Posts in Brain Health

The Worst Food For Your Brain

Would you like to guess what may be the worst food for your brain?

Though many foods can be harmful to brain health, one food, in particular, stands out as being the worst - by far.

Let me give you a hint: This food can cause tooth decay, lead to diabetes, weaken bones, age skin, and damage organs. Less known but just as significant, is the fact that it can also cause anxiety, depression, brain fog, neruofatigue, and mood swings.

Ready to take a guess?

That’s right, you guessed it - Sugar!

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Conditions, OtherKelly AielloMarch 14, 2019Alzheimer's, Depression, Memory, Mental Health, Moody, Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Inflammation, Neurotoxins, Serotonin, Addiction, Cravings, SugarComment

8 Essential Brain Foods for Studying and Staying Focused

Discover 8 important brain foods for studying now.

Whether you're studying for a college exam or preparing for a major presentation at work, you've probably wished there was a way to magically improve your concentration. Especially when there are so many attention-grabbers around us - like app notifications, roommates, tv, or family members.

How can you buckle down and study?

There's no magic pill that will improve your concentration, but there are foods that you can eat that stimulate brain health and help you focus.

Next time you're looking for a study snack, reach for one of these eight brain foods for studying.

Brain Health, Breakfast, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Other, Whole FoodsKelly AielloMarch 7, 2019Alzheimer's, Depression, Memory, Mental Health, Neuronutrition, Optimization, Eggs, Antioxidant, EFA's, Omega-3, Zinc, Executive, Hacks, Health, Kids, School, Students, Coffee, Serotonin, Avocados, BlueberriesComment

Mood-Boosting Kale Cucumber Salad Recipe

It’s no secret that what we eat can affect the health of our bodies and brains. It’s also no secret that certain foods can affect our mood.

High-carb foods like donuts, muffins, and granola bars work to make us feel better by boosting dopamine and acting on our brain’s pleasure centres. Unfortunately, getting such a ‘high’ from these foods is not the healthiest way to go.

Luckily, there are healthier alternatives that also work to boost our mood. Even better still, I’ve combined a few of these foods into one healthy dish!

Read on to discover more information along with the recipe.

Brain Health, Conditions, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Lunch, Sides & Snacks, Whole FoodsKelly AielloFebruary 28, 2019Depression, Memory, Mental Health, Moody, Neuronutrition, Fatigue, Thyroid, Antioxidant, Carbohydrates, EFA's, Minerals, Omega-3, Protein, Vitamin C, Whole Foods, Recipe, Salad, Serotonin, Almonds, Gluten-free, Plant Based, Sugar, Sugar-free, Vegan, VegetarianComment

Vitamin D’s Surprising Impact on Brain Health

Did you also know that vitamin D levels significantly impact brain health? Did you know that as you age your body’s ability to turn sunlight into vitamin D decreases?

Vitamin D is a critical nutrient for good health but too many people simply don't get enough of the "sunshine vitamin."

It’s not easy to get most of the year, and it’s not in too many foods. This could help explain why vitamin D deficiencies are very common. But what does vitamin D actually do? And what does a deficiency of it really mean anyway?

Keep reading to get the lowdown on this critical, all-too-often deficient vitamin. And discover three ways you can get enough of it.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How To Feed Your Brain

The Gut-Brain Connection: How To Feed Your Brain If there was ever a call for "digestive health," this is it!

Yes, it's true. Your gut is considered your "second brain."

There is no denying it anymore.

And because of the new scientific discoveries about the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system, and the amazing influence your gut microbes can have on all aspects of your health (including that of your brain), it's no wonder that what you eat feeds not only your body but can directly affect your brain.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Digestive HealthKelly AielloFebruary 14, 2019Memory, Mental Health, Moody, Neuronutrition, Parkinson's, Microbiome, Omega-3, Whole Foods, SerotoninComment

6 Vitamins Good for the Brain that You Should be Taking

The brain is one of your most important organs, so it's crucial to care for it. Check out these 6 vitamins good for the brain to add to your routine.

Your brain is like a jet engine.

It's complicated. It uses a lot of fuel to perform at its best. And without it, you'd be grounded.

We all know that. But did you know that about 75% of your brain is made of water? That means that a little dehydration goes a long way toward hampering brain function. Though water is important, it isn't the only thing that your brain needs for peak performance.

Vitamins and nutrients are essential to keep your brain functioning at 100%. And some vitamins are superstars when it comes to improving brain function.

In this article, we'll talk about 6 vitamins good for the brain and why you should take them.

January is Mental Wellness Month

What does mental wellness look like to you? It can look, feel, and mean something different to each of us.

Regardless of what it means to you, there are some common things we can all do to help maintain our own good mental health.

Read on to discover 4 common phases of mental wellness and 7 tips on how you may be able to improve yours.

Brain Health, Conditions, Lifestyle, Neuronutrition, OtherKelly AielloJanuary 24, 2019Depression, Mental Health, Memory, Moody, Neuronutrition, Fatigue, Family, Hacks, Health, Sleep, Nutritionist, PerformanceComment

Self-Care and Stress Management: Tips for Caregivers

Last week I discussed cortisol - what it is and natural ways to lower it. Cortisol helps us deal with a multitude of stressors and stressful situations. It is important for survival, but too much can cause problems.

What happens if your cortisol levels are always high?

