5 Things You Should NEVER Say To Your Aging Parents

top10bp_032216

There comes a day when we realize that our old man is actually getting pretty old. (Moms are included, we just didn’t want to ruin the phrase). And just like how there’s a really long list of things that would be super inappropriate to say to kids, there’s a list of things that we should never say to older folks.

One thing to always keep in mind is that aging is a really hard process for some people. Sure, there are those in the world who make being 60 or 70 work and look super easy. They love the freedom and they’re in perfectly good health to be able to enjoy a glass of wine every Friday night while listening to some jazz. But for the majority of seniors, getting old sucks. Joints start hurting, it takes so much effort to walk from one place to another, memory recall is pretty much non-existent and friends are…well, let’s just say there aren’t very many friends anymore.

This coming holiday when you meet your parents for dinner, make sure that you remind yourself, your girlfriend/boyfriend, your husband/wife and your kids never, ever, ever to say these 6 things…

  1. “You make gray hair look so good!”

 

Gray hair is old hair. Sure, it suits some people better than others. But reminding someone that they’ve got silver hair is basically telling them how super old they are. And nobody wants to hear that.

  1. “Aww…you’re so cute!”

 

This seems okay at first, but it’s really not that nice….especially if you keep saying it over and over again. Old people know that they can be really adorable, but they also know that you’re just saying that as a polite way of calling them old and incapable. “Cute” and “adorable” are words you should use to describe young children, not your parents.

  1. “I just don’t think that’s very age-appropriate”

 

For God’s sake, let your folks do what they want. Being old and dealing with its consequences is hard enough, but having to hear your son tell you that the blouse you chose to wear today is “not age-appropriate” is a total let down.

  1. “That’s the 5th time you told me that today, mom.”

 

You’ve got to be patient with your kids and you’ve got to be patient with your parents. That’s right, being an adult sucks. But don’t worry, there will come a time when your kids will be the ones who have to deal with listening to your crap all the time too.

  1. “Seriously? How did you already forget that?”

It’s not very hard to understand that memory recall worsens with age. It’s the brain’s natural way of letting you know that you’re getting old. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.

While we’re on the topic on how to deal with your parents getting older, know that there are supplements available for seniors that can help boost energy, enhance memory and prevent the development of mental decay. You can start looking for one yourself (good luck…there are literally hundreds to choose from) or you can listen to the experts here and go with Lumonol Wisdom by Avanse Nutraceuticals. We got to know Wisdom because it is a product created by the same company that our board of Editors know and trust. Wisdom contains nootropic ingredients that boost and protect brain function, giving your parents the care they need for younger-feeling days ahead. We have a full review on Wisdom that you can checkout here

How Diet Can Alter Mood, Focus and Behavior in Children + BONUS Sample Menu

top10bp_041816-m

Your hyper child’s lack of focus in school and drastic mood swings may not necessarily be caused by their diet but can certainly be aggravated and worsened by it. Our goal is to make you more aware about the food you’re packing in the little one’s lunch box and serving on the dinner plate.

We’ve been raised to believe that eating according to the food pyramid is the best way to go. But make some quick visits on Google and you’ll be proven otherwise. The food pyramid emphasizes too much on starchy carbs and dairy and pays little attention to the serving of fruits. Thankfully, nutritionists and scientists all over the world have found better, healthier and more nutritional diet options. And amongst these options is the idea of adopting a brain-friendly diet.

Studies have shown that food may significantly affect children’s behavior, attention span, focus, mood swings and more. According to WebMD.com, Dr. Richard Sogn, M.D. claims that the optimal diet for children with attention issues (i.e. ADD/ADHD) is one that specifically focuses on benefiting the brain. (1)

 

So if you want to stop receiving phone calls from the school complaining about your child’s unseemly behavior, if you want to see a calmer and happier child at home, if you want your child to be focused and excel academically, remember that it all starts at home with what you put on their plates.

