Exam Time - and what you can do to boost your brain

Many households with teenage children are now getting ready for exams. This time can be very stressful for both, the children doing the exams as well as the parents! This week I would like to look at ways to improve intelligence and memory.

Most people believe that intelligence is something you are born with and there is nothing you can do to change it. While there is clearly an inherent component to intelligence, psychologists tell us that we use less than 1% of our intellectual capacity and that every day we think thousands of thoughts, the vast majority of which are repeats! Imagine what would happen if we could focus all our mental energy on the task at hand and tap into a full potential.

The brain and nervous system, our mental “hardware,” consist of a network of neurons, special cells that are capable of forming tens of thousands of connections with others. All this hardware comes from the food we eat and therefore the nutrients we consume are vital to the functions of our brains and our intelligence.

Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is involved in mood, or adrenalin which gives us motivation, or acetylcholine which is vital for good memory, are made from the amino acids in the protein we eat. However, their production in the brain depends on vitamins and minerals, these micronutrients help form glucose into energy, amino acid into neurotransmitters, essential fats into more complex fats like GLA or DHA.

In a study at Swansea University, 60 schoolchildren were put on a special multivitamin and mineral supplement to test brain function. After eight months on the supplement, the non-verbal IQ’s had risen by over 10 points! This study, published in the Lavcet in 1988, has been proven many times in other studies.

Particularly important for brain development are the essential fatty acids and phospholipids that form part of the structure of brain cell membranes. Low levels of essential fatty acids are also associated with lower levels of intelligence. Many studies have shown that an optimal intake of essential fats, especially Omega 3 fats, improves intelligence, reduces aggression and enhances mood.

While “good” chemicals and nutrients can improve mental function, “bad” chemicals can and do reduce your intelligence. A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates will reduce intelligence. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the higher the intake of refined carbohydrates the lower the IQ. In fact, the difference between the high-sugar consumers and the low-sugar consumers was a staggering 25 points. Caffeine and alcohol are another two chemicals which have a negative effect on our intelligence.

To summarize, here are some simple guidelines for improving memory and mental performance:

·         Reduce your intake of stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolate and cola, and of sugar and refined foods.

·         Take fish, seeds or their oils every day.

·         Eat Omega 3 rich eggs.

·         Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement.

·         Eat a good breakfast, like porridge or muesli, each morning.

·         Sleep at least 8 hours each night with some of the hours before midnight

·         Stay calm – take Bach’s Rescue Remedy as needed.

Age Related Macular Degeneration, and how to treat it

Age Related Macular Degeneration (A.R.M.D.) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in Ireland. Macular Degeneration is the deterioration or breakdown of the Macula. The Macula is the part of the eye responsible for fine vision. When the Macula does not function correctly, your central vision can be affected by blurriness, dark areas or distortion. Age Related Macular Degeneration affects your ability to see near and far, and can make some activities like reading difficult or impossible.

                Although Macular Degeneration reduces vision in the central part of the retina, it usually does not affect the eyes side, or peripheral vision. For example you can see the outline of a clock but not be able to tell what time it is.

                The major risk factors for A.R.M.D. are smoking, artheriosclerosis and blood pressure.

                Apparently, the degeneration is a result of free radical damage; similar to the type of damage that induces cataracts (the primary cause of decreased vision in the elderly). However, decreased blood and oxygen supply to the retina is the prelude and key factor leading to Macular Degeneration.

                Because the Macula is very rich in antioxidants, scientists think that giving the right nutritional supplements to people at risk might help slow the process.

                A Queens University Belfast trial gave a supplement containing Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc and the Carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin which are found in leafy vegetables such as spinach, to 400 volunteers. These 400 volunteers, who have A.R.M.D. in a least on eye, found the supplement slowed the degeneration and sharpened vision.

                The two most common types of A.R.M.D. are ‘dry’ and ‘wet’.

                The ‘wet’ form accounts for about 10% of A.R.M.D. It results from the growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina. These new blood cells leak fluid or blood and blur central vision. Vision loss may be rapid and severe. This type can be treated quite effectively with laser photocoagulation therapy. Quick treatment of the ‘wet’ type is important.

                Treatment of the ‘dry’ type is with supplements. In the USA a number of large scientific studies have found that people with a risk of developing A.R.M.D. lowered their risk by about 25% when treated with a high dose combination of vitamin C and E, beta-carotene and Zinc.

                A fruit with a long history of use in treating eyesight problems is the Blueberry or Bilberry. It has a special role to play in protection the small blood vessels of the retina of the eye. These berries in addition to protecting the blood vessels of the eyes also increase blood supply to the retina, one of the major causes of macular degeneration. Blueberries are also advised if you suffer from diabetes, due to the protective effect on the blood vessels of the retina which can become damaged in people with diabetes.

                The effects of taking a good eye health supplement and blueberries can be dramatic in people with failing eyesight, but the real benefit is over years it’s even more effective -studies over a period of five years gave the best results.

David Foley MNIMH, MRCHM, Medical Herbalist