BRAIN FOOD: How Neurotransmitters - Your Brain's Chemical Messengers - Respond to Your Eating Choices

By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.

In your brain, two amino acids -- tyrosine and tryptophan -- compete with each other for control of particular neuroreceptor sites (locations on neurons, your nerve cells, that receive specific neurotransmitters in balanced or excess:decreased amounts) to lock in normal or abnormal thought processes, emotions and behaviors.

Depending upon which amino acid gains access, you can be in an excited, alert state; or you can be sluggish and sleepy.

Tyrosine (found in protein foods like red meat, fish and poultry) is the raw material from which the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine are manufactured by your brain. Both of these latter chemical messengers are important for rapid thinking and reactions. And for your alertness and your sense of control, as well as for maintaining your long-term memory intact.

Significantly, a defect in dopamine availability is thought to play a vital role in Alzheimer's disease where memory and thinking processes finally peter out altogether.

Tryptophan, the amino acid that competes with tyrosine for ascendancy in neurochemical control, is the substance from which your brain manufactures serotonin. And a balanced serotonin level allows the quality of neurotransmission that promotes normal sleep. Serotonin
also plays an important role in pain control.

Foods that Activate Your Brain...and Foods that Pacify Your Brain

Protein foods are loaded with tyrosine, so eating your proteins first gives you an alertness lift.Importantly, in sick people, tyrosine seems to reduce the negative effects of stress.
On the other hand, tryptophan, found in such carbohydrates as potatoes, breads and pastas, promotes a quiet brain and sleep. And, to further help you unwind, carbohydrate foods, even only 1.5 oz., will relieve your anxiety and stress.


The Unwinding Effects of Tryptophan
Need Vitamin B6 to WorkIn order for tryptophan to exert its pacifying effects, along with your potatoes, pasta and breads, you must eat foods rich in Vitamin B6. From what can you access B6? In bananas, kidney beans, turkey, avocadoes, fish, chicken, liver, pork, eggs, and most vegetables, rice, soybeans, oats, whole wheat cereals and breads, peanuts and sweet potatoes.


Balance Your Brain Chemistry with Other B VitaminsYou'll get your thiamine minimum in 3/4 of a cup of cooked oatmeal, and any meat dish provides your required Vitamin B12.

For niacin needs, eat chicken or fish, especially fresh salmon or tuna.

For folate fulfillment, eat broccoli, asparagus or spinach.

If you lack this kind of dietary balance, you may need supplemental B-Complex vitamins from an over-the-counter pharmacy product to cover the gaps in your eating habits.


Dietary Fats and Your Brain Dynamics
Finally, "good fats" are not only for heart health. Fats are the raw material of healthy brain cells.
So, the kinds of fats you eat are crucial to brain cell structure and to balancing brain chemistry.

Diets rich in polyunsaturated fats, such as safflower, sunflower or soybean oils, all aid thinking processes by affecting your neurotransmitter system positively. Naturally, the effects of these quality fats also play a significant role in maintaining quality overall physical health for the partakers thereof.

It's good to know that "healthy fats" are not only essential for heart, blood vessel, and overall wellness. But that healthy fats play a crucial role in maintaning brain health.


(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel.  All rights reserved.

NEW HOPE FOR THE HURT OF PSORIASIS

By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.

Sufferers of psoriasis – a chronic, very uncomfortable skin condition that produces dry, unsightly plaques and leads to embarrassment or social withdrawal – now can anticipate a new topical medication (a drug for the skin surface, e.g. lotions, ointments) that has so far shown thorough clearing of psoriatic plaques in sixty percent of those tested and partial clearing in others.

New Trials - Currently in further clinical trials under the aegis of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, its developer, PTH (1-34) will now be compared for efficacy and safety in 54 additional patients during 8 weeks of treatment – some receiving the active product; others the topical formulation minus the PTH (1-34).

How It Works - Normal skin cells evolve from lower to upper surfaces over a period of a month; while psoriatic skin cells go through this cycle within only three or four days. So this disease of excessive skin-cell growth, believed exacerbated by abnormal immune system activity, motivated Manhattan Pharmaceuticals’ scientists to try making psoriatic cells behave like normal skin cells.
Normally the substance PTHrp modulates skin-cell growth. And the researchers believe that PTH (1-34) simulates this natural protein’s action so that skin-cell growth is slowed down to more normal rates.
For more than four million Americans struggling with psoriasis, PTH (1-34) appears promising.
Here’s a link to this pioneering company—> http://www.manhattanpharma.com/

(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel.  All rights reserved.

