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Tag: longevity

  • An Audiologist’s Top Tips For Preventing Hearing Loss

    An Audiologist’s Top Tips For Preventing Hearing Loss

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    Unless your job (think: construction or woodworking) requires it, you may not think to wear hearing protection in noisy spaces. But in reality, you should be wearing earplugs when you’re attending a music festival, riding a motorcycle, or even mowing your lawn, says Taylor.

    Without them, “you could experience temporary tinnitus or temporary hearing loss,” she adds. “Sometimes after noise exposure, we see a temporary threshold shift, where if someone tested your hearing right after that concert, you would present with hearing loss. It can recover, but you would definitely leave the concert with ringing in your ears.”

    In fact, sporting events are so loud, you might suffer hearing loss after just 15 minutes of exposure, and it can take as little as five minutes to harm your hearing while at a nightclub or concert. Generally speaking, the louder the sound and longer the exposure, the less time it takes and the greater the risk for hearing loss to occur, according to the CDC3.

    People often push back on wearing ear protection at concerts, says Taylor, as they believe they won’t be able to hear the artist with plugs in. But there are earplugs on the market, such as those from Loop and Eargasm, that are specifically designed for music—and look pretty cute to boot, she notes. “You hear the music perfectly, it’s just a little softer,” she adds. “In my opinion, the music sounds a little better because it’s not, like, painfully loud.”

    In other instances, you’re fine to use the cheap foam earplugs available at the hardware store. Just make sure to put them in them properly for adequate protection, says Taylor.

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    Megan Falk

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  • This “Normal” Sign Of Aging Could Correlate To Dementia Risk

    This “Normal” Sign Of Aging Could Correlate To Dementia Risk

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    Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) recently studied over a thousand women around the age of 75 and looked at two speed and strength measurements: grip strength (an important indicator of overall health and longevity) and a metric called “timed up and go,” TUG (in which people are timed as they get up from a chair, walk a short distance, and return to the chair1).

    For over 15 years, scientists monitored these women for declines in speed and strength metrics. They found that women with significant declines in these areas were up to twice as likely as their counterparts to have a late-life dementia event (either a dementia-related hospitalization or death).

    And while this might sound alarming to anyone getting older or watching their loved ones slow down with age, it is important to remember two things: For starters, some decline in strength and speed is normal for anyone in their 70s, especially if relatively mild. Also, early-stage research and findings like this may help identify early-stage dementia and encourage preventative therapies that can help stave off cognitive decline.

    “Incorporating muscle function tests as part of dementia screening could be useful to identify high-risk individuals, who might then benefit from primary prevention programs aimed at preventing the onset of the condition such as a healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle,” study author Marc Sim, Ph.D. said in a statement.

    Sim adds that grip strength and TUG tests aren’t currently performed in clinical practice, but both are inexpensive and simple assesments that could be introduced as part of dementia screening.

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    Jenny Fant

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  • How Alcohol Affects The Brain & What To Do About It

    How Alcohol Affects The Brain & What To Do About It

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    Let’s dive into how alcohol impacts the brain in general. “I’m very honest when I say no amount of alcohol is good for the brain,” Nicola states. This may not come as a surprise to everyone, but it’s important to note nevertheless. 

    Nicola clarifies that “good for the brain” means serving the brain in any positive way. But many folks have a drink in the evening to wind down and (so they think) sleep better. Is this true, or is it an illusion? Sorry to say, research points to the latter.

    When you look at the composition of alcohol, the main ingredient that makes you feel relaxed at first and drunk after a few drinks is ethanol. That calming feeling is actually the sedative impact of ethanol, Nicola explains. “Sedating is very different from sleeping,” she states. “So if you drink, you actually block deep sleep and REM sleep, so you don’t even get into those stages.” In other words: You may feel sleepier and fall asleep faster after a few drinks, but the quality of sleep you get is likely quite poor.

    Now, let’s chat brain health in general: When it comes to moderate drinking, which research1 describes as seven drinks for women and 14 drinks for men per week (in total), brain damage is totally a possibility. With that level of drinking, research shows you can have low-level brain damage, she adds. 

