisfied that you are doing all that you can to be as healthy and have as much vitality and energy as you desire? Is being overweight a problem? Have you tried one of the fad diets, lost weight and then regained it plus maybe a few pounds more? If you answer yes and are stuck looking for a solution I have answers for you with a very effective medically endorsed program that I guaranteed to work and is fun to do. But first of all let me give you some facts.

The first problem is that we do not have an effective health care program in this country. We have what I have termed "sick care." This means to me that most people don't go to the doctor to build up their immune systems and stay healthy, rather they go when they are sick. We are putting the cart before the horse. The American life style is a problem. In this country we are first in spending on health care but second to last of the 13 wealthiest countries in average healthy days per year per person. 50 to 60% of Americans are overweight and greater than 60 million are obese carrying 2.5 billion pounds of fat. The percent of obese Americans has increased from 14% in 1980 to greater than 30% in 2000. The percent of obese children has doubled since 1980. The percent of obese adolescents has tripled. Furthermore for the first time in our history the life expectancy of our children is less than ours. This is a consequence of obesity that causes type II diabetes and other illnesses. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths annually, second only to smoking as a cause of death. The estimated cost to our health care system for obesity related illness is more than $100 billion a year.

Aren't these facts breathtaking? What is the solution? Obviously a change in lifestyle. But what do you change? How much do you need to exercise? Do you diet? What do you do about the stress in your life? How do you find the facts you need in a sea of information, advertisements and propaganda? We have studied this problem and done the homework for you. Besides my son and I, who are physicians, have consulted with a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, 2 psychologists and a zen master. Together we have constructed a six week program that will change your life. It is easy to follow, fun to do and can be started by anyone of any age, level of physical fitness, or of health. If you follow the program you will look better, feel younger, lose weight, have more energy, improve your sex drive, lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. We guarantee this because we have seen it happen over and over again in The TriEnergetics programs we have run. Does this interest you? I appreciate your comments.

For more information go to our website by using the link on this blog or go directly by using the address www.TriEnergetics.com.

TriEnergetics - The Ultimate Wellness Source

You are not alone if you believe that your health and longevity are determined by your genes. After all if your parents or grandparents lived to a ripe old age chances are you will also. Conversely if they died young chances are so will you. Fortunately this is not true. The latest scientific studies have demonstrated that only about one third of what happens to you in terms of your health is determined by your genetic pool. Two thirds is determined by what you do with what you were given. This startling revelation was the result of a study on several thousand identical twins who for one reason or another were raised in different homes and environments. Even more exciting is the observation that what you do to your body can be passed on genetically to your children. The apple really does not fall far from the tree. The message is loud and clear. Now is the time to get on to a healthier life style. Our book TriEnergetics gives you a six week program that is fun to do and will give amazing results. Look at it an do the program. We guarantee you will love the results. Go to our website at www.trienergetics.com for more information or order the book directly from a link on this blog. There is no better time than now for action.

Diets Don't Work

Diets don't work.

There is more confusion about how to eat than any other aspect of health. The media focuses on the latest fad diet: high protein and low fat this day, low protein and high carb the next; low carb high protein; moderate fat, moderate protein and so on. No wonder people are confused.

Then it gets worse, We hear about the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, the all-bran diet, the starvation diet, the drink my drink and look gorgeous tomorrow diet. It is enough to make your head swim.

The facts are really simple. On any diet you will lose weight temporarily. Then it will all come back unless there is a lifestyle change. This has been shown over and over again in rigorous scientific research. Most people refuse to believe this. They want a quick fix or a magic pill. They want to starve their body so that they will burn up the fat. This is wrong. Food is not the enemy. You must feed your body the energy it needs to live and to be strong.

If you eat the proper foods and the proper combinations, you can eat just about as much as you want. The weight will come off naturally. you can actually eat more food and still lose weight. In order to maximize results you need to exercise a bit and you need to learn to eat mindfully.