Let’s start by discussing the types of foods you should be avoiding:

  • Sugar

top10bp_041816-1

Surprise, surprise! Your super-hyper and super-fidgety child should very, very rarely be given foods with heavy amounts of refined sugar. That includes any kinds of sweets, candies, chocolate bars, cakes, muffins, and the lot. The kinds of food not only make your blood sugar levels go topsy-turvy throughout the day, but they have also been linked to brain fog and fuzzy thinking.

  • Artificial additives and colorants

top10bp_041816-2

Artificial colorants, additives and preservatives are much more toxic than you may think. Some of these chemicals, although viewed badly by the FDA, are unfortunately still legal to include in certain foods.

Studies have shown that specific food colorants may cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, hyperactivity and lack of focus in children. The FDA does require manufacturers to list the additives they’ve used on the supplement facts label, making it easier for us to differentiate between the bad and the good.

Next time you buy any kind of packaged foods, look under the “Other ingredients” section and watch out for the following names:

  • Colorants:

FD&C Blue (1,2), Yellow (tartrazine), Green (3), Red (3,40), Orange, Citrus (2). (2)

  • Preservatives:

BHA, BHT, TBHQ and sodium nitrate. (2)

Be aware that these additives aren’t only present in foods but may also show up in toothpaste, energy drinks, cake mixes, gelatin and more.

Now let’s discuss the types of foods you should be

seeking:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids

top10bp_041816-3

Studies upon studies continue to show the benefits of an omega-3 fat rich diet on children. Kids apparently aren’t getting enough of these fatty acids, which are important for both brain development and optimal mental performance. More specifically, higher intake of EPA (one of the two main types of fatty acids) has been linked with improved focus, better memory and enhanced learning skills. BBCGoodFood.com claims that the best source of these fatty acids is oily fish, including tuna, salmon and mackerel. Other kinds of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are walnuts and flaxseeds. (3)

  • Complex carbs and grains with low GI

top10bp_041816-4

You should be aiming for complex carbohydrates and wholegrains that have a low score on the GI (glycaemic index). Both these kinds of foods stabilize blood sugar levels instead of spiking them, leading to better mood and focus. (3)

  • Complex Carbs: vegetables and fruits!
  • Low GI: Soy, pasta, porridge, wholegrain cereals, wholegrain breads, low-fat milk, sweet potatoes.

Here are a few other things to

consider:

  • Salicylates

top10bp_041816-5

Dr. Benjamin Feingold, M.D., was a California-based pediatric doctor who brought forth this idea that salicylates make kids hyper, which in turn leads to poor focus and worsened ADHD symptoms. (4)

Although the theory has yet been confirmed, some kids have been reported to have better focus and mood once salicylates have been eliminated from their diet. If your child is often hyper and has poor concentration then you may want to consider preventing salicylates for a few weeks or months, to evaluate whether or not this particular diet works.

Here’s a list of foods that are high in salicylates:

  • Apricots, grapes, pineapples, tomato, capsicum, white vinegar.

Here’s a list of foods that are low in salicylates (the golden picks!):

  • Garlic, cashew nuts, apples, bananas, pears, celery, chickpeas, lentils.

You can get much longer and more detailed lists by going on a search engine and looking for “foods with low GI.”

  • Magnesium deficiencies

top10bp_041816-6

Studies have shown that kids with ADHD that are magnesium deficient are more prone to being hyperactivity and having poor attention spans. Magnesium is a nutrient that our brains need to keep calm, so children with attention issues are recommended to supplement with magnesium. (5)

  • Nootropic supplementation

top10bp_041816-7.jpg

A lot of parents have tried using safe and natural nootropic supplements to help their kids stay focused, calm and happy. Nootropics are ingredients that help enhance mental performance and most can be ordered online without a doctor’s prescription. They are becoming increasingly popular because they are highly effective but also very safe, meaning they do not cause side effects.

