Let’s talk about your brain and how to keep it healthy.

“You are what you eat” is a tale as old as time, but it is SO true. What we feed our body becomes our body, especially our brain! Diets rich in healthy fats, grass-fed meats, and organic fruits & vegetables packed with vitamins and minerals, and loads of water are best for your brain!

Water

Our brain is 73% water, and it only takes 2% dehydration to affect our attention, memory, and other cognitive skills.

The recommended daily water consumption is half your body weight in ounces of water. For example: If you weigh 200 lbs, you should drink 100 ounces of pure water. Although that task might sound daunting, the benefits of consistent water consumption are extremely beneficial.

When you are fully hydrated, your brain will thank you by:

– Helping to balance your mood and emotions

– Maintaining memory function

– Increasing blood flow and oxygen to your brain

– Preventing and relieving headaches

– Reducing stress

Fats

Our brains are roughly 60% fat by dry weight, making it the fattiest organ in the body!

Fat, in the forms of omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids, are vital for optimized brain health and function. But why?! Low levels of omega-3s result in brain shrinkage equivalent to two years of structural brain aging.

To get these awesome fats into the brain, you need Phosphatidylcholine (PC for short)! PC is a major component of cell membranes and works to transport DHA and EPA into the brain, creating optimized functionality.

In short, PC is cognition ammunition!

Vitamins

Vitamins and minerals are utilized in every cellular function in our body, brain included!

A healthy diet with a variety of organic fruits and vegetables ensures enough diversity of vitamins and minerals for optimized usage.

B-Vitamins, which the Keto//OS® Max are packed full of, assist in making the neurotransmitters of the central nervous system help nerve-cell membranes quickly send and receive cell to cell communication.

Both vitamins and minerals help convert food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that all cells use for energy, especially fuel-hungry brain cells.

Good nutrition creates health in all areas of our existence.

Invest in what you put into your body, not because you want to look & feel better, but because you want to be BETTER. Our mind and body are not separate, what affects one affects the other.

Ketones!

In addition to providing cellular energy, ketones have a plethora of associated health benefits.  Some benefits include (but are not limited to):

– Regulated energy levels
– Reduced oxidative stress and inflammation
– Reduced anxiety and depression
– Improvements in conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
– Improved body composition

Ketone bodies are natural compounds formed in the liver and include β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone.  Similar to carbohydrates and fats, ketone bodies can provide energy for our cellular needs.

They are produced in the liver when 1) glucose levels are low and the pathway that breaks down glucose slows down, and 2) high levels of fatty acids are available either from dietary fat or fat stores.

Fatty acids can be broken down completely to provide energy directly to certain tissues or they can be broken down partially and transported to the liver.  In the liver, these partially broken down fatty acids are then converted into ketone bodies through a pathway called ketogenesis.

Ketone bodies are water soluble unlike fatty acids, so they travel easily through the bloodstream to reach other tissues to be used for fuel.

The brain uses ~100% glucose for energy when carbohydrate is present in the diet.  However, when ketones are present, the brain can derive up to 60% of its energy directly from ketone bodies.  The liver can convert substrates like proteins into glucose (i.e., gluconeogenesis) which can then fuel the other 40% of the brain’s energy during carbohydrate-restriction.

All cells have the capacity to use ketone bodies, except liver and red blood cells, however some cells prefer ketones.  Besides the brain, the heart and intestines also prefer to use ketone bodies for fuel.

Ketone Supplementation

KETO DIET AND KETOSIS EXPLAINED VIDEOS

Individuals may elevate circulating ketone bodies by fasting long-term or chronically restricting dietary carbohydrates.  If those ketone-producing strategies are not feasible to maintain as a lifestyle, ketones may also be consumed in order to elevate blood ketone levels.  These are called “exogenous ketones” because they are made outside of the body whereas “endogenous ketones” are made inside the body in the liver.

Entering the metabolic state known as ketosis, your body begins to utilize ketones, the energy source produced by the liver as it breaks down fat. To maintain a ketogenic diet is done so with a HIGH FAT, low carbohydrate diet. This can be difficult for some, so the supplementation of exogenous ketones helps you maintain a higher level of ketones in your body!

Studies have shown success with using exogenous ketones as a therapy for certain conditions in infants and adults.  Ketosis, or elevated ketone levels, has become a hot topic in the nutrition, health, and athletic performance fields, and rightfully so. With the positive outcomes that both a very low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet and exogenous ketones are demonstrating, researchers are hopping on board to study how ketone bodies affect various aspects of health and human performance.  It is an interesting decade for nutrition, as ideas on “good nutrition” seem to be dramatically shifting and the shift is in favor of carbohydrate-restriction due to the associated ketone body production.

Click here to take the 10 Day Challenge to see the benefits of drinking ketones.

 

 

A freezing cold shower isn’t the most welcoming sight first thing in the morning. But, if somebody told you that stepping into what is essentially an ice cave could be the key to glowing skin, glossy hair, boosted energy and even an improved immune system, you might see it differently.

A big benefit of having ice cold water pelted at your face is that it’s surprisingly good for your skin. Heat strips away the natural oils your skin produces, leaving it dry. That’s why our skin hates us during winter time when our radiators are on full-blast.

From day one, I noticed a difference to my skin. It felt tighter and my pores were smaller. If you live or work in a place with high levels of pollution, throwing some cold water on your face can be really beneficial. It stops the pollutants in the air absorbing into your skin so quickly.

Washing your hair with warm water is great. It opens up the hair follicles and helps the shampoo and conditioner give an even deeper cleanse. If you finish your hair wash off with a blast of cold water, it locks in the moisture by constricting the hair follicles.

Cold showers and ice baths are very popular amongst sportsmen and women. They’re a great (albeit cold) way to aid recovery, especially if you’re training for a marathon or a sporting event which calls for more regular and structured exercise.

12 BENEFITS OF COLD SHOWERS

1. Promotes fat loss
2. Improves immunity
3. Gives better circulation
4. Drains lymphatic system
5. Promotes emotional resilience
6. Lowers stress
7. Lowers chances of depression
8. Increases testosterone levels
9. Improves fertility
10. Promotes faster muscle recovery
11. Enhances skin and hair
12. Ensures better sleep at night