Feed Your Brain

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.

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.

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.

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.

Feed Your Brain

This Is What Happens To Your Brain When You Cut Out Carbohydrates

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022 MariaC bipolar, ketogenic diet, low carbohydrate, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia

Treatment for mental health conditions is not always effective. Sometimes the meds work, sometimes they don’t. When they don’t, science has to look beyond the usual parameters for the solutions needed.

That’s why, between 2019 and 2020, French psychiatrists carried out an experiment on adults with “severe, persistent mental illness”. These various illnesses included major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. Their symptoms had responded poorly to intensive drug treatment.

Feed Your Brain

How to Combat Depression… With Fat

June 27, 2022September 1, 2022 MariaC bipoloar, Depression, DHA, EPA, MDD

The human brain is often likened to a computer. I don’t know why; it’s nothing like a computer. Break open a head and you will see that the organ within is just a lump of wobbly fat. Yet it took millions of years of human evolutionary biology to fine tune that lardy lump. It runs entirely on what you feed it.
The dry weight of the brain is 60% fat. The rest of it is cholesterol (also very important) and protein (ditto). No other organ contains so much fat or needs it so much. Without it, the brain simply cannot function.

Feed Your Brain

BDNF: The Brain Protein That Protects From Depression

April 27, 2022September 1, 2022 MariaC brain derived neurotrophic factor, branched-chain amino acids, depressive disorder, Intermittent fasting, major depressive disorder

This protein is involved in the process of creating new neurons and is crucial for their protection and survival. It is involved in brain plasticity and regulates inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters.

BDNF is very much involved in maintaining mood.

Without sufficient BDNF, you are at risk of, among others, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder. The lower the BDNF level, the more severe the symptoms.

Feed Your Brain

How To Stop Your Brain From Shrinking

March 29, 2022September 1, 2022 MariaC atrophy, hippocampus, mild cognitive impairment

It takes around 20 years to grow a complete human brain, from newborn baby to mature adult. Careful nurturing is a wise, lifelong investment. Although a little shrinkage is to be expected, with age, anything beyond that puts you at risk of memory loss and eventually dementia.