Berberine corrects brain chemistry in anxiety and PTSD
Introduction: One of the most exciting natural products in current medical research is berberine, an alkaloid found in goldenseal root, barberry bark, Oregon grape root, and coptis (goldthread) root. I previously wrote a newsletter back in 2015 titled “Berberine: An...
Smell Test Outperforms Brain Imaging in Predicting Dementia
Introduction: The ability to correctly identify odors may prove to be a more functional approach to identifying people at risk for early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Currently, physicians have to rely on expensive medical imaging (CT, MRI, or PET scans) to look...
New Research Shows Synergy with Omega-3 Fatty Acids and B Vitamins in Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
Introduction: The human brain is a marvelously complex system that requires a wide range of nutrients to function properly. Intelligence, memory, behavior and concentration are all influenced by proper brain nutrition. Young or old, our nutritional status plays a...
Double-Blind Study Shows Resveratrol May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Introduction: Resveratrol is a plant compound similar to flavonoids. It is found in low levels in the skin of red grapes, red wine, cocoa powder, baking chocolate, dark chocolate, peanuts, and mulberry. Red wine is perhaps the most recognized source of resveratrol,...
New Study Adds to the Evidence that Alzheimer’s Disease is “Diabetes of the Brain”
Introduction: The parallel epidemics of Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes share many common features. Chief among them are insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. In fact, some researchers have referred to Alzheimer’s disease as diabetes of the brain and...Welcome
July is National Blueberry Month
On May 8, 1999 the United States Department of Agriculture proclaimed July as National Blueberry Month. It is fitting that July is the month of celebration given the importance of blueberries in American history and the fact that the United States produces over 90% of all of the blueberries in the world.
Blueberries are among the most important foods for good health. The diverse and wondrous health benefits of blueberries are primarily due to their high content of specialized pigments known as anthocyanins. These special flavonoids are responsible for the deep blue or purple color of blueberries.
Currently, the most popular medical use of blueberries is their use in improving vision and protecting against age-related macular degeneration. Additional research also points out that blueberries may be protective against the development of cataracts and glaucoma, and quite therapeutic in the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and peptic ulcers.
Another very practical application of the antioxidant activity of blueberries is in the protection against Alzheimer’s disease and age related cognitive decline. In animal studies researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, when older rats were given the human equivalent of 1 cup of blueberries a day they demonstrated significant improvements in both learning capacity and motor skills, making them mentally equivalent to much younger rats. When the rats’ brains were examined, the brain cells of the rats given blueberries were found to communicate more effectively than those of the other older rats that were not given blueberries.
While blueberries are an excellent food, a blueberry concentrate with all the anthocyanin-power of fresh picked blueberries is a convenient way to gain all of the health benefits. Two 500 mg capsules of a 36:1 blueberry concentrate is equivalent to ¼ cup of fresh blueberries. For general health, take two capsules daily.
For more information, please see the completely revised and updated 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
On the Dr Oz show
On the show I discussed the failure of conventional medicine to address the underlying issues in many health conditions offering little more than drugs as biochemical “band aids.”