YOU CAN GET DEAF AND BLIND FROM WHAT?

By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.

Blog Readers, even in things medical, humorous things occur. Do any of you remember, as teenagers, being warned, "You can go deaf and blind" if you do or overdo "self-stimulation"?

Well, something similar has actually come to pass. With the marketing of drugs (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, Levitra...) for so-called "erectile dysfunction (ED)," otherwise vernacularly "inability to perform effectively" -- due to physiologic conditions, emotional concerns or age-related issues -- has come some side-effect concerns. First for eye health, because some men have experienced vision problems related to ED drug use.

Now, sadly, "sudden loss of hearing" has reportedly happened to nearly 30 men on either of those 3 drugs mentioned. AND additional hearing loss events occurred during pre-marketing
clinical tests of these agents.

In only a third of these cases, the unilateral hearing loss was temporary; while the outcome for the remainder is not known at this time.

Yes, for the affected men, losing your hearing and/or your eyesight is no laughing matter at all. However, the myths of childhood die hard indeed. What a strange confluence of events.

(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel.  All rights reserved.

Stem Cells Enhance Heart Attack Recovery

By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.

Good News!!! Transplanted cardiomyocytes (human embryonic stem cells derived from heart muscle cells), injected directly into the heart muscle site damaged by a heart attack, improves subsequent cardiac function. So report researchers at Geron Corp.

So, to do trials on animals, Geron is creating enough of a supply of these cardiomyocytes which can ultimately be used in human studies as well.

The good news here, albeit in rats tested, is that this therapy demonstrated via MRI (magnetic resonance imaging - a type of organ visualization) improvements in the anatomy (structure) of the heart and stronger
pumping capacity.

Such results will be revolutionary in the post-heart attack subset of cardiac patients when Geron is able to get their ultimate product into widespread use in CCUs (cardiac care units - Intensive Care hospital wards reserved for very sick heart patients).

CEO and President Dr. Thomas Okarma, a physician, is proud of GRNCM1, Geron's cardiomyocyte product which he expects -- when it is brought to market -- will help many of the more than the three-quarters of a million Americans who suffer heart attacks each year.

In essence, when this product becomes available, the regeneration of injured cardiac muscle tissue may be a miracle on the medical horizon. To learn more about GRNCM1, go to geron.com

(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel.  All rights reserved.

MEDICAL-HEALTH ALERTS

By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.

You'll find everything and anything , with updates, relative to your physical and mental health right here. FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS...which will be researched and answered as promptly as possible. (Of course, always confer with your own physician before using any of this blog's suggestions or advice on tests, procedures, medical devices, surgeries, pharmaceuticals, or other therapies for yourself or anyone else!)

Do you suffer from "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?" I have some helpful info about it which I call "Debilitating Immunopathic Relapsing Encephalomyelitis." I wrote a book on this topic.

What is Writer's Cramp? I have the answer and how to treat it. Just ask.

Dyslipidemia. Are you at risk? Ask me.

Winter is coming. Are you vulnerable to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)...depression
caused by lack of sunlight? And what can you do about it? Request my answer.

Are you having bad side effects from any of your Rx or OTC (over-the-countre) meds?
Report them to me, I'll write an explanation for you and will also inform the Pharm manufacturer of your problem(s) with their med (keeping any specific personal info confidential).

So, please feel free to ask away on any medical, surgical, therapeutic, Rx or OTC drug, prosthetic, dental, lab tests, psychiatric and psychotherapy issues. I'm here at your beck and call to answer them.

Also, issues relative to medical or nursing or psychotherapy practice...as well as potential
medical-legal issues relative to nursing homes, personal injuries, negligence, etc. can also
be addressed here.

I'm a patient advocate...writing MEDICAL-HEALTH ALERTS to offer free, professional
information to everyone who needs it.

I'm HEALTHWRITER, a healthcare professional with multiple credentials through the PhD
plus decades of published medical writing for physicians as well as health writing for the general public. Additionally, I write poetry, book critiques, fiction, and nonfiction. And I relish humor, especially satire. Visit me here often. Not a moment goes by in the medical, psychiatric or pharmaceutical industries that won't bring exciting, new data you need to
stay ahead of the trends and protect yours and your loved ones' health.

(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel.  All rights reserved.