A 50-something friend wrote me asking about a product designed to help with memory loss. I spent some time researching the ingredients, then collected info I’ve got stored here ‘n there on the topic and wrote up this post.

Memory loss is very scary, especially as we age, but it does not need to be. We all suffer it from time to time but there is good help available and it does NOT mean that dementia is taking hold. Stress is HUGE when it comes to memory loss and that means fear and worry contribute.

PS. Dementia was virtually unknown, extremely rare, 70 years ago. There’s something in the air, the food, the water that is causing this! Short of serious brain damage, it IS reversible.

My friend’s question

Have any of you ever heard about this product or think it looks good?

Both DH and I have had (somewhat worrisome) memory issues lately, and for me, it’s been somewhat notable and recent short term memory issues. Could you take a look at these ingredients and let me know if you think it would be worth trying?

I'm not seeing the overall benefit to NeuroTonix that you can't get other places. Will you have to take this for the rest of your life to ward off memory loss? I took a look at the ingredients in NeuroTonix:

• Lactobacillus Paracasei, Lactobacillus Reuteri, B. lactis BL - 04 -- these are historically great probiotics but there’s lots of new info on what's the best probiotic. I prefer MegaSpore, find it here. (10% off retail with my link)

• Inulin -- good fiber, however, at the moment, I prefer larch arabinogalactan in this product or glucomannan. Both larch & gluco comes from plants, not grain.

• Peppermint -- will interfere with homeopathy (my friend takes some homeopathy)

• Dicalcium Phosphate -- I'm not sure it's true that we don't get enough calcium in our diets. Tons of controversy on this topic. This book is the info I'm currently relying on: Vitamin K2 & the Calcium Paradox.

OTOH, there are a few simple lifestyle and diet tweaks (although I know you are on board with clean living!) plus a few better supplement recommendations.

Here’s the best info I have on the topic!

Dementia is aka Diabetes III

PROBLEM: That means insulin resistance of the brain. You’ll see basic info in this post. Dr. Mary Newport's videos/info is wonderful!

CURE: Go sugar-free. Alas, that will mean sweetener-free to start. Sounds far more painful to do than it really is — I can give more in depth tips if you want!

Explained in Newport’s videos but here's the gist: All cells that use glucose as fuel require insulin to push that glucose into them so the cells can use it as fuel. If the cells are insulin resistant, the glucose does not get in. No fuel = no memory, no brain power, and brain cells die. {Don’t worry, you have zillions of unused brain cells!}

Well, ketones DON'T require insulin to provide that fuel so even in an insulin-resistant brain, it can still get ketone fuel! Perhaps the first fuel that brain has had in quite some time.

This is why MCT oil is so great for people with dementia/memory loss: it turns straight to ketones in the liver, providing immediate fuel for your brain.

Go S-L-O-W to start with MCT oil! Like 1/2 tsp in coffee for the first week-month. It can go right thru you, if you catch my drift. But your body adapts — I have in my coffee every day.

Brain Food Daily Supplements

These are from my Daily Supplements post.

• Natural Brain Enhancers Helps memory and is used to help dementia sufferers actually improve. Here are two very good articles, one from Dr. Axe and one from Self Hacked.

• L-Theanine (powder) or pill form | Improves focus and relieves stress. Particularly good with coffee, we mix a scoop in our cuppa in the am. Wonderful! Good overall info here.

Stress

This is a huge player in brain health and ACUTE (so short term as opposed to chronic which would be long term) memory loss.

The #1 lifestyle change I’ve made that has dramatically affected my stress is The Miracle Morning, read about it here. Hal and I have implemented all the SAVERS and I cannot recommend this practice highly enough!

Supplements are helpful and can be very effective short term band-aids. You want to fix at the root so that's where lifestyle changes come in and stress management is HUGE here.

But Wait There’s MORE :)

Other things that help us:

• MCT oil — this is the brand we use.

• Probiotics — we HIGHLY recommend MegaSpore (10% off at my link)

• the Wim Hof cold showers and breathing techniques (we are not consistent but they make a difference, how we do it below) His book is here.

• COPPER supplementation (Jason Hommel's book The Copper Revolution))

• giving blood (Mercola & Morley on iron overload)

• iodine supplementation — we use this Lugo’s solution from ebay, been buying from this seller for over a decade

• exercise on the vibe (we use this one, makes a difference!!!)

• mouth taping at night (This book will have you doing it too.)

• SLEEP. We aim for 6-8 hours: started turning off the wifi and going to bed at 9 to read. Cannot say enough how important sleep is. Here are my sleep hacks.

Also researching homeopathy which has been extremely valuable in HEALING other issues for us. Surely there’s something for memory/brain issues!

I hope this helps!

xo Sally

Here’s how we do the Cold Showers

1. COMFORTABLE SHOWER

Start with a shower warm to comfortably cool. Gotta be comfortable. Can’t have everyone avoiding showers! If you only like HOT showers, go for it. For the challenge, you want to work your way up to warm, then to comfortably cool.

Bathe as usual. Every once in a while, take the heat down a tiny notch. Stop before you get uncomfortable.

I have found that over time, I PREFER my showers on the cooler side!

2. NOW COOL IT OFF

Once done bathing, take the heat down a notch till it’s cool. You don’t gasp but you wouldn’t choose this temperature. Stay here 15 seconds.

Now take the heat down till the water is UNcomfortably cool. You GASP! (The hot may still be on slightly. Just know that if it’s still comfortable AT ALL, it’s not cold enough.)

Stay here 15 seconds, then done.

3. PRO-STEP

Just before turning the water off and getting out, turn the hot all the way off for a second or two. This temp is the goal, right? You may scream. I did :)