By Dr. Shelley Kaplar
This happens more often than not, then one typically walks back out of the kitchen trying to either find the thought or remember what they were going to get. Thankfully you’re not alone when this happens. Cognitive decline starts at the age of 40 and progresses as we age. If there has been a brain injury ranging from a mild concussion up to a severe TBI (traumatic brain injury) then the rate of cognitive decline speeds up.
As we age our brains start to shrink which also compromises areas of the brain that contain nerve fibers, and there are fewer connections between neurons. This can be a result of the deterioration of the myelin sheaths, which are the insulating layers around the nerves. Our brains also stop being able to metabolise glucose effectively which is its normal fuel source. And this is due to most diets.
There are ways to combat this and it falls under preventative maintenance. We all know that diet, exercise, and sleep are important, but at times met with a groan and a roll of the eyes because they are always the common denominator for everything. It has been found that diets higher in simple carbohydrates, breads, pastas, and processed foods, are not helpful for maintaining a healthy brain. Reason being they break down into sugars quicker within the body, not to mention the hidden sugars within processed foods. Using strength training exercises for your brain also helps, these include matching games, crossword puzzles, sudoku, plus there are many brain game apps available.
One of my favorite ways to be proactive with brain health is the addition of MCT oil to your daily intake. MCT oil stands for medium chain triglycerides, and it has the ability to construct a bypass block in glucose, due to the ketones within the oil, to make ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy for the brain plus nearly every cell within the body needs ATP to carry on its daily functions. MCT oil is taken from coconuts to be able to give you 100% of the oil. If you were to take a Tablespoon of just coconut oil per day, you would only be taking in approximately 60% MCT oil. Due to MCT oil possessing ketones this now becomes the main fuel source for the brain! When taken consistently there have been findings that MCT oil improves memory function, reduces brain fatigue, and improves overall cognitive abilities. It also can help reduce inflammation. When you start taking MCT oil, start off with a tablespoon a day and slowly increase up to 4 tablespoons. If at first a tablespoon is too much, then start with a teaspoon. Some adverse effects of taking too much MCT oil can be; nausea, stomach upset, dizziness, cramps, diarrhea, gas, and possibly bloating.
Dr. Shelley Kaplar PhD is the owner of Vitality Optimizer and creator of the Kaplar Method. This method works to break the symptomatic cycle of chronic illness and brain injuries. Her 3 favorite seasons are Summer, golf, and football. She’s based in Austin, Texas.