    The 2022 study1 Nicola references found that alcohol intake is negatively associated with global brain volume measures, regional gray matter volumes, and white matter microstructure. The affected brain regions include the frontal cortex, amygdala, and brain stem, to name a few—regions associated with creativity, memory, judgement, motor tasks, emotional regulation, heart rate, sleep, and more. 

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    Hannah Frye

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  • How to Achieve Business Longevity | Entrepreneur

    How to Achieve Business Longevity | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Successful entrepreneurs understand the value of being prepared. As technology and customer expectations rapidly evolve, it’s crucial to be proactive in anticipating what lies ahead. By leveraging forecasts from experts about trends that are poised to emerge over the next decade, business owners can stay on top of their competition – positioning themselves for success long into 2030 and beyond!

    As technology evolves rapidly, entrepreneurs need to keep ahead of the curve when it comes to staying competitive. This means taking advantage of new tools, technologies, and opportunities as they arise. For example, businesses should consider adopting cloud-based solutions that enable remote collaboration and use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as natural language processing (NLP). These technologies can help businesses streamline processes and increase efficiency. Additionally, entrepreneurs should pay attention to emerging industry trends such as ecommerce and digital marketing, which have become increasingly important sources of revenue in recent years.

    According to experts, artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize how businesses operate shortly. AI technology can be used by businesses to automate mundane tasks, like data entry or customer service inquiries. This frees up resources and allows companies to focus on more strategic decision-making. Additionally, AI can help businesses save time and money by streamlining processes and identifying areas where efficiency can be improved.

    AI is also being used to detect anomalies in financial records, identify patterns in customer behavior and provide predictions about potential outcomes of marketing campaigns. In addition, AI-based chatbots are becoming increasingly popular for providing personalized customer service experiences at scale.

    Related: How Relationships can Build Business Longevity

    Entrepreneurs should start and continue to get familiar with AI-powered tools to understand their customers better and develop better products and services that meet their needs. By leveraging powerful tools such as machine learning algorithms and natural language processing, businesses can gain insights into customer preferences and trends — providing valuable information that can be used for making decisions about product development, marketing strategies, and more.

    The use of AI is rapidly transforming various sectors of the industry — from finance to retail to healthcare — allowing business owners to drive innovation and remain competitive in an ever-evolving environment. With its ability to automate routine tasks and make sense of large data sets quickly, it’s no wonder experts view AI as a critical enabler for the success of today’s businesses.

    Beyond just the technological side of things, there are several other ways entrepreneurs can prepare their businesses for 2030. As the world becomes more connected through digital platforms like social media and mobile apps, businesses will need to ensure that they have a strong online presence — from providing accurate information about their services or products to engaging with customers regularly. Additionally, entrepreneurs should strive for sustainable growth by developing systematic processes that foster efficiency and savings over time.

    Businesses can use social media in several ways in 2030 — from connecting with potential customers and building brand recognition to increasing awareness of products or services and providing customer support. By leveraging the latest trends and making it a priority to understand the customer, businesses can create meaningful engagement with their fans, followers, and loyal customers — driving sales in the process.

    Related: Why Embracing Chaos is Crucial to Your Success and Longevity

    Another way social media can help businesses in 2030 is through targeted advertising. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter allow advertisers to identify their target audiences more precisely than ever before — allowing them to tailor advertising campaigns for maximum effectiveness. Additionally, by tracking user interactions with ads over time, businesses can gain valuable insight into consumer behavior which can then be used to improve future campaigns. This process will only become easier with time.

    Finally, entrepreneurs should stay connected with other industry leaders and experts who will remain up-to-date on the latest developments in the field. By keeping track of what’s happening both inside and outside their own industry sector, entrepreneurs can better anticipate disruptions before they happen and plan accordingly — whether that means stocking up on supplies in advance or diversifying investments into new markets or sectors.

    Related: How Networking Is Necessary for Effective Entrepreneurship

    Staying connected with other industry leaders can be a key factor in helping businesses succeed. Not only can it help executives get access to valuable information and insight from their peers, but it can also open up opportunities for collaboration and growth. This allows entrepreneurs to stay ahead of the competition and identify areas where they may have an advantage — giving them a chance to capitalize on those areas before others do.