Top-rated nootropic supplements for children are L-Theanine, Phosphatidylserine, Rhodiola Rosea and Inositol. All these ingredients are packed in at proper dosages for children in the supplement Lumonol Prep. Lumonol Prep is manufactured by one of the leading supplement companies in the country, so you can rest assured that you are buying from trustworthy hands. You can buy the product RISK-FREE because the company offers a 90-day money back guarantee, no questions asked.

We have reviewed the ingredients in the product extensively and we’ve seen the spectacular results that it brings to kids aged 8+. To get a bottle of Lumonol Prep, head over to their official website.

As much as we want to help you create a better diet for your child with this article, we can’t exactly give you a day-by-day meal plan because that would be a little bit unrealistic. Besides, the meals you give to your kids really depend on where you live, where you come from, how much your budget is and a bunch of other factors. However, we do want to give you a very clear idea of what an ideal meal for your child should look like, which is why we’ve created a sample menu! We obviously don’t recommend that you create the exact meals in the sample menu every single day, but you can certainly use it as a foundation. So if you’ve cooked chicken and potatoes today then you may want to switch it up with fish and rice tomorrow.

Sample Menu

Breakfast:

  • Wholegrain toast with avocado slices and flaxseeds
  • A banana
  • Low-fat milk

Lunch:

  • Smoked salmon and low-fat cheese on wholegrain toast
  • Sticks of fresh celeries and carrots
  • Water
  • Lumonol Prep supplement

Dinner:

  • Grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and carrots
  • Whole-wheat bread (optional)
  • Water

So there you have it! Refer back to this article to remind yourself of the foods you should be avoiding, the foods you should be seeking, and the supplements you should be buying for your child. In order to see fast improvements in your child’s focus and mood, we highly recommend that you get a high quality nootropic supplement, such as Lumonol Prep. They’ve worked great on kids with attention issues, mood swings and hyperactivity. The purchase would also be RISK-FREE because it comes with a 90-day money back guarantee…so you have no reason to back out! Click here to go directly to Lumonol Prep’s page.

Selank: A Review

Selank is a neuropeptide with pronounced anxiolytic and —in a lesser extent— nootropic effects. The drug has been developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and its benefits have already been proven in humans. Selank modulates the expression and balance of Interleukin-6 and T helper cell cytokines, which play a key role in the healthy maintenance of the human immune system. Moreover, it has been shown to influence the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters, and induce metabolism of serotonin. Thus, Selank has also been found to potentiate the expression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of rats.

Selank is a particularly appealing nootropic for users who have experienced depression and anxiety and hence are looking for neuroprotection and long-lasting results.

Depression and anxiety. Experiments in vitro have revealed that the drug suppresses gene expression by peripheral blood of patients with depression . At the same time, the significant spontaneous increase of the drug concentration was observed in the cell culture of peripheral blood of patients in the presence of selank. The changes of the cytokine balance in vivo were found in the serum of patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and neurasthenia who received Selank during 14 days. Though unexpected, the dynamics of these changes had the significant inverse correlation dependence. The cytokine regulating effects revealed in the study suggest that selank can be used as a novel yet safer immunomodulator in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders.

Thus, sixty-two patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and neurasthenia were studied in Russia. The effect of selank (30 patients) was compared to that of medazepam (32 patients), a common used benzodiazepine. Patient’s state was assessed with psychometric scales and enkephalin activity in the blood serum was measured as well. The anxiolytic effects of both drugs were similar but selank had also antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects. The clinical-biological study revealed that patients with GAD and neurasthenia had the decreased level of certain enkephalins which were correlated with disease duration, severity of symptoms related to anxiety and asthenia and autonomic disorders. The increase of this parameter and stronger positive correlations with anxiety level were observed during the treatment with selank mostly in patients with GAD .

Alcohol withdrawal. In this study , the effects of selling on the development of symptoms of acute 48-h alcohol withdrawal in outbred rats drinking 10 % ethanol as the only source of fluid for 24 weeks were analyzed. The findings suggest that selank could be effective in eliminating of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in rats.

