MariaC, Author at Your body ~ Your brain ~ Your diet

How Collagen Can Help Protect You From Alzheimer’s

February 26, 2024February 26, 2024 MariaC Alzheimer's disease, autophagy, Blood-brain barrier, bone broth, dementia, fascia

There are more than 20 different types of collagen. Connective tissue contains mainly types I, II and III. Hair and skin contain mainly type 1 collagen, and this is the type used in cosmetic products. Types IV and V are found in internal organs. Type VI is the one that plays a special role in the brain.
Collagen VI, it turns out, is a crucial part of the brain’s defence system. It is found abundantly in, and gives structure to, the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is the membrane that controls the substances that pass from general circulation into the brain, in the same way that the gut barrier controls what passes from gut to circulation. Collagen also has an antioxidant, protective effect against free radicals generated by oxidative stress. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause extensive damage to tissues if not kept in check by antioxidants.

General health

How to Repair Your Liver

February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 MariaC cytochrome p450, glutathione, liver detox, metabolic syndrome, NAFLD

The liver is a thing of wonder, the multi-tasker par excellence. It creates, destroys, alchemises, cleanses, sifts and filters its way through whatever you throw at it, without ever taking a break.

It rarely makes a fuss, and can put up with a great deal before it starts to rumble. So you may not notice when it is functioning below par, or has started to accumulated fat.

There are two things you need to do to show your liver some love: clear and strengthen your detox pathways, and reduce any fattiness you may have accumulated in that region.

Digestive health

Cut Down on Your Fruit and Vegetables

December 20, 2023February 13, 2024 MariaC coeliac disease, Crohn's, FODMAP, IBS, Irritable bowel syndrome, leaky brain, leaky gut, oxalates, SIBO

Sometimes I tell a client that they should remove much of the fruit and vegetable content from their diet. Plus all those beans, lentils, nuts and seeds they are convinced are the path to health and longevity. From their expression it is immediately clear that they are in a mild state of confusion and wondering what sort of nutritionist I am. I go on to explain my rationale, and they leave reassured.

About a week or so later, they get in touch to let me know just how much better they feel.

Feed Your Brain General health

Why You Should Always Choose the Full-Fat Option

December 11, 2023February 13, 2024 MariaC Butyrate, CLA, Crohn's, IBD, ketogenic diet, MCTs, saturated fat, SCFAs

In order to eat a wholefood diet, you need to eat the whole food I recently bought a tub of

Feed Your Brain

How Coffee Helps Prevent Dementia

December 7, 2023February 16, 2024 MariaC 0 Comments Alzheimer's, autophagy, dementia

Not your usual detox product, but a good one. Full disclosure: I’m a coffee lover so I’ll say anything good

Feed Your Brain

Some dementias are reversible. You just need to recognise the clues

April 11, 2023February 13, 2024 MariaC myelopathy, nitrous oxide, Vegan diet, vitamin B12

Here’s a quick quiz question for you. What do laughing gas and a vegan diet have in common?
The answer is dementia and permanent damage to the central nervous system if the source of problem – vitamin B12 deficiency – is not addressed in time.

Digestive health

Got IBS? Why It Might Really Be Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

April 11, 2023April 11, 2023 MariaC hypochlorhydria, IBS, microbiome

I probably see more clients with IBS than anything else: approximately 10%-20% of people are affected. Despite having had a battery of tests, including colonoscopy, endoscopy, and blood assays for various diseases such as coeliac and Crohn’s, these people have rarely been offered a test for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Yet up to 80% of people with IBS are estimated to have SIBO. If you don’t look for it, you won’t find it. So what is it?

Feed Your Brain

Drugs, Diet, and Dementia: How to Prevent Memory Loss

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023 MariaC AGEs, Alzheimer's, glycation, homocysteine, lecanemab, mild cognitive impairment, vitamin B12

Great news: a new Alzheimer’s drug was recently proven to slow down memory loss in people at the early stages of the disease.

Also great news: there are several dietary interventions that are also proven to slow down memory loss in people at the early stages of the disease.

General health

Men: Your Sperm Count is Plummeting

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023 MariaC DHA, lycopene, selenium, testicular cancer, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc

A paper published in November 2022 describes data from 223 international studies that reveal that sperm count across the globe has decreased by more than half over the last fifty years. According to the team of scientists who made this discovery, humanity faces a “fertility crisis.”
You might take the view that — what with eight billion of us already on the planet — the situation is more of a solution than a problem. However, as well as being highly distressing for couples struggling to conceive, low sperm count is associated with a number of male health issues, including testicular cancer, and all-cause mortality.

Feed Your Brain

Why You Crave Carbohydrates

November 28, 2022November 28, 2022 MariaC dopamine, Food addiction, glycemic index, reward centre

I recently went to a local Christmas craft fair. It was delightful, in a tinsel-tat sort of way. The food stall was the main attraction, for me, so I quickly made my way over, hoping to discover something new and special. Alas no, it was the usual cake fest. Don’t get me wrong: there’s no denying the artistry of the craft. But there’s also no denying the artistry of how sugar creates cravings that lead to overeating, however pretty the presentation.

The one, non-sugary offering was artisanal bread. I rarely eat bread, or indeed any starchy carbohydrate, but it did look very good, in a homespun way. I wasn’t alone in my thinking. Mr Cross suggested we buy a loaf and keep it in the freezer, “for guests”. I know a cunning ruse when I hear one, but on this occasion I willingly played along.