Smart Foods: What Brilliant People Eat

Don't miss any Bottom Line Secrets. Add our address, bottomlinesecrets@ebls.bottomlinesecrets.com, to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. January 26, 2011 Prescription Drugs to Avoid Like the Plague Chewing Gum Makes You Smarter No Plunger? No Problem. Secret to Unplugging Your Toilet Detoxification for Ex-Smokers Erase Tumors in 2 Months Dear healthwellness82@gmail.com, Are you sometimes frustrated by your "fuzzy" brain... inability to focus... forgetfulness? Then it’s time to head to the supermarket to buy some brain-boosting munchies -- just make sure that you bring along this list of foods that are scientifically proven to enhance cognitive function, from David Grotto, RD, LDN, author of 101 Optimal Life Foods. You’ll be buying some frozen foods, some spices, some beverages -- and a few items from the candy aisle, too! If you’re an ex-smoker, you probably still have tobacco toxins in your body -- so you’ll want to make a stop at the health-food store, too. Mark Stengler, NMD, author of our Bottom Line Natural Healing newsletter, tells about five cleansing supplements that can have you feeling and breathing better right away. All the best, Jessica Kent Editor BottomLineSecrets.com PS: Don’t forget to check out Bottom Line President Marjory Abrams’ latest blog posting: Making Peace with Your Parents. And don’t forget to share your thoughts on the blog with Margie. Prescription Drugs to Avoid Like the Plague Some drugs are just so bad that you should avoid them at all costs. If your physician won't prescribe a safer alternative -- or let you use a natural remedy -- then run (do not walk) to one who will. What kinds of drugs? Widely used antibiotic so dangerous to your kidneys that up to 28% of people who use it develop some impairment. This former rat poison is now touted as a cure-all for everything from dental problems to bone loss. Banned in Japan and Europe, it's unavoidable here in the US -- unless the proper precautions are taken. Widely prescribed drug for high blood pressure that is so dangerous, it should be used only as a last-ditch effort if nothing else works for you. Popular osteoporosis drug is just a rehashed version of an older one that built bone of such poor quality, the number of breaks actually increased, not to mention side effects, such as permanent damage to the esophagus and kidneys, stress, diarrhea, constipation, fever, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, rashes, headaches and muscle pain. Read on... Chewing Gum Makes You Smarter David  Grotto, RD, LDN Nutrition Housecall, LLC We all know to eat a healthy diet, but some brain-boosting foods may surprise you... brain boosters Chewing gum. OK, it’s not exactly a food, but it’s more than just something to keep your mouth occupied. Researchers at Northwestern University found that people who chew gum have increased blood flow to the brain -- and a corresponding increase in cognitive performance. People who chew gum also report a reduction in stress, which protects brain cells from stress-related hormones. Recommended: Chew gum when you are stressed or have challenging mental work to do. Opt for sugarless. Frozen berries. Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are among the best sources of brain-protecting antioxidants. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University found that animals given blueberries showed virtually no evidence in the brain of the cell-damaging effects of free radicals -- and they did better on cognitive tests. Frozen berries typically contain more antioxidants than fresh berries because they’re picked and processed at the peak of ripeness. Recommended: One-and-a-half cups of frozen or fresh berries at least two to three times a week. Darker berries contain the most antioxidants. Turmeric. It’s one of the most potent anti-inflammatory spices. People who eat turmeric several times a week can have significant drops in C-reactive protein, a substance that indicates inflammation in the brain and other tissues. A study that looked at more than 1,000 participants (average age 68.9) found that those who often or occasionally ate turmeric performed better on mental-status evaluations than those who rarely or never ate it. Recommended: Add at least one-quarter teaspoon of turmeric to recipes several times a week. (Turmeric is one of the spices in curry.) Hazelnuts. These contain the highest concentration of folate of all the tree nuts (including walnuts, almonds and pecans). Low levels of folate have been associated with poor cognition and depression. Other foods rich in folate include spinach, beans, oranges, avocados and wheat germ. Recommended: A handful of hazelnuts several times a week. Cilantro. This herb, also known as coriander and Chinese parsley, has long been used in Iranian folk medicine for stress relief. Stress has been linked to a speeding up of the aging process of the brain. Modern research also has revealed the benefits of cilantro -- an animal study demonstrated that cilantro eased stress. Recommended: One tablespoon of fresh cilantro several times a week. It’s often used in salsa and guacamole and to top tacos, chili, stews and soups. Three "good" Vices You may have heard that certain "bad foods," such as coffee, red wine and chocolate, are good for the heart. They also are good for the brain... Coffee. A Finnish study of more than 1,400 participants found that regular coffee drinkers were less likely to develop dementia than those who didn’t drink coffee. Those who drank moderate amounts of coffee in midlife (three to five cups daily) had the lowest risk, probably because the antioxidants in coffee inhibit age-related brain damage. The caffeine in coffee -- a five-ounce serving of coffee typically contains 30 milligrams (mg) to 150 mg, depending on how it is prepared -- also improves mental abilities. Studies of university students have shown that when students drink coffee before a test, they score higher than when they abstain. Recommended: One to three cups daily. If coffee gives you the jitters, try green tea, which also is good for the brain but has slightly less caffeine. Red wine. Red wine contains resveratrol, a polyphenol, that helps prevent inflammation and oxidation of brain tissue. People who drink moderate amounts of red wine have lower risks for stroke and dementia. Laboratory studies indicate that red wine can reduce the accumulation of beta-amyloid, the substance found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. (In a healthy brain, beta-amyloid is broken down and