High-fructose corn syrup, a ubiquitous ingredient present in processed foods and sugary beverages across the globe, is a well-known health destroyer with ties to conditions like metabolic damage and cancer. Now, scientists have revealed that the substance — oftentimes genetically modified — may also be damaging the brain functions of consumers worldwide.

In fact, the official release goes as far to say that high-fructose corn syrup can make you ‘stupid’. Conducted by the UCLA and published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Physiology, the study is the first to demonstrate how a diet heavily concentrated with high-fructose corn syrup can hamper brain functions — particularly those associated with memory and learning.

“Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think,” stated  professor of neurosurgery Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

The findings should come as no surprise, given that it has previously been revealed that high-fructose corn syrup oftentimes contains the toxic heavy metal mercury. Mercury, of course, is highly dangerous and can cause serious complications with biological function — particularly when exposed to the substance on a daily basis through food intake and other sources (CFL light bulbs, amalgam fillings).

Despite the negative effects of high-fructose corn syrup on the brain, the scientists also found that there are natural solutions that can help to minimize and negate the damage. Scientists found that omega 3′s helped to fortify the brain after observing the results of feeding both flaxseed oil and DHA to the study rats. The scientists found that the omega 3′s were helpful in aiding the ability of brain cells to transmit signals to one another. As a result, memory and total mental ability is improved.

It is continually being found that high-fructose corn syrup is highly toxic to the human body, and is absolutely unfit for consumption. There is simply no reason why the ingredient should exist within the food supply, other than to save companies money.

While the benefits of antioxidants and a solid nutritional base in general are rather self evident, two new studies highlight how antioxidants are fantastic for improving memory function. Although antioxidants positively impact everyone, the researchers examined adults ages 50-75 who were given a proficient blend of antioxidants over the course of four months. The study found that by taking in the blend of antioxidants, memory function improved.

The Cognitive Benefits of Antioxidants

The findings are important because it shows that the benefits of antioxidants are great enough to treat cognitive illness naturally and effectively. In this case, a particular focus is placed on memory loss — experienced by countless individuals worldwide. Instead of a large number of medications accompanied by a ridiculous amount of side-effects, antioxidants in the form of vitamins and nutrients effectively promote mental (and overall) health and have no such negative side effects.

Acting as two fantastic foods for improving memory and overall health, apples and blueberries contain a powerful phytochemical and antioxidant known as quercetin. Quercetin has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s and reverse aging, leading to a slowed escalation in age-related memory-loss. When consuming apples, it is important to note that much of the nutrients are found in the skin; quercetin is no exception.

The first analysis of the healthful antioxidant content of blueberries that grow wild in Mexico, Central and South America concludes that many of these tropical blueberries have even more healthful antioxidants than blueberries sold throughout the U.S. These tropical, healthful superfruit could very well provide even more protection against heart disease, cancer and other conditions.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are simply molecules that prevent the oxidation of other molecules, and subsequently lead to an advancement of overall health and significant anti-aging effects. The oxidation process — in case you may be unaware — refers to the production of free radicals, which are harmful to your body and lead to hastened aging. Regardless of the source, it is important to ensure that your body is receiving the proper amount of antioxidants and that you are receiving all the benefits from these super-molecules, as they are a core necessary ingredient to longevity and vibrancy.

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.

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.

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.

The ability to store, retain, and recall information could possibly be one of the most important aspects of success. If you are unable to remember appointments, meetings, people’s names, or information in general, life will inevitably be a struggle to say the least. With eating habits down in the dump and food being tampered with, it is quite difficult to attain the necessary vitamins and nutrients to improve memory. Thankfully, improving memory can be as simple as making some dietary alterations.

Skip Memory-Loss | Improving Memory by Changing what You Eat

If you’re consuming fast food, food made or brought to you by multi-national corporations, and processed food, then there is a good chance that your memory isn’t as strong as it could be. Although memory-loss generally comes with old age, many people are suffering memory-loss while teenagers and young adults. The quest for improving memory doesn’t need so be so difficult. As with almost all other health complications, the solution can be as simple as choosing the right foods.

