How often does your dentist insist on giving you a dental X-ray just to make sure all is well? While a dental x-ray may be justifiable if there is some serious risk, research is pointing out that too many of these X-rays may result in a twofold risk increase in a brain cancer known as meningioma.

Dental X-Rays Could Increase Brain Cancer Risk

For the research, Elizabeth B. Claus, MD, PhD, of Yale University, and colleagues examined the records of 1,433 patients who were diagnosed with meningioma between May 2006 and April 2011. The researchers made a control group matched for sex, age, and geography. Researchers found that bitewing X-rays (showing upper and lower back teeth) performed less than once per year was associated with patients being 1.1 to 1.6 times more likely to experience meningioma across age groups. They also found that annual or more frequent panorex dental X-ray (an X-ray showing all teeth and surrounding bones) exposure increased odds by 2.7 to 3.0 in 3 of the oldest age groups, while x-rays performed “before age 10 was associated with a meningioma odds ratio of 4.9.”

“The findings presented here are important, because dental x-rays remain the most common artificial source of exposure to ionizing radiation for individuals living in the U.S. The primary environmental (and generally modifiable) risk factor consistently identified for meningioma is exposure to ionizing radiation,” Claus and co-authors wrote.

While there are many studies examining the effects of ionizing radiation in high doses, less than 200 are available which focus on low-dose ionizing radiation. What’s more, many of the produced studies honing in on dental X-rays were performed during a time when the X-rays were at higher doses. The recent research draws the association between dental X-rays and increased meningioma risk using up-to-date dental procedures. Sometimes the X-rays are performed routinely, while other times it may be done to keep watch on cavity-prone teeth. The cavity-driven  lends an even greater reason to learn how to prevent cavities naturally, ultimately preventing any exposure to routine X-rays or other dental procedures.

In any situation, radiation-inducing procedures should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. It seems that the medical establishment is administering these procedures at alarming rates in many areas, as exemplified with many cancers such as breast cancer in regards to excessive breast cancer screening. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to your doctor or dentist when they push any safety measure or treatment on you which involves radiation.

A bad memory can be a serious handicap to anyone — particularly when it affects your daily life. Bad memory is also a characteristic of poor health, it can actually indicate that your brain is functioning slowly. There are many things that you can do to help improve your memory (like slim down your waistline), but one simple technique that you can do right away is to add healthy foods into your diet. Here is a list of some of the best foods that improve  memory and increase overall brain function:

A Few Options for Foods that Improve Memory

• Fish (Omega-3 fatty acids): Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which not only helps the heart, but also aids on boosting memory power and fighting depression. Omega-3 fatty acids are components of the brain, so it can aid in enhancing brain cell function. Herring, salmon, tuna, mackerel, halibut, anchovies, and sardines contain the highest Omega-3 fatty acids. Just make sure you’re eating high-quality wild caught seafood, as many imported and farmed fish are actually threats to your health!

• Berries (anthocyanin): Berries are rich in anthocyanin, a phytochemical responsible for preventing memory loss — especially the kind that comes with age. Berries also contain quercetin, which helps in the proper function of the brain cells. Blueberries, raspberries, apples, as well as dark-colored grapes contain both, so including them in your daily diet can help improve your memory.

• Greens: Vegetables, especially cruciferous ones, aid in boosting your memory power. These include cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, lettuce, and many other leafy vegetables. They are not only packed with memory-boosting elements, but with loads of vitamins and minerals that can help to keep your entire body in optimal health.

• Nuts: Nuts are packed with loads of vitamin E and B6 as well as folate, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids, which can help mental energy. There are a lot of varieties to choose from too.

By incorporating foods that improve memory into your daily diet, you are not only helping your memory, but also aiding in the improvement of your complete and total health.

The issue of electromagnetic fields (EMF) is increasingly becoming a societal concern. Present where ever electricity flows, these invisible waves are causing damage to the health of all living organisms. Due to advancements in technology, EMFs can be found in bedrooms, classrooms, playgrounds, and basically anywhere thanks to our wireless world.

Why Children Should Not be Using Cell Phones

Technology is attaching early in younger generations, causing the youngest of kids to partake in heavy cell phone and TV activity. It is unfortunate, as growing children are more susceptible to the dangers brought on by EMFs. Cell phones in particular have become a major concern, with kids as young as 10 years old having them.

