Soldiers in a war zone experience more trauma in a week than many others experience in their lives . . . . . . but it still feels like our tools for treating trauma aren’t quite sufficient. Mindfulness meditation could be a powerful healing intervention – but does it work with soldiers? The early research is promising. It’s still very young. . . but it’s promising. That’s why I thought this study was so interesting. Anthony King, PhD, research professor in the University of Michigan department of psychiatry, led a team to investigate whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) could help…

Well, it depends. There are many foods that can benefit brain power, including foods that contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. But what about foods that might harm the brain? Well, that’s also fat . . . . . . but of a different kind. The risk in this case is of developing dementia, and this risk can vary depending on the type of fat you eat. Dr. Olivia Okereke and her colleagues at Harvard studied 6,183 women over the age of 65 and compared their fat intake with changes in their cognitive abilities. Fat consumption was determined by…

Well, the holidays are officially upon us once again . . . and so is all of the eating (and eating and eating) that often comes along with celebrating the season. Frankly, this can be an extra stressful time for people who already struggle with their weight. But help is available – in the form of mindfulness meditation. Hugo Alberts, PhD and his colleagues at Maastricht University in The Netherlands wanted to find out whether a mindfulness-based intervention would have an effect on restrained, emotional, and external eating behaviors. Researchers randomly assigned 26 women with a history of disordered eating…

Trauma can cause a slew of symptoms including panic, distress, sleeping disorders, and in some cases, flashbacks. But, can trauma be a factor in Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS)? Some might think that psychological trauma would only have psychological repercussions, but a recent study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s annual scientific meeting shows that the connection between the mind and the body may be stronger than previously thought. IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by stomach pains, bloating, diarrhea, and other intestinal problems. And, although it has all the characteristics of a purely physical ailment, there…

Have you had your turmeric yet this week? In a recent post, I talked about the neuroplastic possibilities of curcumin (a brain-boosting chemical in turmeric) for slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Did that convince you to start eating it? If not, consider this my second attempt. Slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease isn’t the only benefit from eating turmeric. We were curious and so did a PubMed search. We came across so many other important studies on curcumin that we had to share some of them with you. Let’s start with some more brain benefits. A randomized, controlled study…

What foods could strengthen your memory, improve your problem-solving ability, and make you an even better multi-tasker? In short, can any foods help to improve your brain power? Are there foods that would increase the size of your brain? Studies suggest that omega-3s help brain function, specifically visual memory and executive function, including problem-solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking. In a new study published in the February 28th volume of the journal Neurology, researchers from the UCLA-based lab of Zaldy S. Tan, MD looked at the role of Omega-3 fatty acids in influencing brain power and overall brain health. They took…