If you live a very stressful life or happen to be a caregiver to a loved one, you need to set boundaries and start taking care of you!

Read on for ideas to help you better manage stress, especially if you happen to be a caregiver.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 17, 2019Alzheimer's, Dementia, Mental Health, Neuronutrition, TBI, Cortisol, Family, Hacks, Health, Mindfulness, Self Care, Stress, FatigueComment

Cortisol: What it is and Natural Ways to Lower it

We’ve all experienced stress.

Maybe you live in a constant state of stress with seemingly no way out.

If you can’t sleep because your mind is constantly buzzing, if you are fired up and cannot turn off your brain, or if you feel so exhausted all the time that you cannot complete even one of the items on your never-ending to-do list, then you understand what I’m talking about.

If this sounds like you, read this week’s blog post to discover what cortisol is, what too much cortisol can do to our bodies, and most importantly, what we can do to lower it.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 10, 2019TBI, Neuronutrition, EFA's, Performance, Executive, Meditation, Mindfulness, Neurofatigue, Lifestyle, CortisolComment

Top 10 Memory Boosting Foods You Should Be Eating

Did you know certain foods can help boost your memory?

It's no secret that our memory and cognitive abilities decline as we age. But did you know that your eating habits are just as important to your memory as they are to your waistline?

Many common foods like pasta, processed meats, and white sugar have been associated with impaired memory and serious illnesses like Alzheimer's disease.

If your diet consists of these foods on a regular basis, you should definitely start making some changes that include brain-healthy foods. People with healthier diets are less likely to experience cognitive decline as they age.

And lucky for you, we found the best foods to help you out in that area. So, continue reading this article for our ultimate memory-boosting foods list.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Whole FoodsKelly AielloJanuary 3, 2019Mental Health, Alzheimer's, Whole Foods, Moody, Brain FogComment

Get Happy: How To Increase Serotonin Levels Naturally

Are you one of the 21 million Americans who struggle with a mood disorder?

Some mood issues can be attributed to low levels of serotonin in the body. Luckily, there are a number of natural ways to increase your serotonin levels.

Read on to discover some things you should consider when trying to increase your serotonin levels naturally.

Brain Health, NeuronutritionKelly AielloDecember 6, 2018Mental Health, Spices, Lifestyle, Serotonin, Coffee Comments

Sugar’s Role in Brain Health and Neurodegenerative Disease

We all know that sugar is unhealthy. But did you know that sugar can negatively impact our mental health?

Ever wonder why when we are feeling down, we reach for a sugary snack to help pick us back up?

Did you know that consuming high amounts of refined sugar can lead to Alzheimer’s disease?

Keep reading to discover how sugar damages our brain and what we can do about it.

Neuronutrition, Brain HealthKelly AielloNovember 29, 2018Sugar, Mental Health, Alzheimer's, Blood Sugar, NeuronutritionComment

Coffee’s Role in Neurological Health: The Benefits of Coffee for your Brain: Part 2

Last month I dove into the world of coffee. Media attention over the last few years has left everyone’s head spinning. Is it helpful or harmful to health? Is it friend or foe?

This week, we’ll take a closer look at the role coffee may play in the health of your brain. More specifically, can it prevent or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases?

Neuronutrition, Brain HealthKelly AielloNovember 1, 2018Coffee, Neuronutrition, DementiaComment

The Dangers of Football: How Football Concussions Affect Your Brain

If you've got kids in sports, you should educate yourself on the dangers of football. Here's a look at how football concussions affect your brain.

Ever had "your bell rung" or "dinged your head"?

Sounds trivial, right?

Wrong! A concussion is never trivial. Researchers now consider a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury to be cumulative. This means that the effects of injuries may not be seen for many years and that the total of all injuries can be devastating.

Pediatric neurologists have long advocated protection of children's heads with proper helmets for bicycle riding, skateboarding, skiing and other sports. But what about football? Is there any danger with the advanced helmet technology today?

If you have children in sports, educate yourself about the dangers of football and traumatic brain injury. Read on to learn more.

Other, Brain HealthKelly AielloOctober 25, 2018Concussion, TBIComment

Neuronutrition for Positive Mental Health

As a continuation to last week’s blog post about mental health and in an effort to continue education and awareness, this week’s post will focus on foods for optimal mental health and natural ways to deal with a mental health issue or prevent one from occurring.

We are all affected by mental health problems at one time or another. We can all feel depressed, stressed, frightened, or unsafe at various times. More likely than not, these feelings pass. For some people, however, they can develop into a more serious long-term problem.

Should this happen to you, what can you do about it?

Read on to find out what foods you should be eating and what else you can do.

Other, Neuronutrition, Brain HealthKelly AielloOctober 18, 2018Mental Health, Neuronutrition, Mindfulness, Vitamins, Whole FoodsComment

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Cortisol: What it is and Natural Ways to Lower it

We’ve all experienced stress.

Maybe you live in a constant state of stress with seemingly no way out.

If you can’t sleep because your mind is constantly buzzing, if you are fired up and cannot turn off your brain, or if you feel so exhausted all the time that you cannot complete even one of the items on your never-ending to-do list, then you understand what I’m talking about.

If this sounds like you, read this week’s blog post to discover what cortisol is, what too much cortisol can do to our bodies, and most importantly, what we can do to lower it.