    By preparing adequately now for potential changes over the next decade or so, entrepreneurs can position themselves well for long-term success. Taking proactive steps such as harnessing emerging technologies, using automation tools where appropriate, working remotely if needed, maintaining an online presence and staying connected with customers, the team and industry leaders are all essential components of this preparation process. Entrepreneurs who take these steps now will be well-positioned to tackle any unexpected challenges that may arise in 2030 and beyond — ensuring their success far into the future.

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    Brandon Pena

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  • How Women Can Prevent Dementia In Their 40s (& Beyond)

    How Women Can Prevent Dementia In Their 40s (& Beyond)

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    For women, this phase of life can be especially challenging mentally and emotionally thanks to perimenopause. After decades of menstrual cycles (and maybe a pregnancy, or a few) post-puberty, your hormones are shifting to prepare you for menopause. With this comes hormonal changes that can have a profound impact on your cognitive functioning and overall brain health.

    During this transition, many women experience hormonal brain fog—i.e., clouded thoughts, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating—thanks to decreasing estrogen and progesterone levels leading up to menopause. This phenomenon can be downright discouraging, as it affects cognitive functioning in a palpable way. (For specific tips to reduce mental fogginess and promote mental clarity and performance during perimenopause, check out this article.)

    According to neuroscientist, nutritionist, and associate director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D., the drop in estrogen levels, specifically, can do more than just increase the likelihood of brain fog. In this mindbodygreen podcast episode, she explains how reproductive hormones play a massive role in protecting our brains from the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other damage that contributes to neurodegenerative diseases.

    “The interactions between the brain and the reproductive organs are really crucial for brain health and brain aging—especially in women. We tend to think of testosterone [and] estrogens as involved in reproduction, having kids. But in reality, these hormones have a lot of effects inside our brains,” Mosconi says.

    These reproductive hormones push neurons to bring glucose and make energy—thus, if your hormone levels are high, your brain energy is high. “But then what happens to testosterone is that it doesn’t quite decline that much over time; whereas for women, estrogens pretty much plummet when women go through menopause,” she explains. “If you think of these hormones as having some kind of superpowers for the brain, women lose the superpower around the time that menopause hits, right? And the brain is left a little more vulnerable.”

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Omega-3s Reduce Joint Pain, Swelling & Stiffness, Science Says

    Omega-3s Reduce Joint Pain, Swelling & Stiffness, Science Says

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    As omega-3 fats exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, they also promote joint comfort and mobility by reducing pain, stiffness, and soft tissue swelling. This helps support longevity and independence as you age (since having mobile joints will allow you to move with ease) and also helps ease joint discomfort associated with arthritis. 

    In a 2020 Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology review, scientists analyzed a number of clinical studies that found that increasing omega-3 intake helped reduce morning stiffness, tenderness, and swelling6 of joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Researchers hypothesize that these healthy fats may help modulate the autoimmune response, and can therefore be used to help manage RA symptoms. 

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    Kirsten Nunez, M.S.

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  • These Eye-Critical Carotenoids Help Prevent AMD Later In Life

    These Eye-Critical Carotenoids Help Prevent AMD Later In Life

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    Carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow pigments that plants produce. Xanthophylls are a specific category of carotenoids with neuroprotective and antioxidant actions. 

    Three in particular—lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin—are especially beneficial in protecting the eyes from oxidative damage and eye diseases.

    Lutein & zeaxanthin help:

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • These Women Reduced Their Biological Age Up To 11 Years

    These Women Reduced Their Biological Age Up To 11 Years

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    A new case series finds that a methylation-supportive diet and supplementation regimen rich in epinutrients plus lifestyle interventions (e.g., quality sleep, proper hydration, regular physical activity, and a consistent deep breathing practice) can yield a significant reduction in biological age in as short as eight weeks. 

    In addition to probiotics and greens powder, a targeted methylation support supplement like mindbodygreen’s methylation support+ that includes key epinutrients featured in this case series (i.e., B vitamins methylfolate, riboflavin, B6, and methylated B12 plus betaine) can help further support DNA methylation and overall longevity efforts.*

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Getting More Fiber Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk By Up To 50%

    Getting More Fiber Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk By Up To 50%

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    More specifically, a significantly reduced risk of 9% was seen for both CVD and CHD per seven grams of daily fiber consumed. According to the National Academies, women need at least 25 grams of fiber per day while men need at least 38 grams.

    That means that simply by getting adequate amounts of fiber each day, women can lower their risk of CVD and CHD by 32% and men can lower their risk by 49%. 

    The problem is that 95% of Americans3 are failing to consume enough fiber each day. This serious nutrient gap could be playing a much larger role in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. than we realize. 

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Slow Down Aging & Prevent Dementia With These Simple Daily Tips

    Slow Down Aging & Prevent Dementia With These Simple Daily Tips

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    If you’re at all interested in supporting your longevity efforts (like we are), you may have heard that having shorter telomeres is a sign of biological aging—and thus, having longer telomeres is a sign of living a longer life. These little chromosomal caps help protect our DNA from damage, and measuring the rate of their decay over time can give us an accurate prediction for lifespan. 

    While we don’t quite know if telomere shortening is the cause of death or simply a byproduct of it, one thing is for certain—telomere length is, in fact, associated with biological aging. And as it turns out, having longer telomeres is linked to a reduced risk of dementia as well.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Alternate-Day Fasting: Is It A Safe Way To Lose Weight?

    Alternate-Day Fasting: Is It A Safe Way To Lose Weight?

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    Alternate-day fasting, as the name suggests, involves fasting every other day. So, if you were to follow this fasting schedule, you would eat normally one day and fast the next day.

    The alternate-day fasting protocol has gained popularity largely due to the research of Krista Varady, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois, Chicago. In her book The Every Other Day Diet, Varady describes how you can lose weight by eating what you want—half of the time.

    The idea behind alternate-day fasting is that instead of having to limit your calories every day, as many diet regimens require, you only have to restrict your calorie intake on alternate days.

    When you fast, your body starts to burn stored fat for energy, a process known as lipolysis1. Over time, it goes into a metabolic state known as ketosis2, where it uses fat as its main source of energy, instead of sugar.

    When done correctly, ADF can also give you the benefits of fasting beyond weight loss. Emerging research shows that alternate-day fasting can be a useful tool for improving metabolic markers, boosting heart health, lowering chronic inflammation, and promoting cell repair, says Madiha Saeed, M.D., an integrative family physician and author of The Holistic Rx.

    However, most people will find fasting every alternate day challenging. Furthermore, this diet may not be safe for everyone and should only be undertaken under medical supervision, says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board-certified physician who practices family medicine and integrative medicine. 

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    Sanjana Gupta

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  • 4 Hormonal Dementia Risk Factors That Directly Impact Women

    4 Hormonal Dementia Risk Factors That Directly Impact Women

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    As explained by neuroscientist, nutritionist, and associate director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College, Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D., in a mindbodygreen podcast episode, reproductive hormones play a massive role in protecting our brains from damage (such as the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease). 

    “The interactions between the brain and the reproductive organs are really crucial for brain health and brain aging—especially in women,” she says. “We tend to think of testosterone [and] estrogens as involved in reproduction, having kids. But in reality, these hormones have a lot of effects inside our brains.” 

    “In particular, they literally push our neurons to bring glucose to make energy. So if your hormones are high, your brain energy is high. But then what happens to testosterone is that it doesn’t quite decline that much over time; whereas for women, estrogens pretty much plummet when women go through menopause,” Mosconi shares. 

    It’s this plummet in estrogen that leaves women’s brains especially vulnerable when they hit menopause in their 40s or 50s. “If you think of these hormones as having some kind of superpowers for the brain, women lose the super power around the time that menopause hits, right? And the brain is left a little more vulnerable,” Mosconi says.

    Like menopause, having your uterus or ovaries removed (i.e., a hysterectomy or oophorectomy) also results in a drastic drop in estrogen levels. Other periods of hormonal fluctuations—such as puberty and pregnancy—influence estrogen levels as well, which explains why some hormonal health factors leave women at higher risk while others help protect their brains.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • 9 Commonly Overlooked Signs Of Dementia + What To Do About Them

    9 Commonly Overlooked Signs Of Dementia + What To Do About Them

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    Have you ever been stumped by a math equation, or even a riddle? You spend hours staring at the problem or mulling over the solution to no avail. Exhausted and frustrated, you throw your hands in the air and give in to a break. And after stepping outside for some fresh air and a walk around the block, or making and eating a home-cooked meal, you sit back down and solve your problem within minutes. 

    Sometimes, when you’re too involved in a situation, you have to take a massive step back—only then does the solution appear to you, clear as day. The first signs of dementia can operate in this manner; it’s often the people closest to a dementia patient (e.g., their partner, children, or best friend) that fail to catch the first signs of cognitive decline.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Dementia Diagnoses Under 65 Have Increased 200% — Here’s Why

    Dementia Diagnoses Under 65 Have Increased 200% — Here’s Why

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    The biggest cause of early-onset dementia is genetics. According to a 2020 review from The Lancet, excessive alcohol usage and traumatic brain injury1 (TBI) are two major risk factors for early-onset dementia as well. 

    Though you can’t change your genetics, there are a number of things you can do to prevent your risk of developing dementia (both early-onset and late-onset). Monitoring your alcohol intake and protecting your brain from TBI (i.e., by wearing a helmet during contact sports and a seatbelt in the car) or a good place to start. 

    Eating brain-healthy foods, getting adequate restful sleep, and supporting optimal cognitive function via high-quality supplementation (e.g., taking a daily supplement with citicoline, a neuronutrient that has been clinically shown to improve cognitive impairment) can further bolster your brain longevity.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Eat These Eye-Critical Carotenoids For Vision Longevity Support

    Eat These Eye-Critical Carotenoids For Vision Longevity Support

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    Your body cannot make carotenoids on its own, which means you need to consume them via foods and/or dietary supplements to bolster healthy levels. To support optimal eye health and longevity, research suggests you need at least 10 milligrams of lutein, 2 milligrams of zeaxanthin, and 6 milligrams of astaxanthin daily.

    When it comes to food, lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in leafy greens (e.g., kale, spinach, and collards), avocado, green peas, orange peppers, and eggs. Astaxanthin is primarily found in marine-derived foods, such as salmon, shrimp, lobster, and algae. 

    For a simpler way to get efficacious daily doses of lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, you can also consider taking a premium eye health supplement. Check out mindbodygreen’s guide to vision longevity supplements to learn what to look for and see our product recommendations. 

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Citicoline Improves Cognitive Function In Dementia Patients

    Citicoline Improves Cognitive Function In Dementia Patients

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    The review finds that citicoline shows consistent improvement of cognitive function in individuals with MCI (especially those with vascular origin), including improvements in cognitive test performance and mental functions—e.g., memory, concentration, counting, and visual-motor coordination. 

    Citicoline has been shown to improve both memory and behavior in patients with chronic cerebral disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease) and cognitive deficits linked to cerebrovascular disorders (such as stroke and aneurysms). In Parkinson’s patients, the bioactive has even demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive status, akinesia, tremor, speech, and handwriting. 

    Simply put, citicoline has clinically backed benefits in enhancing cognitive function and longevity for folks with healthy brains and individuals that struggle with mild cognitive impairment and other brain health concerns.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Vitamin D Sufficiency Lowers Your Multiple Sclerosis Risk By 62%

    Vitamin D Sufficiency Lowers Your Multiple Sclerosis Risk By 62%

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    Individuals with a higher intake of vitamin D and higher vitamin D blood levels are less likely to develop MS1, according to a 2018 review from Neurology and Therapy. Specifically, women that consumed approximately 700 IU of vitamin D daily had a 33% lower incidence of MS compared to those who consumed less vitamin D per day.

    To put this amount into perspective, 93%2 to 100% of the U.S. population is failing to consume even 400 IU per day. Evidence suggests that 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily is the average amount needed to help folks reach and maintain truly optimal vitamin D status [i.e., 25(OH)D serum levels of 50 ng/ml or higher]. 

    Research suggests vitamin D deficiency is also extremely prevalent in multiple sclerosis populations—one small study of 149 MS patients published in the EPMA Journal in 2019 found that 90% were vitamin D deficient3. This is significantly higher than the U.S. adult population (of which 29% are deficient in vitamin D4).