Fish

The human brain is made up of 60 percent fat. Fish contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to not only help with memory and overall brain function, but also aid in depression and brains disorders such as schizophrenia. Fish contain docosaexaenoic acid (DHA), which is important for the normal functioning of neurons. Eating fish, however, can often be a health concern due to high toxicity. To avoid this issue, you may want to try a combination of supplementation and eating fish to reduce some toxicity while still receiving the benefits.

Apples and Blueberries

Two fantastic foods to improve memory as well as over all health, apples and blueberries contain a powerful phytochemical and antioxidant known as quercetin. Quercetin has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s as well as reverse aging, leading to a slowed escalation in age-related memory-loss. When consuming apples, it is important to note that much of the nutrients are found in the skin; quercetin is no exception.

Black Eyed Peas and Spinach

Folic acid has a direct relationship with memory and overall brain health. It has been shown to protect memory as well as make for faster processing of information and memory recall. One reason for folic acid’s effectiveness is due to it’s ability to lower blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid shown to cause health complications in high amounts.

Change the Way You Live

If you are seeking to improve memory, do not ignore these foods. Although it is great to know how to improve memory through the consumption of specific foods, the ultimate goal should be to live an overall healthy lifestyle so that memory-loss doesn’t become an issue in the first place. Exercise regularly, eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, and avoid the disease-riddled food brought to you by mega-corporations.

Pinpointing one exercise as the single best exercise is impossible. If you were to choose one single exercise and deem it best, you would be essentially condensing the entire field of exercise science. While many exercises are better than others, each exercise has it’s own benefits as well as downsides. But one thing is for sure, just about any exercise is better than no exercise. People often think that in order to gain any real benefits, they need to go to the gym everyday and workout as if training for an Olympic event. The great news is, there is one single exercise that you perform each day which harnesses incredible benefits you can utilize even more – walking.

Walking Is a Simple Exercise for Weight Control

Walking, especially today with people spending much of their time sitting, can be extremely helpful for the body. A meta-analysis of of many studies on exercise and mortality showed someone living a sedentary lifestyle who starts brisk walking 5 times a week for 20 minutes cuts his chance of dying prematurely from any cause drops by 20 percent. Another 5 month long study involving thousands of Japanese citizens showed that 3 minutes of fast walking followed by 3 minutes of slower walking repeated 10 times had a noticeable impact. Maximal aerobic power and thigh muscle strength increased by 20 percent, and symptoms of lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and obesity decreased by about 20 percent.

Another 15-year study showed that women who walked for one hour a day maintained their weight over the 15 years while those who didn’t walk gained weight. While it is obviously the simple addition of physical movement that caused the women to maintain there weight, it shows that just an hour of walking is enough for weight control. Walking has also been shown to increase the volume of the hippocampus in the brain for older individuals, leading to better memory retention.

The Benefits of Walking Are Both Physical and Mental

While walking may not hold much appeal for those who already exercise vigorously, that same lack of appeal is what often makes it so glamorous to others. The benefits of walking can go much further than physical benefits. Although walking is best utilized in a fast-slow motion for many benefits, it is one of the best exercises for great relaxation. Meditative walking can be extremely beneficial to reduce stress levels and therefore improve every aspect of your life. Try simply breathing in for four steps, pausing for one step, than breathing our for four steps. While doing this, look off far into the distance while observing and taking in the beautiful scenery you are choosing to focus on. Remember to relax and allow the energy to flow through your body.

Sources:

NYTimes

When it comes to knowledge and learning, memory makes up a hefty percentage of what it takes to be strong in those areas. Of course everyone wants to be knowledgeable, but it is difficult to know as much as you can if you are unable to retain information with ease. Memory loss is not something that is only experienced by the elderly or traumatized; overweight individuals may suffer from memory loss as well. The good news is that even if memory is suffering due to excess weight, weight loss will improve memory.

Although hardly ever mentioned in any book or business teaching, memory and brain health may just rest at the top of the success pyramid along with persistence and discipline. If you are experiencing memory loss and forgetfulness, business and life in general will simply be more difficult. Research shows that this is especially true for overweight individuals, who experience greater memory loss and poorer concentration than those who are at a normal weight.

A group of scientists and an associate professor of psychology at Kent state University conducted a study to see how brain health was impacted by excess weight. The team evaluated memory tests from 150 people with an average weight of 300 pounds. As one might suspect, many of the people experienced other health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.

