Happy Noo Year!

See what I did there? It’s not a typo, or my attempt at the jargon of the day or that I’m just saying Noooo! in an emphatic way to avoid ringing in 2018.

This blog is to introduce a new word to your vocabulary. Nootropic.

Nootropics are nutrients or drugs used to enhance memory and cognitive function. From the Greek, Noos means mind and trope means turning. The word nootrope from the French, came on the scene beginning around 1970, Nootropic is the term now accepted in the world of modern neuroscience.

Mind turning? Mind-blowing, really! For decades it has been generally accepted that memory loss, diminished cognition, Alzheimer’s, and dementia were inevitable once it had begun. We now know and have seen improvement and recovery from these conditions when applying nootropic factors to patients treatment.

In 1971, a drug of the racetam class, Piracetam was developed as a sleeping pill but was found to not help uniformly with sleep and was discarded for this purpose. But the compelling side effects of enhanced memory and recovery from neurological damage helped it to survive and thrive as a nootropic medication.
Racetams became an intriguing and relatively safer drug for those who may have turned to Adderal, amphetamines or other addictive medications to improve their cognitive edge.

The racetam drug class works by helping to retain acetylcholine in the brain and improve memory functioning. They are prescribed but can be bought online and are frequently seen in “stacks” the multi-nutrient protocols that are used by bodybuilders and anti-aging advocates.
That is not to say that they are without usage issues. They can treat a headache but can also cause them. One theory is that without enough choline in the brain the nootropic drugs continue to drive a system that does not have what it needs to work well. Other users have noted that it’s hard to find the right dose and they go through cycles of improved memory and times of having to take a break or readjust their daily dose.
In these cases, it’s important to work with a licensed healthcare provider to find the right dose and co-factors to mitigate problems.

These pharmaceutical nootropics may work well for some but there are foundational ways to treat memory loss and possibly reverse the march into the more serious diagnoses of memory loss, Alzheimer’s, and dementia.

The big picture in memory issues includes nutrition, digestion, exercise, metabolism, and stress. Everything matters and compartmentalizing issues in your health picture will not give you lasting results. Food choices and stress are the first items to address. Better nutrition and utilization of methods to reduce stress and improve enjoyment in life can be life-saving and brain-saving!
Symptoms of food sensitivity will often express as brain fog, racing thoughts or irritability.

Stress

It’s not enough to say ‘I’m not gonna stress’ or ‘I can handle this’. You need a method, a discipline so to speak to treat stress. Everyone is unique and what you choose will be what works for you, if you apply it. It may be vigorous or relaxing exercise, time with family, prayer, active faith, volunteering, yoga, tai chi, meditation. I recommend starting the day, every day, with contemplation and meditation to align the activities of the rest of your day. Then you are ahead of the game when challenged by ever lurking stressors and unexpected demands. There is a reason why many productive and creative civilizations and cultures had morning and evening time set aside for contemplation.
When life’s just not going right, you can align. You can align your life.

Diet

If you are determined to change your life for better health/improved brain power a great place to start is diet. This is best done on an individual basis but there are some very basic guidelines that work for everyone. Clean out your pantry, kitchen shelves, refrigerator, and freezer. Remove packaged processed foods with artificial ingredients.  For a great summary look here:
https://www.ewg.org/research/ewg-s-dirty-dozen-guide-food-additives?utm_campaign=Social+Traffic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=1516652594#.Wm6JqyOZPMJ

Now you have room to store health-supporting goodies. Be cautious before you stock up as so many manufacturers are using the terms ‘natural’ or ‘gluten-free’ to sell inferior products. Your naturopathic doctor can get you started on a good eating plan and help navigate through the myriad of “natural health food” on the market today.

Think about this, fresh foods don’t have long ingredient lists! Broccoli is broccoli! Carrots are carrots! Wild salmon is salmon! What a concept!

Detoxification

Detoxification occurs when the appropriate nutrients and cofactors enable elimination systems to work properly. It’s a natural process! A diet rich in natural vegetable fiber, co-factors; b-vitamins magnesium, potassium, CoQ10 are examples of basic items needed to keep the natural detoxification wheels spinning. Ask your doctor to help with a detailed treatment plan for health complaints.

Exercise

It’s equivocal that with the decline of one’s mobility, cognition and memory are often affected. Get your respiration and blood moving then healthy nutrients can reach and enliven the brain, the heart, and all systems.
When physical debilities seem to impede there is always a way to exercise. ‘Youtube’ has endless offerings of specialized exercise and physical therapy videos that will lead you step-by-step to improved health. Ask your naturopathic doctor for recommendations.

Environmental Exposure

Heavy metal exposure has been identified as neurotoxic. Exposure, inhalation, and ingestion of chemicals and components found in household goods should also be avoided.  Mold exposure can lead to cognitive and neurological symptoms. Testing recommended by your doctor for toxic elements that become stored in your body is a good way to acquire an individualized diagnosis and treatment plan.

Neuro Nutrients and Herbs

Research supports that choline, acetyl l-carnitine, B-12 methyl and methyl folate are nutrients that address brain performance and protection. Your naturopathic doctor will discuss what might be the best plan for you.

Botanicals like gingko improve circulation, especially in the brain. Bacopa an Ayurvedic herb, the common name being Brahmi, is used for memory loss, Alzheimer’s, ADHD and many other symptoms. Rosemary improves memory, especially through the olfactory senses and as a scalp massage.

Lions Mane is a mushroom and relatively new on the scene supported as a cognitive and mood enhancing nootropic.

This is a quick but comprehensive summary of how the science of memory has come along to treat and maintain good brain health and what you can do to retain and nourish your most important organ, your brain!  Call today to schedule a consult and get started with a Good Noo Year!