Brain Fats – Seafood, Omega-3 PUFAs, Phospholipids and Vitamin D The omega-3 fat, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most abundant PUFA in the brain, concentrated in the grey matter and,…
By Robert H. Lustig, MD, MSL Most people know that refined sugar is not good for you, but what is it about sugar that’s particularly bad for your brain? Why…
The mouth is a hub of activity, housing around 50–100 billion bacteria from 200 different bacterial species. The role of these resident bacteria in the mouth, also known as…
Stress is a human adaptive response involving complex, yet fascinating physiological and psychological mechanisms. Stress has been designed for our daily survival as species, however, when stress becomes…
March is caffeine awareness month. Coffee is one of the commonest forms in which caffeine is consumed daily. In the UK alone, it is estimated that nearly 100 million…
Our latest blog explores specific nutrients and dietary patterns that are most supportive of female brain health across the lifespan. Premenstruation The age at which periods begin…
You may not be surprised to know that what is good for the heart is good for the brain, and vice versa. This is because, like many other body systems, there…
Like many people, I enjoy a glass of wine or two a few times a week (perhaps more at times of celebration and holidays). Alcohol makes me feel happy, relaxed…
Turkey, salmon and Brazil nuts are familiar Christmas fayre that also happen to be excellent sources of proteins, B vitamins and the essential element selenium. All these nutrients have been…
SAD (or seasonal affective disorder) is a sub-form of major depression or bipolar, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which most commonly occurs during the…
Four years ago I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Diet, vitamin supplementation, exercise, stress reduction and cognitive activity (also known as a brain-healthy lifestyle) have all been…
Mental health conditions are on the rise and the statistics speak for themselves: a record 70 million antidepressant prescriptions were handed out in 2018, and an estimated…
When in balance, stress can be helpful. It keeps us motivated, helps us get out of the bed in the morning, and can serve as a warning sign that…
The summer holidays can be a great time to get kids into the kitchen and kick-start long-term healthy eating habits. We’ve picked three easy recipes that you can have fun…
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought much disruption, fear and anxiety, and this is particularly true amongst children and teens who have been affected by school closures, physical distancing and new…
The brain is the most energy-hungry organ in the body. Despite weighing just 1.5kg, it steals roughly 25% of the body’s energy requirements. Much like a performance car, the brain…
Food for the Brain is crowdfunding to support the upgrade of its Cognitive Function Test, already taken by 360,000 people around the world. COG-NITION® is a personalised and interactive…
Today, the US FDA has licenced aducanumab, an amyloid protein drug developed for dementia treatment. It has already failed in clinical trials, adding to the 300 studies that have failed. In a…
According to Dr Vivette Glover, Director of the Foetal and Neonatal Stress and Research Centre: “at any one time during pregnancy, one in every ten women will suffer with…
Stress is part and parcel of life and in balance can actually be healthy. It keeps us motivated, helps us get out of bed in the morning and can…
Methylation and mental health are intricately related. We take a deeper look into the association and why it is important What is methylation? Methylation has been a buzzword in the…
One in three of us are addicted According to the charity Action on Addiction, one in three of us are addicted to something, whether it be a substance such as…
Estimated reading time: 4mins Despite the festivities and joy that Christmas celebrations can bring for some, for many, it can be a particularly painful time with heightened feelings of loneliness…
Estimated reading time: 6 mins Since 2003, November has been coined ‘Movember’ by the Movember Foundation, originally a campaign that was launched to tackle issues related to prostate cancer and…
Estimated reading time: 5 mins The Gut Brain Axis The gut microbiome, defined as the bacteria that colonises our digestive tract, seems to be a buzz word at the moment within…
Estimated reading time: 9 mins Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition that is otherwise known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Due to the diverse set of seemingly unrelated symptoms…
Estimated reading time: 7 mins Periodontitis is another word for gum disease, caused by a specific bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis, that leads to infection of the tissue holding the teeth…
Estimated reading time: 5mins The Gut-Brain Axis The ‘Brain-Gut Axis’ is a term used to describe the two-way communication system between our digestive tract and the brain. A growing…
Prescriptions for ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, have doubled to 922,000 a year in the last decade, and whilst it offers symptom management for many, it has also been found…
What is the vagus nerve? The vagus nerve is a fundamental part of the autonomic nervous system, which is composed of two key branches; the parasympathetic – the branch that…
COVID-19 virus has brought much panic and disruption, dramatically changing normal life in a very short space of time. We are in uncharted territory and if the outbreak has left…
Throughout this period of forced social isolation, many are fortunate enough to be living with family and therefore may not feel the negative effects of social distancing as much. However,…
Just one night of little sleep can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing and cognitive function. Although it may appear that our brain completely switches off whilst we’re…
After the festive period, many will be feeling the negative impact of alcohol and food indulgence. In an effort to allow the body to recalibrate and shake-off the resulting low…
SAD, which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, isn’t just a case of the winter blues. It is a form of major depression and can be seriously debilitating, causing symptoms such…
In the UK, at any one time about 220,000 people are being treated for schizophrenia by the NHS. Whilst it is a less common mental health condition, statistics show that there…