109 of the patients decided to get some type of weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass surgery while the remaining 41 people did not. 12 weeks later, the same memory tests were conducted with the surgery group, who lost an average of 50 pounds, improving in many of the tests including measurements of memory and executive functioning. The people who kept their very high weight showed a small decline in memory and overall brain health.

It is no surprise that overweight people may experience memory loss. With excess weight comes excess fat to smother the organs and slow mental processes. Obese people also suffer from physiological issues where they eat very late at night and experience sleep problems. Along with the increased weight usually comes the increased consumption of harmful ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and aspartame. In addition, it is likely that the right foods are not being consumed enough, leading to a deficiency in most nutrients.

Losing weight is a fantastic way to reverse memory loss and improve brain health. If gaining weight typically comes with all things listed above, losing weight will mean omitting those harmful things from your diet automatically.

Did you know that you can recover more quickly from a fever by using your armpits? How about the fact that “positive” initials (initials that spell out words like J.O.Y. or W.O.W.) live nearly 4 1/2 years longer than others who do not on average. Check out these 9 strange but true health tips:

Yahoo Health reports:

Live Longer by Changing Your Name

People with “positive” initials—ones that spell out things like J.O.Y. or W.O.W.—live nearly 4-1/2 years longer than people with neutral initials, according to a University of California, San Diego study. D.U.D.’s live nearly three years less. Other initials that may shorten life: I.L.L. and D.E.D.

Keep Your Mind Sharper by Being a Jerk

Research from the U.S. Administration on Aging suggests there’s a marked difference between how younger and older people interpret misplacing their car keys. A young guy usually blames someone else. An old man typically blames himself. Never use your age as an excuse—you’ll remain sharper longer.

Break a High Fever With Your Armpits

Anything up to 102°F is mild and can be treated by drinking plenty of fluids. But to quickly bring down a reading above that, put an ice pack under your arm or near your groin. Icing either spot will cool your body’s core. It’s uncomfortable, but it works fast. Then see a doctor.

Prevent Claustrophobia by Smelling This Fruit

If you get nervous in small spaces such as subways, elevators, and that closet of an office they stuck you in, visit your local fruit stand. A sniff of green apple may help relieve claustrophobic sensations, says Dr. Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. Carry one with you. Also, if you’re selling your house, placing a basket of fresh green apples on the table may make potential buyers perceive the house as larger.

Disinfect a Wound with Honey

No Neosporin in the house? Dab the cut with honey before covering it with a bandage. Believe it or not, honey has powerful antibacterial properties. A study in the Archives of Surgery found that honey is capable of destroying almost all strains of the most common wound-infecting bacteria.

Stop Bleeding with This Spice

Next time you nick yourself in the kitchen, reach for the black pepper, says Roberta Lee, M.D., vice chair of the department of integrative medicine at the Beth Israel Medical Center. Run cold water over the wound to clean it, using soap if you were handling meat. Then sprinkle on the pepper and apply pressure. In no time, the bleeding will stop. Turns out, black pepper has analgesic, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. And don’t worry—it won’t sting.

See Your Tailor to Cure Back Pain

If you have an aching back, it may be because one of your legs is shorter than the other, says Steven McCaw, Ph.D., a researcher at Illinois State University. Even a slight imbalance can cause the spine to curve to the short side when you walk or run. Eventually, the bend puts painful pressure on disks. Most people can’t tell if their legs are different lengths, but a tailor can. Ask one for a quick measurement. If he finds an imbalance, correct the problem with a therapeutic, Dr. Scholl-type insert or see a podiatrist for a custom-made orthotic.

Massage Away Nicotine Cravings

If you’re a smoker who’s trying to quit, try this simple trick the next time a craving hits: Rub the skin between your index fingers and thumbs and the center of your palms. A study in Preventive Medicine found that men using this technique smoked 25 percent fewer cigarettes in a month than 10 quitters who used traditional distraction methods such as chewing gum. The quick self-massage evidently calms you and keeps your hands busy.

Drink This to Lower Your Cholesterol

The fiber supplement Metamucil can help lower elevated cholesterol levels. In one study, men who took one packet mixed in water before each meal for eight weeks experienced drops in LDL cholesterol averaging 7 percent. Metamucil also helps to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and the risk of heart disease, according to the National Fiber Council.