Primo Health Blog

A portal for functional health topics and news.

Posts about brain health:

The Natural Appetite Suppressant CCK

The Natural Appetite Suppressant CCK

CCK: The Natural Appetite Suppressant

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a very interesting neuropeptide that has a great benefit to anyone who is trying to lose weight. CCK is produced by special cells in the intestinal wall in response to a meal that contains some fat. Basically, it causes bile and pancreatic enzymes to be released for fat digestion. Besides helping fat digestion, research has demonstrated that CCK also causes a reduction in food intake in several species, including humans.1 In other words, it helps you to control your appetite; clearly an advantage if your trying to eat less and reduce body fat.

Dietary Supplements for Depression and It's Treatment

Dietary Supplements for Depression and It's Treatment

Depression: A Role for Dietary Supplements in It’s Treatment

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS

Are you depressed? If so, you’re not the only one. In fact, approximately 20.9 million American adults have a mood disorder, and approximately 14.8 million experience major depressions1; the primary cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15- 44.2 Another 3.3 million Americans suffer from chronic, mild depression.3

Supplement of the week: Design for Health NeuroCalm

Supplement of the week: Design for Health NeuroCalm

Quick Overview

NeuroCalm™ is designed to promote activity of GABA and serotonin, which may help support healthy mood, cravings, and feelings of calm, satiety, and satisfaction.* NeuroCalm™ contains PharmaGABA™, a form of GABA naturally manufactured via a fermentation process, which is considered more effective than chemically produced synthetic forms. Support for the production of calming neurotransmitters is also provided by L-theanine and taurine.

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health 5-HTP Synergy

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health 5-HTP Synergy

Quick Overview

5-HTP Synergy™ is a synergistic formula of 5-hydroxytryptophan (50 mg) and vitamin B6 (10 mg) for supporting overall neurotransmitter metabolism by providing precursors of serotonin. 5-HTP readily enters the blood brain barrier, however conversion into serotonin requires the cofactor vitamin B6, which is included in this formula. 5-HTP Synergy™ may be used during the day to support healthy mood or appetite or at bedtime to support sleep.

5-HTP The Second Coming of Tryptophan

5-HTP   The Second Coming of Tryptophan

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences.

 

Smart Supplementation™ is a free series of educational literature created by Huntington College of Health Sciences (HCHS) as a public service. Although copyrighted, it may be freely photocopied and distributed, but may not be altered in any way. Smart Supplementation™ is not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition, consult your physician.

The essential amino acid L-Tryptophan has an extremely successful history of clinical use in treating depression and anxiety. As a sleep inducer, it preceded the currently popular supplement, melatonin, and almost everyone who used it got excellent results. Many women also found it to be particularly good at reducing the emotional symptoms of PMS. As a matter of fact, L-Tryptophan was probably the single most effective supplement that my wife ever used for PMS. Great stuff, L-Tryptophan.

Krill Oil versus Fish Oil Infographic

Krill Oil versus Fish Oil Infographic

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health XanthOmega Krill Oil

Quick Overview

XanthOmega™ Krill Oil provides a generous 12 mg per serving of the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin to help achieve optimum benefits from this potent carotenoid. It would take eight conventional krill softgels to equal the astaxanthin levels in just one XanthOmega™ softgel! 

XanthOmega™ Krill Oil has a high phospholipid content, standardized to a minimum of 40% phospholipids, mostly as phosphatidylcholine. This updated version is considered to be a virgin krill oil -the purest form available. It contains higher phospholipid bioavailability, which enhances the absorption of the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin. Many studies suggest that this exceptionally high level of astaxanthin offers an array of benefits, which may include powerful antioxidant properties, cardiovascular health, sports performance, eye support, skin health, anti-inflammatory and gastric health support.

6 Foods For Healthy Brain

6 Foods For Healthy Brain

On a previous post Health Brain Healthy Body I shared 7 tips for maintaining a healthy brain. Having a healthy brain is essential to having a healthy body. Low fat diets and junk food diets do little to feed the brain what it needs to maintain healthy neurological function, memory and emotional well being. Environmental toxins like heavy metals as well as alcohol and drug abuse contribute greatly to loss of brain function and mental health.

This blog post will focus on eating right for your brain. Those of you with issues like anxiety, deppression, brain fog, memory loss, attention deficit disorder, dementia, autism, and addictions cannot ignore the impact of nutrition on the brain. Everyone knows the importance of nutrition when other organs of the body are ailing. But interestingly enough, nutrition for the brain and the ailments of the brain goes all to often ignored. I don't care what other treatments you may be using to deal with your brain issues, you cannot forget to eat foods for a healthy brain! 

Supplements For Healthy Brain Function

Supplements For Healthy Brain Function

We are born with more brain cells than we will ever have again in our lives. As we age, we lose brain cells, and as far as science can tell at this time, our bodies cannot regenerate the neurons in the brain. To preserve health and brain function, it is essential that we protect, nourish and exercise our brains. This is the topic of discussion for my Healthy Brain series.

Although our brains are unable to regenerate dead neurons, scientists have discovered that the brain has an amazing way of overcoming this downfall in order to preserve memory and brain function. This process is called neurotropism. When a neuron (brain cell) dies, there's a gap left between the cells on either side of the dead cell. Nerve transmissions usually travel from one neuron to the other much like electricity does. The healthy neurons surrounding the dead space where the cell once was will reach out with their extensions (dendrites) and stretch across that dead space to create new connections with surrounding neurons. This phenomenon maintains the function of the brains cells so that messages are able to travel across those divides without disruption. You can see some cells in neurotropism in the video below.

The Health Benefits Of Pastured Eggs

The Health Benefits Of Pastured Eggs

No nutrient rich food I can think of has been given a worse reputation than chicken eggs. Well, maybe raw milk is getting the boot now, but eggs are right there with them. The poor chicken egg has been blamed for high cholesterol, high fat and bacterial poisoning. But this stigma is rightfully and hopefully disappearing while the truth about eggs prevails.

Eggs are a storehouse of nutrients all contained in a built-in protective package. Unless you've chosen a vegan/vegetarian approach to food, I highly recommend incorporating eggs into healthy diet. But not just any eggs, as you will see below, but the highest quality eggs you can find. And let me explain why.