Blog Posts...If you want the pictures and Deep Explanations
It seems that in todays world we are doing much more of our content in the audio format but sometimes we want to see the written explanations. This is what this area is going to be about. More pictures, explanations and deeper ideas...
Stop Sabotaging Your Sleep
Are you ruining your sleep before you even lay down? Poor sleep is associated with increased rates of chronic pain, stress, anxiety, risk of Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, weight gain, dementia, and countless other problems. Poor sleep is basically negative for you in every way. Your brain, body and emotions all function worse if you don’t get good sleep. Yet, research tells us that more than 50% of people don’t get quality sleep at night.
Today we are going to start you down the path to fix that. Before you start adding habits that will improve your sleep it is often much more beneficial to correct the things you are doing wrong first! Basically learn what you need to stop doing before you start trying to add some new activities in.
Today we are going to start you down the path to fix that. Before you start adding habits that will improve your sleep it is often much more beneficial to correct the things you are doing wrong first! Basically learn what you need to stop doing before you start trying to add some new activities in.
Top 6 habits that are ruining your sleep quality:
- Too much caffeine - There are many people who are very slow caffeine metabolizes to the point where if you drink 4-6 cups of coffee (keep in mind 1 mug is usually 2 cups) then they still have high amounts of caffeine in their body when they try to shut down. If you don’t know your caffeine metabolism but you don’t sleep well you’d do best to have <2 cups of coffee and do it before noon.
- TV/Phone Screens in bed - when bright lights particularly of blue wave length stimulate your eyes, your brain assumes that light is coming from the sun. This delays your body's natural production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) for up to 90 minutes. SO when you play on your phone getting ready for bed for those 10-30 minutes your body won’t be ready for sleep hormonally for another hour and a half! If you must have screen time we’ll get into how you can cheat later but for now start limiting screen time the last hour before bed.
- Sleeping too hot - most people make the mistake of keeping the thermostat in their house too high at night. Research says that you should sleep between 64-68 degrees to get the best quality sleep. This is because the temperature drop is one part of what stimulates your body to shut down and get into deep, restorative sleep. Turn that temperature down!
- Irregular bedtimes - Yes as adults we need bedtimes too! If you change the time you prepare for and go to sleep each night your body can’t find a good rhythm. Many people change their bed time depending on the day of the week and their body hates them for it. Keep a more regular bedtime and try to change it by no less than 60 minutes on the weekends and watch your sleep quality continue to improve.
- Not expending enough energy during the day - if you aren't burning calories, moving a lot or exercising then your body won't have as strong of a signal to shut down for recovery. I find that I sleep the best when I do zone 3-4 type of exercise (fairly intense HIT type exercise) but some research shows benefits to zone 2 or slow cardio training.
- Staying inside all day - not getting a moderate amount of sunlight during the day will ruin sleep very quickly. Your natural circadian rhythm relies on you getting sunlight during the day. Even just 30 minutes of sunlight will help to regulate your circadian rhythm.
Next week we'll dive into some of the habits you can add to your daily routine to get the best sleep of your life. In the meantime start cleaning up the bad habits that may be ruining your sleep!
Training Your Nervous System?
Your nervous system is the controlling system of all function of your body but how often do you think about actually training your nervous system to improve its performance?
In my conversation with Applied Neurology expert, Elisabeth Kristof. We did a deep dive into:
In my conversation with Applied Neurology expert, Elisabeth Kristof. We did a deep dive into:
- How your function, pain and health can be affected by a dysfunctional nervous system.
- Where pain comes from in your nervous system?
- How STRESS levels affect your nervous system and health
- Can you actually improve balance in your nervous system
Your nervous system is comprised of a few different parts:
In this picture there is quite a bit of information but the main thing that I'd like to point out is that the autonomic (think automatic) nervous system is split into two parts: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic. The sympathetic is our fight and flight - it basically activates everything that would help us in a fight situation. The parasympathetic is our rest and relax system - it helps to restore a calm and relaxed state.
In today's world we tend to live in the overactivated or sympathetic state. This imbalance can create many issues including chronic stress, anxiety, pain, burn-out, inflammation, disease and more.
In today's world we need to pay more attention to nervous system balance than ever. Our nervous system doesn't know the difference between a real fight/flight situation and one made up in our minds. It responds exactly the same.
Some ways that we can improve the health of the nervous system are: stimulate each aspect of our nerves.
Also check out her free video series at www.brainbased-wellness.com.
In today's world we tend to live in the overactivated or sympathetic state. This imbalance can create many issues including chronic stress, anxiety, pain, burn-out, inflammation, disease and more.