Neuroprotector. Selank restored cognitive processes disordered by chronic artificial inhibition of the cerebral catecholaminergic system in rats . The ability of the peptide compensated for mnestic dysfunction caused by the administration of a protein inhibitor. Selank prevented or compensated for the damage, induced violation of the process of acquisition, and consolidation of memory trace during the development of a complex site reflex. Thus, it has been shown that the peptide anxiolytic drug Selank recovers learning and memory impaired by damage of the specific noradrenergic brain system in Wistar rats after injection of neurotoxic compounds. The main component of the Selank action was the stimulation of the search reflex aimed to distinguish an adequate adaptive response in the first trials of the learning session. The enhancement of memory consolidation and retrieval shows evidence for stimulation of the brain motivation mechanisms impaired by the NA system damage.

Long duration. Though costly for some, the anxiolytic and nootropic effect of Selank seems to last for a while. In this study , its cognitive benefits lasted for a week after last receiving a single dose of the peptide, producing a positive impact on the quality of life of the patients. Furthermore, in this another study , a single injection of selank activated the metabolism of 5-HT in the hypothalamus and caudal brain stem for 30 min to 2 h. Hence, It was established that selank induces an increase in memory trace stability during 30 days. These findings provide direct evidence that selank, when injected during consolidation phase, can enhance memory storage processes in the short and long-term.
Good luck!

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: How Does it Affect the Brain?

What is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that maintains our neurological health and well being. Our bodies do not naturally produce Vitamin B12, so it is absolutely vital that we get it from other sources such as food or supplements. I personally was not concerned about my daily Vitamin B12 intake until I heard about how dangerous a deficiency can be. Vitamin B12 helps to compose our DNA and red blood cells. It also plays a major role in creating and maintaining the health of our nerve cells. More specifically, our nerve cells have a fatty substance around them called myelin sheath. Myelin allows proper nerve cell communication – without it, important cognitive functions such as memory and learning would be impaired.

Neurological Damages

Although a deficiency in Vitamin B12 is not common amongst younger people, the risk increases with age. Chances of deficiency are also higher if you are vegan/vegetarian, as you are not consuming Vitamin B12 from meat products.

So how can you tell if you have Vitamin B12 deficiency? Well, a blood test would have to be done to get proper results. If you noticed any of the following symptoms, however, you may want to consider consulting your doctor or taking a Vitamin B12 supplement:

• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Lack of appetite, diarrhea, constipation
• Mental problems such as depression, memory loss
• Muscle weakness
• Vision loss

How much Vitamin B12 should I take to prevent deficiency?

If you want to boost your cognitive abilities and reach your fullest potential, then you have to take into account every single aspect of your life (including and ESPECIALLY your diet!). While exercise and training are very important, paying attention to your dietary needs could completely change your life for the better. In order to avoid Vitamin B12, make sure you eat enough meat, poultry and seafood. If you are not a meat-eater then take Vitamin B12 supplements ¬– a daily dose of 25 mcg is recommended. If you’re interested to boost your cognitive function even more then you may want to consider trying one of our Editors’ Top Choices such as Lumonol, which thankfully packs Vitamin B12.

Learn another Language to Prevent Aging

Guaranteed – whether it has already happened, or it has yet to happen – there will be one instance in your life where you forget something extremely trivial, whether you left your keys in the freezer, or you learn that you can’t remember your second daughter’s birthday, you realize that your memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be.

That’s around when you start taking steps to improve your memory, as your brain simply isn’t as ‘well-oiled’ as it used to be. Maybe you start playing more games that involve critical thinking or start eating more brain-nutrition food. These all might work, but while you’re at it, consider learning another language – studies show that it improve cognition and might just delay dementia.

Apparently, according to the study, those that have been exposed to and have learned at least 2 languages have also reportedly had less degradation of their cognitive abilities with age. Their findings found that those who have learned a second language before the age of 18 performed a lot better. However, interestingly, those who have learned a second language even later in life were still able to perform better in cognitive performance tests. Compared to those who have only spoken one language all their life, these people are able to do so much better.

