I am always thinking about ways in which I can lead a healthier lifestyle in the most natural way possible. Although having a positive attitude about life in general was always important to me, and I worked at it, as I get older it is even more important.  So many bad things can happen to good people who get older!
I am delighted to report that I may be able to achieve my goals far more efficiently this year. It could be as simple as knowing what foods to eat and when to eat them. Read the rest of this entry

I can already tell that this latest study and other reports on food and mood will be an import factor in my quest for living a healthy lifestyle and reducing my risk of disease and cognitive decline, I’m hoping you’ll be able to link up with this information and join me on my journey.

In my last post, I wrote about the Sanchez-Villegas Spanish study relating to how food affects mood. Even though the study was not designed to look at particular fats, there was enough evidence to support that monounsaturated fats, like those in olive oil, help bridge the gap or synapse between nerve cells so that they can communicate with each other.

We already know that serotonin regulates mood, anger, aggression, appetite and even some cognitive functions. When serotonin is converted to the hormone melatonin, it helps you sleep.  For instance, Prozac and Zoloft are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors which block the reabsorption of serotonin leaving more work in the synapses.

Since the membranes of our neurons are made of fat, the quality of fat that we eat has an influence on the quality of our neuron membranes. Vitamin B6 and folate, found in vegetables, fruits and nuts and legumes, are all part of the Mediterranean diet and all important to healthy serotonin.

The study also reports that the effects of B vitamins and folic acid may reduce depression because it impacts the metabolism of two amino acids, homocysteine and methionine. In other words, this kind of diet can improve blood vessel function, fight inflammation and repair oxygen related cell damage all of which reduces the changes of developing depression.

Practical tip: For the most beneficial effect of either carbohydrate or protein, eat them separately. For instance, the energy boosting effect of protein will be offset if you start out a lunch of fish with a roll which is mostly carbohydrate. Make the protein the first food that you eat, and then go lightly on the carbohydrate if you are looking for mental alertness.

If you have questions, ask away. I will be posting about this topic throughout the year.

To your success at healthy aging.
Ruthan Brodsky

When your head is pounding, your eyes light-sensitive, every sound is a roar and you feel nauseated, the chances are good you are having a migraine headache.

A headache that comes and goes over the years and long-lasting is most likely a migraine or a vascular headache related to blood vessels. Symptoms include recurrent pain, throbbing, and pressure all of which can last for days.

There are many causes for migraines including stress, insomnia, barometric pressure, altitude changes and some foods. It is no longer unusual these days to find that children and teens also suffer from migraines along with adults.

Recently a new association for migraine has come to light, the patent foramen ovale (PFO) or a hole in the heart. Usually this congenital defect closes on its own, but many people live their whole lives with it open and without negative effects. However, for some it can be the cause for a stroke or migraines.

There is no proof of this yet and research is ongoing, but one out of every four to five patients with migraines have holes in their hearts. Apparently closing the PFO provides relief from the migraines and people who have their PFO closed feel more energetic, and their hands and feet feel warmer.

Preventive therapy usually includes an anti-inflammatory, seizure medication, or an anti-depressant heart medication.  A physician may also order a migraine-specific drug that turns off the pain center in the brain.

Whatever the treatment, the advice is to see your physician first.

Keeping your bones and muscles strong will give you a better quality of life as you get older. There is no doubt about the results of the research on this topic. Read the rest of this entry

My mother was very depressed as she aged. I suspect

It started in her sixties but I really didn’t notice it until she was in her eighties. The problem is that depression is difficult to identify because it usually develops gradually and its symptoms are mistaken as symptoms of other conditions or reactions from medication or being tired because someone is older. Read the rest of this entry