eliminated.) White wine also contains polyphenols but in lower concentrations than reds. Recommended: Up to two glasses of wine daily for men and one glass daily for women. Moderation is important because too much alcohol has been linked to increased risk for dementia. Alcohol-free option: Concord grape juice. Some studies suggest that it may be just as healthy as red wine when it comes to improvement in cognitive skills. Aim for one cup a day. Chocolate. The cocoa flavonols in chocolate inhibit free radicals. Flavonols also relax the linings of blood vessels. This helps reduce high blood pressure, a leading cause of dementia. One study, conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, found that participants who drank one cup of high-flavonol cocoa daily had, after two weeks, an average increase in brain circulation of about one-third. Chocolates with a high percentage of cocoa don’t necessarily have a high concentration of flavonols -- processing techniques can destroy the protective compounds. Recommended: Look for products that advertise a high flavonol content on the label (60% to 85%). One ounce is enough to get the benefits without unnecessary sugar and calories. Don’t Forget Fish You probably have heard that fish is "brain food," but we couldn’t do a brain-boosting article without mentioning it. A study of 3,660 adults age 65 and older found that those who ate omega-3-rich fish three times a week or more were 25% less likely to have silent infarcts, blockages in blood vessels that can cause dementia. Bottom Line/Personal interviewed David Grotto, RD, LDN, registered dietitian and founder and president of Nutrition Housecall, LLC, a consulting firm that provides nutrition communications, lecturing and consulting services along with personalized, at-home dietary services, Chicago. He is advisory board chair for the Produce for Kids and PBS Kids health initiatives and author of 101 Optimal Life Foods (Bantam). No Plunger? No Problem. Secret to Unplugging Your Toilet "My toilet was stopped up. My guests were on their way. And I couldn't find a plunger!" Lucky for me, I'd learned the secret: Just squirt some liquid dish detergent, wait 15 minutes, and my home and guests were good to go. How often have you been caught in a situation like this -- or any of thousands of other household mishaps? Spills, breaks, lost items -- family heirlooms nearly ruined. Too often, right? Joan and Lydia Wilen, better known to TV viewers as "The Wilen Sisters," have the secret to saving the day on these and thousands of other potentially disastrous mishaps. Learn more... Detoxification for Ex-Smokers Mark A. Stengler, NMD Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine Smoking is an extremely difficult habit to break. If you have recently stopped smoking, congratulations. What you might not know: Anyone who has stopped smoking (whether recently or within the past year) needs to detoxify. Detoxification helps to improve liver function and get rid of some of the toxins, such as cadmium and arsenic, that have built up in the body. I recommend that all ex-smokers follow this detoxification program, which involves taking all of the supplements below for four weeks. To further help detoxification of the lymphatic system, have a weekly massage or a dry or wet sauna, which is safe for everyone except pregnant women, children, frail elderly people and people with diabetes, heart or circulation problems. All of the supplements below are safe for everyone... Milk thistle. This herb has been used for centuries for liver disorders and liver cleansing. Studies show that it enhances detoxification. Take 250 milligrams (mg) of a product standardized to contain 70% to 85% silymarin twice daily 30 minutes before meals. Psyllium husks. These husks of the seeds of an east Asian plant provide fiber and promote detoxification by regulating bowel movements and expelling toxins. While you may know psyllium husk as the main ingredient in Metamucil, it also is available on its own in powder or capsule form. Take 5 grams (one teaspoon) of powder twice daily mixed into eight ounces of water. Pneumotrophin PMG. This propriety blend, made by a company called Standard Process (800-558-8740, www.standardprocess.com), contains nutrients that support healthy lung tissue. Take one tablet three times daily before meals. Omega-3 fatty acids. To reduce lung inflammation, take either krill oil (1,000 mg daily) or a daily fish oil supplement with a combined 1,000 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Choose the omega-3 fatty acid that is easiest for you to take. Some people prefer krill oil because it is less likely to cause fishy burps or aftertaste. Multivitamin. Everyone should take a multivitamin as the basis of his/her supplement regimen. This helps to ensure that your body gets crucial nutrients. Source: Mark A. Stengler, NMD, a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. Dr. Stengler is editor of the Bottom Line Natural Healing newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, Encinitas, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. To learn more about his work, visit www.drstengler.com. Erase Tumors in 2 Months "Within two months, every tumor had shrunk, dried up and fallen off," said Tom to Dr. Gary Null about the miraculous disappearance of his rapidly spreading cancer. Tom had already gone through surgery once for skin cancer on his forehead. Unfortunately, his skin cancer was melanoma. Just 10 days after the operation, the cancer was back with a vengeance. It reappeared on his forehead, and quickly spread to his arm, upper body and chest. Four doctors all agreed: There was nothing they could do to cure this cancer. They all still wanted to operate. But Tom wanted to live -- not just get sliced up. Read on to learn what Tom did to save his life... Important: Help your friends get much more out of life -- forward this E-letter to them. Better: Send it to many friends and your whole family. This is a free weekly e-mail service of BottomLineSecrets.com and Boardroom Inc. Boardroom Inc. 281 Tresser Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901-3229 ATTN: Web Team You received this e-mail because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer: Bottom Line Secrets publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields. But the use of these opinions is no substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services to suit your specific personal needs. Always consult a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. 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