In today's world we need to pay more attention to nervous system balance than ever. Our nervous system doesn't know the difference between a real fight/flight situation and one made up in our minds. It responds exactly the same.
Some ways that we can improve the health of the nervous system are: stimulate each aspect of our nerves.
- Move your eye's in their full range of motion. Look all the way left, right, up, down, and large circles.
- Use a tune up ball to roll the bottom of your feet and hands feeling the sensation and tightness.
- Move your tongue in large circles over your teeth, around the top teeth, bottom teeth - making larger and larger circles with the tongue, reaching further back in the mouth as you progress. Do 5 each direction
- Do four 4-7-8 breaths each day
- Start a mindfulness practice that begins with paying close attention to your breath coming in and going out. Count the breaths up to 20 then start back at 1. Do 10-minutes each day.
- Do a new/challenging movement or exercise twice each week. Learn new ways to move your body to challenge the system.
Also check out her free video series at www.brainbased-wellness.com.
NERVE PAIN? Can A Supplement Be Better Than Medication?
PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is a compound naturally produced by your body to combat pain and inflammation. It targets nerve inflammation and nerve protection responses. In our office we have seen many nerve pain patients heal much faster when adding PEA to their advanced pain therapy treatment. But what does it do?
Research shows improved pain and healing times for Sciatic nerve damage, carpal tunnel and likely thoracic outlet syndrome. 300-1200 mg/day Speeds pain relief and healing over 50%.
Research Review CONCLUSION:
PEA is effective at treating nerve injury, pain and repair by changing the growth factors, cell function and inflammatory reaction at the cell level. PEA is specifically helpful for nerve compression such as sciatica, carpal tunnel and thoracic outlet syndrome as well as signs of fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.
STUDIES:
Palmitoylethanolamide, a neutraceutical, in nerve compression syndromes: efficacy and safety in sciatic pain and carpal tunnel syndrome - PubMed (nih.gov)
In this research review on PEA of over 6,000 patients PEA was shown to be effective and safe to treat nerve compression syndromes of sciatic pain and carpal tunnel pain. In one double blind placebo control trial it reduced pain over 50% in sciatic patients in only 3 weeks.
Palmitoylethanolamide in Fibromyalgia: Results from Prospective and Retrospective Observational Studies - PubMed (nih.gov)
In this study patients taking PEA to address pain with fibromyalgia found improvements at 3 months and even greater at 6 months. They had less pain, tenderness and trigger points.
It works by addressing nerve inflammation and protection at the microglial cells. Microglial cells lead to peripheral and central sensitization and inflammatory and neuropathic pain because of the over-release of TNF-alpha and IL-1Beta. These neuromodulators are produced after injury or infection of peripheral and central nerves. This means that chronic pain is actually a result of imbalance in the immune system.
The immune system is activated to aid the nervous system when the microglial cells ask for help. The microglial cells are always surveying at the cellular level. When pathogens or injury are discovered, cytokines are released that call in the immune cells to clean up and fight off the pathogenic insult. This promotes an inflammatory response which creates neurotoxins. The neurotoxins in turn induce more inflammation. Without a good system to control the toxins produced during the treatment of the pathogen or injury to the nervous system, neuroinflammation will occur.
Efficacy of a fixed combination of palmitoylethanolamide and acetyl-l-carnitine (PEA+ALC FC) in the treatment of neuropathies secondary to rheumatic diseases - PubMed (nih.gov)
This study shows that in combination with Acetyl L-Carnitine, PEA was significant in improve pain and healing in sciatic and carpal tunnel syndrome. This shows that it may have a synergistic effect when combined with other nerve healing or analgesic compounds. Patients took 600 mg 2x/day for the first 2 weeks and then 1x/day for the remaining 6 months. Perhaps leading to and indication of doing a loading phase to further reduce pain.
Palmitoylethanolamide, a naturally occurring disease-modifying agent in neuropathic pain - PubMed (nih.gov)
PEA a member of the N-acylethanolamine family which is produced from the lipid bilayer on-demand, is capable of exerting anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects by down-modulating both microglial and mast cell activity has led to the application of this fatty acid amide in several clinical studies of neuropathic pain, with beneficial outcome and no indication of adverse effects at pharmacological doses.
Non-neuronal cell modulation relieves neuropathic pain: efficacy of the endogenous lipid palmitoylethanolamide - PubMed (nih.gov)
PEA delayed mast cell recruitment, protected mast cells against degranulation and abolished the nerve growth factor increase in sciatic nerve concomitantly preserving the nerve from degeneration, while reducing microglia activation in the spinal cord. These findings support the idea that non-neuronal cells may be a valuable pharmacological target to treat neuropathic pain since the current neuronal-direct drugs are still unsatisfactory. In this context PEA could represent an innovative molecule, combining a dual analgesic activity, both on neurons and on nonneuronal cells.