In our book TriEnergetics we will show you how your body processes the food you eat, so you will understand what your body really needs. We give you an easy to follow exercise program and teach you how to handle the stress in your life that contributes to food abuse and other health issues. Go to our website TriEnergetics.com for more information.

Grapefruit Juice and Wellness: Drug Interactions

Do you love your grapefruit juice? I do, but it's interesting to note that grapefruit juice and a number of commonly taken medicines don't mix.

Grapefruit and its juice can raise levels of certain drugs to a danger point. This is because grapefruit contains substances that disable an enzyme in the small intestine that would otherwise break down the drugs. This happens quickly and can last a day or longer. In other cases grapefruit juice can lower levels of a few drugs by reducing absorption.

Here are some drugs that don't mix with grapefruit:

1) cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as lipitor, mevacor and zocor;
2) high blood pressure drugs such as procardia;
3)tranquilizers such as valium, halcion and sonata;
4)antidepressants such as zoloft;
5)antihistamines such as allegra;
6)drugs for erectile dysfunction such as viagra and levitra

If you take any medications, and not necessarily only those mentioned above, ask your doctor or pharmacist about taking grapefruit juice. Many drugs carry a warning label if there is a problem with grapefruit; however the absence of a warning does not mean that there is no interaction with grapefruit.

Drink juice and be safe

Wellness and Shingles - A stress disease

We have recently seen several patients in our office who have shingles. This is an extremely painful ailment characterized by a blistering rash usually on the torso or face, and it can involve the eye. The relatives of these patients invariably ask whether the shingles is contagious. The answer is no. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you had chickenpox when you were a child, the virus remains dormant in your body for as long as you live. It can re-emerge later to cause shingles.

Usually the outbreak occurs in people who for one reason or another have a depressed immune system. If you have never had chicken pox, you can catch that from someone with shingles, but the virus is less easily transmitted from a shingles patient than from someone with chickenpox which is highly contagious.

There is a new vaccine for shingles approved for people 60 and over. It will prevent about half of all cases of shingles and will reduce the severity of an attack if it does occur.

Obesity and You

Are you satisfied that you are doing all that you can to be as healthy and have as much vitality and energy as you desire? Is being overweight a problem? Have you tried one of the fad diets, lost weight and then regained it plus maybe a few pounds more? If you answer yes and are stuck looking for a solution I have answers for you with a very effective medically endorsed program that I guaranteed to work and is fun to do. But first of all let me give you some facts.

The first problem is that we do not have an effective health care program in this country. We have what I have termed "sick care." This means to me that most people don't go to the doctor to build up their immune systems and stay healthy, rather they go when they are sick. We are putting the cart before the horse. The American life style is a problem. In this country we are first in spending on health care but second to last of the 13 wealthiest countries in average healthy days per year per person. 50 to 60% of Americans are overweight and greater than 60 million are obese carrying 2.5 billion pounds of fat. The percent of obese Americans has increased from 14% in 1980 to greater than 30% in 2000. The percent of obese children has doubled since 1980. The percent of obese adolescents has tripled. Furthermore for the first time in our history the life expectancy of our children is less than ours. This is a consequence of obesity that causes type II diabetes and other illnesses. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths annually, second only to smoking as a cause of death. The estimated cost to our health care system for obesity related illness is more than $100 billion a year.

Aren't these facts breathtaking? What is the solution? Obviously a change in lifestyle. But what do you change? How much do you need to exercise? Do you diet? What do you do about the stress in your life? How do you find the facts you need in a sea of information, advertisements and propaganda? We have studied this problem and done the homework for you. Besides my son and I, who are physicians, have consulted with a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, 2 psychologists and a zen master. Together we have constructed a six week program that will change your life. It is easy to follow, fun to do and can be started by anyone of any age, level of physical fitness, or of health. If you follow the program you will look better, feel younger, lose weight, have more energy, improve your sex drive, lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. We guarantee this because we have seen it happen over and over again in The TriEnergetics programs we have run. Does this interest you? I appreciate your comments.

For more information go to our website by using the link on this blog or go directly by using the address www.TriEnergetics.com.