Additionally, it’s been suggested by the study as well that learning another language protects the brain in a way that prevents brain diseases and other kinds of brain disorders.

So if you’re having troubles remembering things, or feel like your memory isn’t as good as it used to be, out of your entire list of things that you should be doing to make your brain sharper, why not add this one?

Reinvigorate Your Motivation!

It might be at the end of a recent challenging project, or the end of the week, or you’re simply feeling burnt out – there will definitely be times when you’re slacking and you feel unmotivated to do any work at all. This might be acceptable in certain places, but in some stricter offices, you really need to deliver on certain tasks that need to be fulfilled by the end of the day.

You might just feel that you need to quit. From experience, there Friday afternoons are when the feeling sets in, when it’s already three thirty, and you’ve only just began a new project an hour ago. You realize you won’t have enough time to finish it before of the day, and so your demotivated self doesn’t do anything for the rest of the day.

Not only are you in risk of getting caught not doing anything, but if you’re fishing for a raise or a promotion, you’re definitely not going to get it.

There are a few things you can do to get your motivation up, though. There are certainly many ways, such as breaking big goals down to smaller ones, saving the smaller, easier tasks for the afternoon, and there are a few other ways as well. What works best depends of course on the person, but one great way is to ask yourself three questions:

  1. Why do I want to achieve this? Write down 5 reasons why you must ABSOLUTELY, POSTIVELY HAVE to finish this task.
  2. How will I feel when I have finished this? Think about just how awesome you’re going to feel when you finally get everything finished, and have overcome every single obstacle. VICTORY!!!!!
  3. What will it cost me in 10 years’ time if I give up? Feel the emotions of defeat, sorrow, and worthlessness that you would feel if you have failed in this. It can be as exaggerated as possible.

Now, after pondering about these three things,

GET TO WORK, AND BLAST IT AWAY TO OBLIVION!!!

Ancient Food, Modern Cognitive Benefits

For this story, we want you to transport your brain back in time 2,000 years ago. Picture yourself somewhere on the Mediterranean. The waves are lapping up on the shore, temperatures are in the mid-70s, it is a sunny day, and you are feeling good. The beautiful climate matches the excellent food you are about to eat – a plate full of hummus, a salad with an olive oil and vinegar dressing, and a glass of red wine. While there are hundreds of foods that can technically classify as being part of a Mediterranean diet, most Med foods can be thought of as being fruit, vegetables, fish, and poultry. All of these foods are good for you. The health benefits of Mediterranean food are well known, but how about the cognitive benefits?

A recent study consisting of over 15,000 participants, aged 45 and older, lasting for 4 years, showed that those who followed a Mediterranean diet for those 4 years were 20% less likely to develop cognitive problems. These problems that Med food eaters avoided include dementia, memory loss, and an overall foggy brain. Those who somewhat followed the Mediterranean diet were somewhat less likely to develop these issues, and the control group – people who did not follow a Med diet – developed cognitive impairments at a standard rate.

Not surprisingly, this study was fronted by a professor from a Mediterranean nation – Greece. In Athens, being able to conduct such a large study on this cuisine is easier than in other parts of the world, making this study unique. The benefits of eating in this way have been well-documented, and this latest news regarding cognitive health is another reason to quit the dairy and meat consumption and instead grab some chick peas and tabbouleh. Even if you do not live close to the Mediterranean Sea, you can easily pick up the necessary ingredients at your local grocery store.

Diabetes Shrinks the Brain

If you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, and can’t go a day without munching on a candy bar, maybe this article might just make you reconsider your eating habits. While eating a lot of sweets and other high-carb food, it might be a good idea to watch your daily intake as these types of food may lead to health complications, of which the most problematic would be diabetes.

