March 13, 2008

Dear Friend,

Most doctors believe that deterioration of mental function is an inevitable consequence of aging and that nothing can be done to arrest or reverse it.

It’s true that, as with every organ and system in your body, your brain undergoes age-related changes. Levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters decline, as does delivery of vital oxygen and nutrients. In addition, the brain actually shrinks. After reaching its maximum weight in young adulthood, brain weight and volume steadily decline as neurons, or brain cells, die. (This isn’t as dire as it sounds because you have billions of neurons, and the remaining ones are usually able to take over.)

But none of this dooms you to cognitive decline as you get older. There are things you can do to maintain your memory, focus, and mental creativity throughout life.

Use It Or Lose It

Use it or lose is an appropriate saying when it comes to keeping your mind sharp. After all, using your brain stimulates neural pathways, building new connections between neurons and reinforcing existing ones. The more often a thought or mental activity is repeated, the more numerous the connections along that pathway become. This continual building makes for a more adaptive brain with a greater repertoire of responses. Even the older brain is extremely flexible, and has the ability to reroute and establish new connections when areas of the brain are damaged by age-related shrinkage, strokes, disease, or head trauma.

Here are a few healthy brain teasers that can help you increase these connections…and have a little fun in the process!

Ten Teasers for a Healthy Brain

Test your knowledge, and exercise your brain at the same time. Click here for answers.

1. Your brain weighs:
   
   
1. 3 pounds
2. 4 pounds
3. 5 pounds
4. 6 pounds
   
   
2. The four cavities that make up your brain are called:
   
   
1. Dentricles
2. Icicles
3. Ventricles
4. Ventis
   
   
3. The brain stem is also known as the:
   
   
1. amphibian brain
2. reptilian brain
3. mammalian brain
4. arthropidian brain
   
   
4. The area of your brain that processes memories is called the:
   
   
1. Thalamus
2. Hippocampus
3. Hypothalamus
4. Cerebellum
   
   
5. The neurotransmitter that stimulates your brain and affects mood, memory, and sex drive is:
   
   
1. Norepinephrine
2. GABA
3. Dopamine
4. Serotonin
   
   
6. Your brain’s preferred, and almost exclusive, source of energy is:
   
   
1. Glucose
2. Dextrose
3. Xylose
4. Chocolate
   
   
7. The most important B vitamin for proper functioning of the brain is:
   
   
1. B3
2. B5
3. B6
4. B12
   
   
8. Antioxidants help protect your brain as you age by fighting:
   
   
1. Free protons
2. Free neutrons
3. Free conservatives
4. Free radicals
   
   
9. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are particularly important for brain health because 50 percent of the brain is composed of fat. Which of the following foods is not a good source of EFAs?
   
   
1. Flaxseed
2. Almonds
3. Brown rice
4. Cold-water fish
   
   
10. Which of the following activities is least conducive to keeping your brain active and engaged?
    
    
1. Listening to classical music
2. Watching an educational TV program
3. Playing chess
4. Memorizing your favorite poem

Bonus Question: A doctor gives a woman a box of Forward Plus Daily Regimen. The woman is the doctor’s sister, but the doctor is not the woman’s brother. How can this be?

* * *

In addition to using the brain exercises above, you can also keep your brain sharp with word and number games like crossword puzzles and sudoku. Round this out with a healthy diet and targeted nutrients, and you’re on your way towards a lifetime of mental clarity.

Yours in good health,

Julian Whitaker, MD

P.S. The April issue of Health & Healing is hot off the press and you won’t want to miss it. This month, I’ll tell you about an easy way to rid your body of toxic heavy metals. I’ll also fill you in on a few natural, safe therapies that can help alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia. Not a subscriber? Become one today by clicking here!

In Today’s Health Update

1. Remember to Take Your Ginkgo
2. Smart Nutrients, Smart People

Remember to Take Your Ginkgo
If there’s one herbal supplement I’d recommend for optimizing brain function and maintaining mental clarity, it’s Ginkgo biloba. This well-researched herb helps increase the delivery of nutrient-rich blood to your brain, allowing you to feel more alert. Plus, it supports memory function!

Smart Nutrients, Smart People
Your brain is a complex organ. That’s why you should feed it plenty of “smart nutrients” like alpha-GPC, a superior source of choline that is a crucial building block of healthy brain cells and neurotransmitters.

You should also think about supplementing with phosphatidylserine and DMAE. Phosphatidylserine aids brain and nerve cell communication, while DMAE is critical in the synthesis of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital for memory and learning. You’ll find all of these nutrients in my latest memory formula.

No More Remembering to OrderóAnd No Running Out!
With the free EasyShip Program, you can have all your supplements arrive at your dooróright on time, exactly when you want them. Plus, you’ll save 10% on all orders, and pay far less in shipping. Just call 1-800-722-8008, and we’ll set it all up for you right now.

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