A recent report with lead author John Wargo, Ph. D. professor of Environmental Risk and Policy at Yale University shows just how damaging EMFs can be for children. Research shows that due to developing organs, lower bone density of the skull, lower body weight, and a less effective blood brain barrier, children are very vulnerable to cell phone radiation. This is especially true for unborn children, with research showing that microwave radiation emitted by cell phones negatively influencing fetal brains.

It was also revealed in a study conducted 4 years ago that 54 percent of children born from mothers who used cell phones had behavioral issues. What’s more, the percentage jumped to 80  if the children grew up talking on cell phones frequently.

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Your brain is made up of water, sugars, and fats. Microwaves exuded by cell phones agitate these substances and penetrate the brain, causing negative alterations. Researchers from a recent Greek study found that important areas of the brain such as the hippocampus, cerebellum, and frontal lobe – all important for learning, memory, and other functions – are negatively impacted by microwave radiation, even at levels below International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines. Specifically, 143 proteins in the brain were negatively impacted by radio frequency radiation over a period of 8 months.

Although completely limiting exposure is near impossible, taking steps to avoid exposure to cellphone radiation is important. Simply talking on your cell phone less will result in less radiation exposure. Even placing your cell phone far away from you instead of in your pocket at all times limits exposure. Although it is a small amount, it is a very simple solution. Reducing exposure to children is especially important, as they are quite vulnerable. Another solution for limiting exposure would be to invest in an EMF protector or other similar and very available technologies that reduce exposure.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition where older individuals experience minor cognitive issues such as problems with memory, language, or thinking. While the condition is severe enough to see a noticeable cognitive difference through a test, it doesn’t really interfere with everyday life. A recent study has found that in order to avoid this condition, older people should not consume a large amount of calories. But does it really come down to calories, or the content of the actual food items themselves?

High Calorie Consumption Linked to Mild Cognitive Impairment

The study, released by the American Academy of Neurology, involved 1,233 people ages 70 to 90. None of the participants had dementia, but 163 of them did have mild cognitive impairment. After conducting a questionnaire to find their daily calorie intake, researchers divided participants into three groups: those who consumed 600-1526 calories daily, those consuming 1527-2142 daily, and those consuming more than 2,143 daily.

What lead researcher Yonas Geda and his team found was that those who consumed more than 2,143 calories a day doubled their risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to those consuming less than 1,500 calories daily. Generally, with the consumption of more calories came an increased risk in mild cognitive impairment.

While the research provides a potential relationship between calorie intake and mild cognitive impairment, there is no way to conclude what exactly is causing MCI to occur since the researchers ignored diet quality and exercise.

Given the average American diet, it is quite possible that with increased consumption of food also came increased consumption of harmful ingredients. Most of the food supply is riddled with health-damaging substances like high-fructose corn syrup, aspartame, artificial colors, pesticides, and so much more. Although previous findings point to memory impairment being caused by excess weight, there is certainly a connection between quality of diet and all aspects of health, including cognitive function.

Reducing calorie consumption may work in slowing or halting the progression of MCI, but know that there are a number of simple dietary changes you can make to promote cognition and memory. Omega-3 fatty acids found in foods like fish or walnuts have been shown to promote the normal functioning of neurons. In addition, a powerful phytochemical and antioxidant known as quercetin, found in foods like apples and blueberries, proves to be useful in preventing Alzheimer’s as well as rapid aging.

Another study from Australia found that B vitamins support cognitive brain function by halving the rate of brain shrinkage – a physical symptom connected with dementia and memory loss in older individuals. Similar to the findings of previous research, individuals in the study who supplemented with vitamin B12 and folic acid for two years scored better in memory tests than those who did not take the vitamins.

Cell phones – the incredibly convenient device that make our lives infinitely easier. While these phones have created great steps forward in communication, talking on them comes at a price. The massive increase in cellular phone use in our current society has resulted in a large degree of research examining the potential negative health effects they have on human health. Very recent research has shown that microwave radiation emitted by cellular devices negatively influence fetal brains.

Cell Phones Shown to Negatively Influence Fetal Brains

The experiment took 32 pregnant rats and divided them into 4 different groups, with one of them receiving no exposure to microwave radiation. The other three groups were exposed to different intensities of microwave radiation from cellular phones, with each of them being subjected for different amounts of time. Group 1 was radiated for 10 minutes each time, group 2 was radiated for 30 minutes, group 3 for 60 minutes, and group 4 not at all. Each of the groups receiving radiation were radiated 3 times a day from the first day of pregnancy then for 20 days thereafter. On day 21, the rats’ brains were tested.