Research shows improved pain and healing times for Sciatic nerve damage, carpal tunnel and likely thoracic outlet syndrome. 300-1200 mg/day Speeds pain relief and healing over 50%.
Research Review CONCLUSION:
PEA is effective at treating nerve injury, pain and repair by changing the growth factors, cell function and inflammatory reaction at the cell level. PEA is specifically helpful for nerve compression such as sciatica, carpal tunnel and thoracic outlet syndrome as well as signs of fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.
STUDIES:
Palmitoylethanolamide, a neutraceutical, in nerve compression syndromes: efficacy and safety in sciatic pain and carpal tunnel syndrome - PubMed (nih.gov)
In this research review on PEA of over 6,000 patients PEA was shown to be effective and safe to treat nerve compression syndromes of sciatic pain and carpal tunnel pain. In one double blind placebo control trial it reduced pain over 50% in sciatic patients in only 3 weeks.
Palmitoylethanolamide in Fibromyalgia: Results from Prospective and Retrospective Observational Studies - PubMed (nih.gov)
In this study patients taking PEA to address pain with fibromyalgia found improvements at 3 months and even greater at 6 months. They had less pain, tenderness and trigger points.
It works by addressing nerve inflammation and protection at the microglial cells. Microglial cells lead to peripheral and central sensitization and inflammatory and neuropathic pain because of the over-release of TNF-alpha and IL-1Beta. These neuromodulators are produced after injury or infection of peripheral and central nerves. This means that chronic pain is actually a result of imbalance in the immune system.
The immune system is activated to aid the nervous system when the microglial cells ask for help. The microglial cells are always surveying at the cellular level. When pathogens or injury are discovered, cytokines are released that call in the immune cells to clean up and fight off the pathogenic insult. This promotes an inflammatory response which creates neurotoxins. The neurotoxins in turn induce more inflammation. Without a good system to control the toxins produced during the treatment of the pathogen or injury to the nervous system, neuroinflammation will occur.
Efficacy of a fixed combination of palmitoylethanolamide and acetyl-l-carnitine (PEA+ALC FC) in the treatment of neuropathies secondary to rheumatic diseases - PubMed (nih.gov)
This study shows that in combination with Acetyl L-Carnitine, PEA was significant in improve pain and healing in sciatic and carpal tunnel syndrome. This shows that it may have a synergistic effect when combined with other nerve healing or analgesic compounds. Patients took 600 mg 2x/day for the first 2 weeks and then 1x/day for the remaining 6 months. Perhaps leading to and indication of doing a loading phase to further reduce pain.
Palmitoylethanolamide, a naturally occurring disease-modifying agent in neuropathic pain - PubMed (nih.gov)
PEA a member of the N-acylethanolamine family which is produced from the lipid bilayer on-demand, is capable of exerting anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects by down-modulating both microglial and mast cell activity has led to the application of this fatty acid amide in several clinical studies of neuropathic pain, with beneficial outcome and no indication of adverse effects at pharmacological doses.
Non-neuronal cell modulation relieves neuropathic pain: efficacy of the endogenous lipid palmitoylethanolamide - PubMed (nih.gov)
PEA delayed mast cell recruitment, protected mast cells against degranulation and abolished the nerve growth factor increase in sciatic nerve concomitantly preserving the nerve from degeneration, while reducing microglia activation in the spinal cord. These findings support the idea that non-neuronal cells may be a valuable pharmacological target to treat neuropathic pain since the current neuronal-direct drugs are still unsatisfactory. In this context PEA could represent an innovative molecule, combining a dual analgesic activity, both on neurons and on nonneuronal cells.
PMS Pain?
Roughly 40% of women report PMS pain and irritation. I see many women who experience set backs in recovery around their cycle and over the last few weeks diving into Omega-3 research I found it interesting that there were some changes.
In this research review we see a few things that can move the needle if you are having PMS symptoms.
Omega 3
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28707491/
95 women too 1 gram of fish oil and found that the supplement improved pms in both the physical pain, bloating etc and the mental emotional components!
Omega 3
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23642943/
The second study was done on 124 women taking 2 grams of omega-3's per day (1g 2x/day) They found that after 45 days of taking the omega-3 depression, concentration, bloating and anxiety were all improved in the Omega-3 group! They also found that the treatment improved bloating, headache and breast tenderness. The effects increased by longer duration meaning it kept improving the longer they took the omega-3's.
