What are the things you should do and not do on a regular basis to achieve and maintain great brain health? Research indicates that the following items (not a total list – just found out about L-Theanine in an article this week – and its impact on brain health) can improve brain health:
● Caloric restriction
● Intermittent fasting
● Balanced nutrition
● Optimize vitamin D3 level
● Challenge your mind daily
● Exercise
● Minerals (especially magnesium)
● Co-enzyme Q-10
● Ginkgo Biloba
● Bacopa Monnieri
● Huperzine A
● Glycerol Phosphoryl Choline
● Vinpocetine
● Coconut oil
● Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
● Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)
● Astaxanthin
● Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
● Taurine
You should avoid:
● Aluminum
● Flu vaccine
● Grains (especially gluten)
● Sugar
● Processed foods
● Unfermented soy products
● Artificial sweeteners
● Statin drugs (they block your production of co-enzyme Q-10)
● Anticholinergics (block acetylcholine – increases your risk of dementia)
Note: Anticholinergics are drugs. They are used to treat a variety of conditions. These include:
● Gastrointestinal disorders
● Diarrhea
● Overactive bladder
● Incontinence
● Asthma
● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
● Insomnia
● Dizziness and motion sickness
● Poisoning caused by toxins such as organophosphates or muscarine
● Hypertension (high blood pressure)
● Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Typical anticholinergic drugs are:
● Trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
● Benztropine mesylate (Cogentin)
● Biperiden
● Procyclidine
● 2,5 antihistamines (orphenadrine)
● Atropine
● Flavoxate (Urispas)
● Oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol)
● Scopolamine
● Hyoscyamine (Levsinex)
● Tolterodine (Detrol)
● Belladonna alkaloids
● Fesoterodine (Toviaz)
● Fesoterodine (VESIcare)
● Darifenacin (Enablex)
● Propantheline (Pro-Banthine) (UCSF)