The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate intensity of oxidative stress and the level of neurotransmitters in the brains of pregnant rats exposed to cell phones. The study concluded with:

“Through this study, we concluded that receiving a certain period of microwave radiation from cellular phones during pregnancy has certain harm on fetal rat brains.”

This research comes just before Greek scientists demonstrated how frequency electromagnetic fields, namely cell phones, portable phones, WiFi, and wireless computer equipment alter important protein changes in the brains of animals.

Does this you should stop using cell phones? While it may be challenging to completely abandon your cellphone, it is simple to take some precautionary measures so that the convenience comes at a lesser price. Holding the cell phone further away, not placing it near you while not in use, and talking on it less are all solutions to reduce exposure. The World Health Organization has even found cell phone use to be in the same cancer-causing category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform.

With cellphone subscriptions outnumbering the people in the U.S., it is important to take your own measures to reduce EMF exposure.

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that dehydration is a key factor in the cause of headaches, loss of focus, fatigue, and low mood while exercising and resting. The importance of staying hydrated and consuming healthy amounts of water has been voiced by experts for decades, but knowing exactly how water can positively impact you may be the key that causes you to increase consumption.

Even Slight Dehydration Impacts Brain Function, Mood, and Energy

The study involved 25 women, with all of them being just about 1 percent lower than their optimal hydration levels, rather than being severely dehydrated. The United States Agricultural Research Service, which supported the study, stated:

The level of mild dehydration (losses of between 1 percent and 2 percent) experienced among participants in the study could be compared to the mild dehydration some people experience in their daily lives from drinking insufficient amounts of water, according to authors.

But as with many aspects of life, there is a better and worse way to go about keeping hydrated. Simply buying and consuming a bunch of bottled water may keep you hydrated, but at what cost? It turns out that much of the population is spending almost 2000 times more for water than they normally would. The typical price of bottled water is $3.79 per gallon while the typical price of tap water is $0.002 per gallon. You may think that the extra investment is worth it for the improved quality of bottled water, but in fact many bottled water brands may be just as damaging to your health as tap water.

Tap water is chock-full of toxic pollutants and substances that are very damaging to your health. It was only a few years ago that if you labeled fluoride as a dangerous substance, you would be laughed at and scorned. But now even the United States government has called for lower levels of water fluoridation following a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, which found that increased fluoride consumption led to decreased IQ in children. This is just one example of the many toxic substances found in much of the water supply.

The solution? Purchase a high quality water filter that can remove contaminants such as fluoride from your water. When filtering tap water, reverse osmosis is one preferred method in removing toxic substances such as fluoride and heavy metals, but you will need to re-add certain minerals to the water. Use a mineral filter, or even add apple cider vinegar to restore the natural nutrients back into the water that were taken out by the reverse osmosis process. Another solution would be to regularly or at least occasionally consume coconut water. Coconut water is not only delicious and hydrating, but it could be a viable natural solution to lowering your blood pressure as well as keeping you hydrated.

After analyzing 14 studies, researchers have determined that schoolchildren can boost their academic performance simply by partaking in physical activity. It is well known that exercising is key for maintaining quality health, but now parents may encourage children from a young age to involve themselves with some form of physical activity to boost brain power. By teaching children from a young age that movement is important, we will be setting the groundwork for a future full of physical activity.

Physical Activity Boosts Brain Function

The 14 studies examined by the authors ranged in size from as few as 50 participants to as many as 12,000 participants, with all participants being between the ages of 6 and 18. The results showed that physical activity and academic performance are actually very much interlinked. Many people utilize some simple exercises like walking to soak in waves of clarity and focus, but it was previously unknown that cognition and brain function would improve as well.

… The increasing pressures to improve academic scores often lead to additional instructional time for subjects such as mathematics and language at the cost of time for being physically active. Given the suggested relationship and the ongoing discussions on the replacement of physical education lessons by academic subjects, we aimed to review the evidence on the longitudinal relationship between these two variables…

When you engage in exercise the brain is encouraged to operate at very strong levels. It does this by causing an increase in nerve cell multiplication, strengthening their interconnections and protecting them from damage. The study author explains why exercise is a powerful tool in strengthening cognition, including:

Increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain

Increased levels of norepinephrine and endorphins resulting in a reduction of stress and an improvement of mood

Increased growth factors that help to create new nerve cells and support synaptic plasticity

Generally it shouldn’t be too difficult to get young children to start engaging in physical activity, so as long as the right teachings are instilled at an early age. Outside activities have become less popular with the influx of technology and video games, but it only takes a small increase in outside activity to spark a much larger, ongoing increase in outside activity. As for older individuals, a lack of time may seem like ultimate barrier. Although this issue can usually be overcome easily when positive focus is put toward it, there are methods to engage in physical activity without investing a lot of time.

