Getting Smart about Brain Health
During this episode you’ll learn about: Cognition: a growing concern [1:18] Factors that influence cognition: stress, sleep, exercise, diet, isolation [2:23] Cognition could be a symptom to some imbalance in the body [3:37] Meditation is like physical exercise for the mind [4:00] Matthew Walker: Why We Sleep [4:27] Sleep is critical for mental function, helps the brain sort through memories and process information [5:06] Sleep allows the brain to cleanse itself [5:26] Brain function naturally slows down as we age [6:10] Aging results in the brain processing information slower [7:40] Brain fog [9:04] The gut-brain connection and brain fog [9:15] Hormonal connection to brain fog [10:21] Neurotransmitters and gut bacteria [11:13] Resetting the gut with protein powders [12:25] Exercise and cognition [13:22] Can help clear the mind [14:00] Brain derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF [14:21] Proteins that act as “fertilizer” for brain cells [14:30] Nutrients for BDNF / sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) [16:00] Coffee fruit extract [17:55] Nicotinamide riboside (NR) and resveratrol [18:56] Questions from the community [20:32] What are cognitive risks for athletes? And what can we do to mitigate them? [20:44] Head injuries and micro trauma[20:56] Athletes could benefit from curcumin and fish oil supplements [20:56] Testing for APOE2 gene [21:52] CTE [22:20] Should I let my children play contact sports? [24:05] Consider genetic testing [24:16] If they are positive for APOE4, it might be best to discourage them [24:51] Consider non-contact sports as alternative [25:25] What are some top recommended nootropics? [25:39] Coffee [25:44] Matcha tea [26:00] Bacopa [26:15] Huperzine A [26:40] Phosphatidylserine [26:50] Fish Oil [27:00] Resources to topics mentioned in this episode: Has the Pandemic Given You Brain Fog? If So, You’re Not Alone 5 Ways to Train Your Brain – Banish Brain Fog and Sharpen Your Thinking How Exercise Stops Brain Fog Eight Nutrients For Brain Health Seven Foods for a Healthy Brain Top 10 Nootropic Supplements Subscribe To More Content Make sure to never miss an episode by subscribing to the show on your podcast app. You can also learn more about what we talked about by visiting Thorne.com and checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.