However, as controllable as diabetes might be, just having the condition might lead to greater complications as well. In a recent study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found out that that having Type 2 diabetes might make a person more prone to brain degeneration. In the MRI scans that they conducted, it was found that for every 10 years that a person suffers from diabetes, their brain will become two years older than those without diabetes.

When a brain ages, it shrinks, and when afflicted with diabetes, the brain shrinks faster.

Furthermore, the scientists found out via MRI scans that patients with more severe form of Type 2 diabetes suffered from this sort of brain degeneration even more than those who weren’t afflicted with the disease. Most humans lose about 1.5-2 cubic cm of brain volume each year, and apparently, diabetic patients lost twice that.

The scientists were able to keep up with patients that were 15 years earlier, and compared it with those of patient’s that have only been diagnosed for 4 years. Upon analyzing, it was found that the former had significantly less gray matter than the latter.

Previous studies have shown the link between diabetes and brain degeneration. However, it was formerly believed that diabetes only reduced blood flow to the brain, and that the shrinking of brain mass was not involved.

There are still several questions on how diabetes and brain tissue are linked. However, at the moment, there is still much research to be conducted. One thing that was thought to was whether a reduction in sugar will also produce the inverse effect – preventing brain loss.

However for the moment, it would be advisable for anyone who wish to keep their brain as sharp as it possibly can be to reduce their sugar intake, at least to reasonable amounts.

Different Exercise for Different Regions of the Brain

The brain likes when we exercise regularly. Its memory and focus functions are much sharper when we are able to get at least 20 minutes of exercise per day. This is a well-researched fact, and most people concerned about their cognitive health realize that they must also exercise to stay sharp. Proven in lab tests back in the 1990s, lab rats who were able to run on exercise wheels every day also showed significant growth in the area of the brain responsible for memory creation and retention.

While these facts about exercise are widely accepted in the neuroscience and medical communities, what has not been widely known is how certain types of exercise affect certain regions of the brain. Does running every day affect the brain differently than lifting weights every day? How about simple stretching and toning exercises – do these also benefit the brain? In order to find the answers, researchers at the University of British Columbia conducted some interesting tests.

These tests involved a group of women who had reported minor cognitive impairment – this condition is characterized by simple forgetfulness or inability to piece things together. For example, these women had trouble remembering where their car keys were or how they met their friend’s husband the first time. A sharp mind does not have trouble processing such things. One group of women was given the order to take up power walking for 6 months, the second group was ordered to do weight lifting for 6 months, and the final group was tasked with toning and stretching. The results found that the women who ran or lifted weights improved their verbal memory and deep cognitive memory. The women who just stretched did not experience improvements to their memories. Again, exercise does wonders for cognitive development.

The Discovery of Grid Cells in the Brain

Previously, we wrote about how grid cells are used by the human brain to help us understand where we are in relation to ourselves and our surroundings. This sort of awareness helps humans be able to create maps in their brains, and these maps help us find our way in new surroundings. In the previous article, however, the origins of grid cells was not discussed. In order to fully understand how the human brain creates these maps, it is important to look back at the very discovery of grid cells in lab rats.

Since the 1970s, neuroscientists have known about brain cells that help animals figure out where they are in relation to places they had been before. Usually, this was tested in animals like rats, fruit flies, and certain birds. They can remember where the door to the cage is, where the food dispensing machine is, and where their favorite nesting tree in Michigan is. This animal instinct was known, but the exact location of the brain cells responsible for this was not. Fast forward 35 years to 2005, and to a group of neuroscience researchers, led by married scientists the Mosers, who found these brain cells. The newly-named grid cells were proven to help the brain constantly create maps of one’s surroundings. It helps animals remember where they just were, where they are going, and approximate distances between these places.

For healthy, fully-functioning animals, these grid cells perform a vital purpose. However, it is these very cells that are usually damaged from certain age-related diseases. Being able to prevent this aging and degradation of these grid cells means that scientists would be able to essentially extend the useful lives of this group of brain cells. Further research pinpointed the grid cells in human brains, and clinical trials are currently ongoing to learn more.