Mid-Year Momentum––Being Well All Through the Year
Mid-Year Momentum––Being Well All Through the Year
As May comes to a close, we find ourselves at the mid-way mark of 2021. This month focused on a couple of wellness areas that we should pay attention to every day of the year, every year of our lives: healthy aging and mental health.
Nearly 43-million (1 in 5) Americans are affected by or experience mental health issues or concerns on some level. Young people––ages 13-18––experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. During the elder years, mental health becomes extremely important to the overall well-being of each person. It has been reported that 20-percent of people in this older age group suffer from some type of mental health concern. Those numbers may seem staggering, as the symptoms may range from mild to severe.
According to the 2020 Census, the Baby Boomer Generation––those born 1946-1964––number around 73-million. That’s nearly 20 percent of the American population. This group of Americans range in age from 57 to 75, making health care a top interest or concern.
For those living with mental health challenges, and for many older people, their symptoms are a daily reminder that they need to take additional care in their daily routines and wellness choices all through the year.
As new discoveries and technologies in understanding the mechanics of brain function become more widely available to the general public, it will be easier to obtain ongoing support and treatment for mental disorders, for all ages, often in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home. I use a couple of new technologies that focus on micro-circulation and neuro-tech with my clients that have produced impressive results.
It is no secret that a physical fitness regimen also improves brain fitness and supports healthy aging. Many mental wellness programs incorporate yoga, Tai Chi, and various forms of dance as well as other forms of fitness to support whole-body improvement.
As a wellness coach who focuses on nature’s seasonal foods, I am delighted to read the numerous articles and abstracts that promote a natural, plant-based, nutrient-rich food plan to support brain health for all ages. Highly acclaimed publications are releasing their studies with proof from their clinical trials. This is exciting news!
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience aimed to prove that natural plant compounds (polyphenols) possessed specific properties that reduced oxidative stress and stimulated the activation of brain molecules that help in connective plasticity, a process that supports cognitive function. They concluded that using a healthy plant-based diet is a realistic method to overcome cognitive and psychiatric disorders. “Thus, the consumption of diets enriched with polyphenols may present the potential of dietary manipulation as a non-invasive, natural, and inexpensive therapeutic means to support a healthy brain.” That’s a lot of science just to say, “Eat Your Vegetables!”
It is encouraging to read research article titles like: “Brain Foods that Supercharge Your Memory, Focus and Mood,” “Antioxidants for a Healthier Brain,” “ Give Kids a Nutritional Edge with Brain Foods,” “The Effects of Nutrients on Brain Function and Health,” and many more. This is evidence that science is seriously looking at plant-based foods for brain health and function. This is good news.
Since we are heading into the Summer season, here is my short list of fresh, brain-building plant
foods to refresh your brain:
• Aloe Vera Juice
• Apples
• Apricots
• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bell Peppers (red, green, yellow, orange)
• Beets
• Berries (Black, Blue, Goji, Raspberry, Strawberry)
• Broccoli & Brussels sprouts
• Cherries
• Citrus (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime)
• Herbs: Gingko, Goto Kola, Bacopa, Rhodiola, Rosemary, Sage, Garlic, Ginger Turmeric,
• Kiwi, red grapes, peaches, pears, plums
• Peas, spinach, tomato
• Walnuts, Almonds, Hazelnuts
• Yam/sweet potato
Look for these fresh foods at upcoming Farmers Markets and as ingredients in your nutritional supplements. Science has proven that the health of the gut greatly affects the health of the brain. The food list I’ve shared supports “all-over-health” that begins in the gut, so make these foods plentiful in your Summer menus. Your brain will thank you!
Sometimes, we need nutritional support beyond the plate. I personally use and recommend the gut-brain health supplements from www.Amare.com/ConniePshigoda to keep my mental wellness in excellent health. I believe you will appreciate the science backed nutrition that goes into these supplements. Here are a few of my favorites: