Inflammation is the cornerstone of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis – all of the neurodegenerative diseases are really predicated on inflammation.   ~David Perlmutter

I have worked in long term care facilities for the past 25 years. First, as a mental health case manager, then, as a nurse starting in 2007. I have watched hundreds of patients over the years who have developed different forms of Dementia, Parkinsons Disease, and other neurological illnesses. Then, there are those patients who do not develop these catastrophic diseases, and go through the aging process with their minds intact. These diseases have no known cure. We have been able to manage symptoms with modern medicine, but at the end of the day, we can’t stop the progression all together. So, prevention is the key. It has been proven  that inflammation in the brain and nervous system can directly lead to these devastating illnesses. We can  change our lifestyles so that we dramatically reduce our risk factors. No one is too young or too old to start making that transformation so that we can live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Here are 7 keys to keeping your brain at optimal health.

1). Optimize Nutrition:           

A healthy diet with whole foods the way God intended.

I have always believed that God put on this earth what His children need to be healthy, and to heal ourselves if we become ill. At SHAPE ReClaimed, we follow this mantra, and use an anti-inflammatory nutrition protocol to help reduce inflammation, symptoms of chronic illness, and regain our health. Oily fish, such as Salmon, chia seeds, avocado, and green leafy vegetables are a part of all 3 phases of SHAPE for this very reason. Herbs, such and Ginseng and Gingko Biloba, help heal the brain and bring it back to optimal health. Foods such as sugar, alcohol, and artificial anything can lead to disease in the brain, memory loss, and communication issues. Organic is the best, as there are no chemicals or pesticides put onto our food.  I also strongly recommend finding local farmers markets and purchasing fresh vegetables and fruits.

2). Balance Hormones:

Get rid of stress and anxiety

Hormones! We all have them. And we know that when hormones are out of whack, we get moody, tearful, agitated, and depressed. What you may not know, is when our hormones are imbalanced, we can have symptoms such as memory loss and brain fog. If this goes on without treatment, these symptoms can progress and lead to brain diseases. As we grow older, we start to lose the amount of hormones in our bodies. Yes, men, even you too!! The medication-route can lead to awful side effects and weight gain. Again, God gave us special herbs that are designed to help put our hormones back into balance. Black cohosh, Chasteberry, Ashwagandha, and Wild Primrose are all wonderful herbs to help maintain hormonal balance. These can be used in teas, tinctures, and essential oils.

3). Decrease Inflammation:

Burn out the fire of inflammation

I have Sjogrens Syndrome,  an autoimmune disorder that causes widespread aches, pains, swelling,  and dehydration. This is what led me to finding SHAPE. When I flare, my entire body feels like this fire. Inflammation is the body’s way of fighting off diseases, viruses, and bacteria, among others. It is when our inflammatory response goes into full throttle mode, we start to have problems. Inflammation can hit organs, muscles, tendons, joints, and bones. When  our brains have inflammation, all of the signals for our body to function go berserk. Feeding our bodies the right foods can help fight inflammation. With SHAPE ReClaimed, our nutrition protocol is designed to fight inflammation and use our food as medicine.

4). Support Digestion:    

All the talk these days is about the gut-brain connection. The “gut-brain axis”. This is connection is amazing, as it does so many things to keep our bodies running. Among other systems, the gut-brain axis is connected with our immune systems. The immune system also has a major role in our inflammatory process. If our immune system stays active for too long, inflammation occurs. The gut produces Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is produced in the gut and made by certain bacteria. If there is too much LPS, it can make the gut “leaky” and get into the blood stream, goes to the brain. If there is a  high level of inflammation with high levels of LPS, diseases such as Dementia, Depression and even Schizophrenia can develop.  When we feed our gut what it needs to grow healthy flora, or bacteria, we decrease the risks to our brain, as well as the rest of our bodies.

5). Properly Detoxify:   

Our modern diet is filled with chemicals, fillers, and artificial everything. Our poor livers and kidneys take a beating from trying to filter out all of these nasty things. If these organs can not rid the body of these toxins the body stores it into fat cells. SHAPE drops  are a nanomolecular dietary supplement that helps the body detoxify and rebuild our immunity. These also work on a neurological and cellular level. So, they help our brains stay healthy also. Combining SHAPE drops with the SHAPE nutrition protocol helps us detoxify and release T toxic fat.

6) Boost Energy Metabolism:

Another wonderful part (not) of growing older is that our metabolism starts to slow down. Protein rich foods. lean meat, beans, legumes, and even coffee (black) can help us boost our energy levels and help speed up our metabolism. Slow metabolism can lead to cognitive decline, and brain disease. An Anti-inflammatory diet, like what is offered with SHAPE ReClaimed, can help boost your energy and metabolism and keep your brain healthy

7). Calm the Mind:

Clearing of the mind.

Anxiety. We all get it at one point of another. We all worry, usually over things we can’ t control. When anxiety is extreme, it does so much damage to our bodies. We can develop ulcers, muscle tension, headaches, and weight issues from overeating.  In  the brain, anxiety has been proven to actually make your Hypothalamus shrink, which is the part of the brain in charge of memory. Anxiety also destroys our happy balance of neurotransmitters, and causes all sorts of bad! Calming the mind takes away the anxiety and reduces damage to the brain. Mood Balance are SHAPE vitamins and minerals that help balance our mood.  At SHAPE we also have a program called SELF ReClaimed that helps us work through our emotions, reducing anxiety and depression, and helps us focus on our own self care, so that we can live a life free of these symptoms.     

Our brains were designed by God in a way that makes humans what we are. Caring, loving, emotional creatures that can think and do amazing things. When our brains are not healthy, the rest of us becomes sick. Modern medicine is great for a lot of reasons, but choosing to prevent the need for man-made medications, will help us live our best lives. If you would like to know more about how SHAPE ReClaimed can help you restore your health and transform your life, contact me, and we can being your journey to wellness.