    While clinical sufficiency is defined as 30 ng/ml or higher, endocrinologists and other leading wellness experts suggest that 50 ng/ml is the cutoff for true sufficiency—and research on disease prevention suggests a higher 25(OH)D level is far more beneficial for lowering disease risk, including MS. In fact, a JAMA study evaluating over seven million U.S. military personnel found that individuals with vitamin D levels greater than 40 ng/ml were 62% less likely5 to develop multiple sclerosis.

    The science is clear: Vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in MS patients; maintaining healthy vitamin D status can help reduce your risk of developing MS.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Vitamin D Positively Impacts Inflammatory & Antioxidant Actions*

    Vitamin D Positively Impacts Inflammatory & Antioxidant Actions*

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    The results of this massive meta-analysis confirms the compelling benefits of a vitamin D supplement regimen, to promote healthy inflammatory actions, oxidative balance, and immune function, all of which are pivotal for whole-body health and longevity.* 

    That said, not all vitamin D supplements are created equal. To ensure you’re achieving (and sustaining) a healthy vitamin D status, look for a quality daily supplement like mindbodygreen’s vitamin D3 potency+, which delivers 5,000 IU of organic vitamin D3 plus a trio of organic oils (avocado, flaxseed, and olive) for optimized bioavailability.*

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • Getting Ample Vitamin D Reduces Your Dementia Risk By 32%

    Getting Ample Vitamin D Reduces Your Dementia Risk By 32%

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    When there is an excess of the neurotransmitter glutamate, it causes a phenomenon called glutamate neurotoxicity that ultimately leads to the death of neurons. According to a 2018 study published by the Journal of the Neurobiological Studies, vitamin D helps exert antioxidant actions in the brain, protecting it from oxidative stress and glutamate neurotoxicity.

    Considering the growing global rate of dementia and the fact that 29% of U.S. adults3 are deficient in vitamin D, achieving vitamin D sufficiency should be top priority when developing a proactive care plan for maintaining healthy cognitive function with age. The problem? This can be easier said than done.

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    Morgan Chamberlain

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  • ScreenFit Program Honest Review For Enhanced Vision & Efficiency

    ScreenFit Program Honest Review For Enhanced Vision & Efficiency

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    The ScreenFit program lasts for 30 days, with one 10- to 15-minute exercise each day (it’s super low-lift and easy to add to your routine). For the purposes of this article, I completed all 30 exercises in 10 days—so three per day—a “bootcamp version,” if you will. 

    Some of the exercises require you to close one eye and exercise them one-by-one. After completing the very first exercise, I immediately thought, OK, wow, my right eye is seriously out of shape. It was much harder to complete the exercises on the right; I even had to take quick breaks in between. When I told Appelbaum about this imbalance, though, he wasn’t at all surprised. 

    “So many eye coordination problems manifest, because in life we have trouble using our eyes together with all the near-visual stress from screens,” he tells me. “Very often we develop this rivalry over which eye to use, so you end up using different aspects of eyes more than others. Had you not covered your eyes and gone through those exercises, you probably wouldn’t have known that there was any difference between each eye.” 

    The practices themselves are pretty straightforward and easy to follow. For example, one day I was tasked with visual “push-ups,” where I had to focus on one point in the distance and one point up close. With one eye covered at a time, I focused on each point for 10 seconds until they became clear. 

    You don’t need any special equipment, either; some exercises do require tools like a pencil, eye patch, or dry erase marker, but you can easily make do with what you already have at home. (Instead of a patch, I used a headband.)

    As for the best time of day to complete each exercise, it depends on your own motivation. It’s just like going to the gym: Some folks prefer an early morning workout, while others love an after work sweat. According to Appelbaum, “Going through these activities after an eight to 10 hour workday staring at a screen can make it more challenging,” but there is some benefit to giving your eyes a good stretch when they need it most. 

    “For most people doing ScreenFit, we’d recommend doing it in the morning before they start their day,” Appelbaum adds. I switched off between morning and evening “workouts,” and I could definitely see the benefits to both: Morning exercises helped me approach the day with more clarity, while a post-work practice helped me eliminate the blur from staring at my laptop. 

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    Jamie Schneider

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