Zinc Sulfate
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28188965/
The last study was done supplementing zinc sulfate at 220mg containing 50mg of elemental zinc from the 16th day of the cycle to the first day of the next cycle. They found that of the 142 participants that the Zinc group decreased from 9.5% reporting moderate to severe PMS to 2.6% by the 3rd month.
So for those who experience significant symptoms if we combine these studies you'd take 1-2 grams of Omega-3 in the form of the fish oil or krill oil as we spoke about last week and for the last 2 weeks of your cycle add in Zinc Sulfate. Do this for at least 3 months and see where you are.
In this research review we see a few things that can move the needle if you are having PMS symptoms.
Omega 3
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28707491/
95 women too 1 gram of fish oil and found that the supplement improved pms in both the physical pain, bloating etc and the mental emotional components!
Omega 3
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23642943/
The second study was done on 124 women taking 2 grams of omega-3's per day (1g 2x/day) They found that after 45 days of taking the omega-3 depression, concentration, bloating and anxiety were all improved in the Omega-3 group! They also found that the treatment improved bloating, headache and breast tenderness. The effects increased by longer duration meaning it kept improving the longer they took the omega-3's.
Zinc Sulfate
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28188965/
The last study was done supplementing zinc sulfate at 220mg containing 50mg of elemental zinc from the 16th day of the cycle to the first day of the next cycle. They found that of the 142 participants that the Zinc group decreased from 9.5% reporting moderate to severe PMS to 2.6% by the 3rd month.
So for those who experience significant symptoms if we combine these studies you'd take 1-2 grams of Omega-3 in the form of the fish oil or krill oil as we spoke about last week and for the last 2 weeks of your cycle add in Zinc Sulfate. Do this for at least 3 months and see where you are.
Omega - 3 Benefits explained
Its another research review: So thanks for the feedback on Omega-3 info. I did get some questions about what Omega-3's are used for.
Tonight we're looking at a few studies First is Migraines:
In this study with 182 adults who experienced migraines the high omega-3 and high omega-3/low omega-6 diets decreased the number of headache hours participants experienced per day and the number of headache days experienced per month. Dietary alteration of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids for headache reduction in adults with migraine: randomized controlled trial | The BMJ
Omega-3's have also shown benefits in depression and mood. In this study a double blind RCT with 430 outpatients supplementing 1050 mg of EPA and 150 mg of dha provided improvements in clinical and self reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. The improvements were comparable of antidepressant drugs! The Efficacy of Omega-3 Supplementation for Major Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial | Psychiatrist.com
Aging is another important one for Omega-3's. Telomeres are a protection buffer for aging DNA and a general aging marker. The double-blind randomized controlled trial involved 106 adults between the ages of 40 and 85 years who were sedentary and overweight. Supplementation of both 1.25 grames or 2.5 grams of Omega-3 FA were associated with longer telomere length! This suggest Omega-3's could slow aging! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S088915911200431X
Another bit of research is in Cancer. In this study done in mice: Fats with the least saturation (meaning the most double bonds) were most effective, with the omega-3 fat DHA demonstrating the most cancer-fighting ability. However, this result only occurred in cancer cells with an acidic pH compared to a neutral pH. Mice that received the fish oil supplementation lost harmful white adipose tissue but gained metabolically beneficial brown adipose tissue, improving whole-body metabolism. The fish oil diet delayed cancer growth and increased survival, and this effect was magnified by the addition of a ferroptosis-inducing drug.
Peroxidation of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the acidic tumor environment leads to ferroptosis-mediated anticancer effects - ScienceDirect
Tonight we're looking at a few studies First is Migraines:
In this study with 182 adults who experienced migraines the high omega-3 and high omega-3/low omega-6 diets decreased the number of headache hours participants experienced per day and the number of headache days experienced per month. Dietary alteration of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids for headache reduction in adults with migraine: randomized controlled trial | The BMJ
Omega-3's have also shown benefits in depression and mood. In this study a double blind RCT with 430 outpatients supplementing 1050 mg of EPA and 150 mg of dha provided improvements in clinical and self reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. The improvements were comparable of antidepressant drugs! The Efficacy of Omega-3 Supplementation for Major Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial | Psychiatrist.com
Aging is another important one for Omega-3's. Telomeres are a protection buffer for aging DNA and a general aging marker. The double-blind randomized controlled trial involved 106 adults between the ages of 40 and 85 years who were sedentary and overweight. Supplementation of both 1.25 grames or 2.5 grams of Omega-3 FA were associated with longer telomere length! This suggest Omega-3's could slow aging! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S088915911200431X
Another bit of research is in Cancer. In this study done in mice: Fats with the least saturation (meaning the most double bonds) were most effective, with the omega-3 fat DHA demonstrating the most cancer-fighting ability. However, this result only occurred in cancer cells with an acidic pH compared to a neutral pH. Mice that received the fish oil supplementation lost harmful white adipose tissue but gained metabolically beneficial brown adipose tissue, improving whole-body metabolism. The fish oil diet delayed cancer growth and increased survival, and this effect was magnified by the addition of a ferroptosis-inducing drug.