A newly conducted study coming from Australia has shown that vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements hold some promise in supporting both short term and long term memory function. B vitamins have been shown to support cognitive function by halving the rate of brain shrinkage – a physical symptom connected with dementia and memory loss in older individuals. Similar to the findings of previous research, individuals in the recent study who supplemented with vitamin B12 and folic acid for two years scored better in memory tests than those who did not take the vitamins.

B Vitamins Shown to Boost Both Short Term and Long Term Memory Function

Researchers involved with the study had more than 700 people aged 60 to 74 years old either supplement with either a daily dose of vitamin B12 and folic acid, or a placebo alternative. All the participants in the study showed signs of depression and were experiencing moderate stress levels. The study aimed to see if nutritional aspects could positively alter cognitive function using randomized and controlled conditions.

Even though the study revealed hardly any difference in the two groups after 1 year, the group taking the vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements showed greater improvements in memory test scores after the 2 year mark.

Why B Vitamins are Important and Where to Find Them

Most B-vitamins, found in various foods such as fish, meat and poultry, are essential if you intend to function normally. These vitamins allow the systems in your body to flourish by converting food into energy, helping healthy cell production, and promoting mental health. People with B-vitamin deficiencies are often tired, and suffer from lifespan-crushing mental stress. It is also a little known fact that most B-vitamin deficiencies are present in elderly individuals and vegans. As you age, your ability to absorb nutritional intake from food is diminished. This is often a contributing factor to what seems like dementia and mental breakdown in older people. As for vegans, their lack of animal foods in their diet prevents them from finding proper B-vitamin intake.

Even those eating a handsome amount of foods rich in B vitamins may not be absorbing optimum levels. Foods simply do not have the same nutritional value they used to. It is for this reason supplementing with vitamins and minerals can be so important for your health.

Whether it be during the younger years of your life or later down the road, no one wants to experience memory loss or dementia. But one of the main causes of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, is being experienced far and wide as people reach later years in their lives. In 2009 it was estimated that 24 million people globally were living with some form of dementia. But don’t turn to your doctor just yet with worries about the future, as natural solutions like vitamin B has been proven effective to protect your brain against cognitive decline.

Vitamin B Proven Effective Against Dementia

A study was recently conducted at Oxford University, where 250 participants were given vitamin B to see its effects on brain function. The researchers found that taking the food supplement helped in mental processes pertaining to organization, planning, memory recall. Earlier studies only compliment these findings, with vitamin B being found to actually halve the rate of brain shrinkage – a physical symptom connected with dementia and memory loss in older individuals. These earlier findings have been deemed potentially revolutionary when it comes to the treatment of disease.

Of course there a number of different natural and safe solutions for warding off dementia other than vitamin B consumption. Having relationships and being highly social is just one of the many solutions for dementia. An earlier study, which followed 1,138 people for an average of five years, found that highly social individuals actually had a 70% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline.

The truth is that an overall healthy lifestyle is the master key for keeping healthy and avoiding declining brain function. Being overweight or even having diabetes can increase your chance for dementia, proving that living an unhealthy lifestyle can trigger a domino effect leading to more unwanted problems. If you want to avoid dementia, increase physical activity levels, take B vitamins, and raise your health goals to the next level.

A new study has found that consuming fruit with a white interior, such as apples and pears, can protect your body against strokes — adding to the pile of research that suggests fruit consumption can help slash your risk of disease. Fruit with a white interior contain both fiber and flavonoids, two potent nutrients that researchers say is why these foods are so protective against stroke.

CBS News reports:

“Two nutrients in particular,” Phillips said. “The first is fiber. Fiber has been shown to lower your blood pressure, probably the most important factor for reducing stroke risk. Another is a flavonoid that prevents plaque building up in the arteries, which also prevents heart disease.

“Both apples and pears, in particular, are high in those nutrients. Cauliflower, cucumbers, bananas — all of those things are high in those nutrients that prevent stroke.”

“The most important risk factors (for stroke), Phillips pointed out, “are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Outside of that, if you cut out the smoking, you’re cutting your risk dramatically. Diabetes is a risk factor, and a previous history of heart disease or a family history of stroke, they matter also.