By Dr. Michael Wald
Continued from part 1 of this article…..
5. Eat fish with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, swordfish and mackerel; these important fats are proven to reduce brain atrophy (shrinkage), premature death of brain neurons and oxidative (degenerative) changes in the brain. The best type of salmon is Alaskan and not Atlantic salmon.
Dr. Wald strongly suggests that everyone who eats salmon more than once per month have their blood and urine mercury levels checked to detect and avoid mercury toxicity; these recommendations are very close to governmental suggestions regarding this issue. Bottom line, a combination of mercury vapor testing, serum metals (measuring total metals), red blood cells metals and minerals (also measuring total metals and minerals) and urinary 24-hour provocation testing (using a chelator of substance that helps bring metals into the urine so that they can be measured) and urinary free metals (the only test included here that separates out the harmful metals known as “free or unbound metals” from the bound or “non-free metals).
Take a supplement of omega 3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA oils: these oils, when supplemented according to metabolic rate (see Bioimpadance Testing under our Services section) will help to get the dose right. The dose of omega 3 oils, or any other nutrients for that matter, will also depend upon one’s needs for the given nutrient(s) changing one’s overall requirements. For example, if you have high cholesterol you require omega 3 oils; if you have inflammation or memory issues your dose requirement is much higher; if you are on a blood thinner like aspirin, coumadin or warforin your dose must be much lower or high depending upon your blood INR levels (a clotting test), platelet count and function and perhaps other tests (like bioimpedance mentioned above).
6. Taking a supplement called phosphotidylcholine and phosphatidylserine helps to maintain the integrity of neurons as an essential compound of nerve tissue. If you take this, other nutritional compounds, in terms of dosages, must change – please read our Nutritional Synergism Q & A under our Q & A section.
7. Take a multivitamin/mineral supplement – providing the B-vitamins needed for neurotransmitters to work properly (particularly B6). Not all multivitamins are alike. We have produced our own that meet our ridged quality assurance (scientific) requirements for composition, balance and type of ingredients. Not all supplements like multivitamins are the same. We use a few different formulations to meet the needs of our patients based on age, medication use, nutritional supplement use, exercise levels, sleep quality, blood results, results of other tests, health history and more.
8. Consider bio-identical hormones: the brain is known to age faster in some individuals when levels of estrogens, growth hormone testosterone, pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA decline. Hormones can be balanced with dietary, herbal, nutritional supplement and natural hormones themselves. Even individuals with some very serious forms of brain aging including MS, ALS, Alzeheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia from cardiovascular disease (i.e., TIA’s or mini-strokes) respond favorably to hormonal replacement and nutrition done right.
9. Take nutrition specific for supporting one’s thyroid; low thyroid function is associated with accelerated brain aging. Adrenal disease and atrophy (shrinking) have been associated with brain aging. Mal-absorption syndromes caused from gluten; indicant and other issues must be identified and corrected. Sometimes you’ve just got to fix other tissues that are not functioning properly and have contributed or caused brain aging.
10. MOST IMPORTANT – Our blood detective technology helps me figure out the most appropriate and individualized nutritional plan for overall quality of life. See our, Blood Nutritional Consultation on our home page under the Consultations section (www.intmedny.com).
– Dr. Michael Wald, aka The Blood Detective, is the director of nutritional services at Integrated Medicine of Mount Kisco, located in Westchester New York. He has appeared on ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer, Channel 11 PIX, Channel 12 News, CNN, The Food Network and other media outlets. Dr. Wald earned the name Blood Detective for his reputation to find problems that are often missed by other doctors. He earned an MD degree, is a doctor of chiropractic and a certified dietician-nutritionist. He is also double-board certified in nutrition. He has published over a dozen books with three additional titles due for release late 2013 including: Frankenfoods – Genetically Modified Foods: Controversies, Lies & Your Health and Gluten-A-Holic: How to Live Gluten Free and the Blood Detective’s Longevity Secrets. Dr. Wald can be reached at: www.intmedny.com or www.blooddetective.com or by calling: 914-242-8844.