Peroxidation of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the acidic tumor environment leads to ferroptosis-mediated anticancer effects - ScienceDirect
Omega-3 Sources
It’s #researchreview time! Tonight we’re looking at omega 3’s, fish oil and krill oil. When we look at absorbing the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA there are a few considerations that go into what we should take. First off is how is the fatty acid stored. In Krill oil the FA is delivered to the body in a phospholipid while fish oil often delivers the fatty acid in a triglyceride form. Research has shown that the brain likes to absorb phospholipids better and the stomach can absorb them at a 40% better rate. The issue comes in when we look at the amounts in normal supplements where many krill oil supplements only contain 1/10th the amount of EPA/DHA that fish oil does. Thus even if we absorb twice as much we’re still not getting as much. Conclusion: if you can take the same amount or even close krill oil wins the race but if not maybe taking a very high quality fish oil is a good starting point. The wildcard is that krill oil also contains the antioxidant astaxanthin that helps with inflammation, cell repair, HDL etc.
Morning Routine for a better life?
In 2018 I went to a conference with some of the worlds best anti-aging health hackers and scientists. During that conference a lot of doctors and researchers presented amazing ideas and techniques to get healthier and heal faster. I’m all better lifestyle recommendation The one that influenced these influencers the most was to wake up and spend every morning looking at the sun for 20 minutes with your feet on the earth.
This practice was anecdotally explain as changing cell function in the body, brain function, stress and anxiety, Eichel and overall wellness. If that is the upside of watching the sunrise and the downside is you have an extra 20 minutes to yourself every morning it’s a practice That’s worth a shot. 30 day sunrise earth challenge.
This practice was anecdotally explain as changing cell function in the body, brain function, stress and anxiety, Eichel and overall wellness. If that is the upside of watching the sunrise and the downside is you have an extra 20 minutes to yourself every morning it’s a practice That’s worth a shot. 30 day sunrise earth challenge.
Sauna Function?
Great question - first off the stress of the heat causes a survival response getting your body to release norepinephrine. Heating up the body and blood also activated heat shock proteins, transcriptional regulators, and pro- and anti-inflammatory factors.
Regular sauna also activates transcription regulators that have a strong role in aging and lifespan. They help to protect cell damage, dna damage and stem cell function.
These effects and others play a role in the benefits of sauna for heart health, aging, life span and Alzheimer’s prevention
Sauna is one of my favorite health and wellness #biostacks. It helps a lot on its own but when you stack it with other treatments it really does some amazing things.
The research on the benefits of sauna have continued to grow in recent years.
This study done with 2,300 middle-aged men, showed beneficial effects with sauna use reducing risk death and disease.
Men who used the sauna two to three times per week were about 27% less likely to die from cardiovascular-related causes than men who didn't use the sauna. When compared to men who used the sauna 4-7 times per week they found the increased dose gave almost twice the benefits – those men who did more sauna sessions were 50% less likely to die from cardiovascular-related causes.
They also found the men were about 40% less likely to die from all premature death causes. This was even after age, activity and lifestyle was factored in.
The researchers also found that the frequent sauna use reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Both reduced around 66%!
Not a bad reason to sweat...
Regular sauna also activates transcription regulators that have a strong role in aging and lifespan. They help to protect cell damage, dna damage and stem cell function.
These effects and others play a role in the benefits of sauna for heart health, aging, life span and Alzheimer’s prevention
Sauna is one of my favorite health and wellness #biostacks. It helps a lot on its own but when you stack it with other treatments it really does some amazing things.
The research on the benefits of sauna have continued to grow in recent years.
This study done with 2,300 middle-aged men, showed beneficial effects with sauna use reducing risk death and disease.
Men who used the sauna two to three times per week were about 27% less likely to die from cardiovascular-related causes than men who didn't use the sauna. When compared to men who used the sauna 4-7 times per week they found the increased dose gave almost twice the benefits – those men who did more sauna sessions were 50% less likely to die from cardiovascular-related causes.
They also found the men were about 40% less likely to die from all premature death causes. This was even after age, activity and lifestyle was factored in.
The researchers also found that the frequent sauna use reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Both reduced around 66%!
Not a bad reason to sweat...
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