Message: The way you breath may change you blood’s pH
Read also Carbon Dioxide: Good or Bad?
It is well known that breathing is the most natural and potent regulator of pH in the blood and brain tissue. Simply increasing or decreasing the breathing rate and depth, the body manages to adjust it1s chemistry to any changes in environmental condition and swings in metabolic rate. The process does not require our attention and is fulfilled automatically.
However, unlike the automatism of the heart contraction, the breathing automatism is not absolute. We can voluntary change the way we breathe. Humans used this possibility since ancient times including breathing exercises in their spiritual and healing practices. Does it mean we can voluntary influence our pH? It does. But the question is: what for? What kind of our internal machinery would be affected?
Consider this. Deep intensive breathing (hyperventilation) leads to lack of carbon dioxide and thus to so called respiratory alkalosis (high pH), whereas moderate breathing suppression (hypo-ventilation) induces slightly excessive level of CO 2 (hyper-capnia) leading to respiratory acidosis (low pH).
Respiratory alkalosis eventually causes a number of problems, including elevation of pH inside the cells. The condition may be benign or potentially catastrophic. When pH reaches the value of 8 the metabolic disorders can produce a fatal result. Why? Below there are most known consequences of respiratory alkalosis, and each of them can be a reason for troubles (click here for footnoted list of symptoms).
1. First of all, fails the key for adequate oxygen delivery to tissues — appropriate co-ordination of breathing and blood flow
2. It does so partly because haemoglobin, which carries oxygen from lungs to tissues, fails to yield the oxygen there
3. Now, in spite of deep breathing, there is too little oxygen in the arterial blood
4. The blood flow in the vessels slows down
5. The blood vessels width decreases
6. Metabolism in the blood vessel walls impairs
7. Metabolism in the brain tissue impairs
8. Metabolism in the kidneys impairs
9. Turnover of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium impairs
10. Brain and muscle tissues start producing excessive lactate
11. Removal of acid metabolites decreases to counteract the tissue alkalosis
12. Regulatory effects of some hormones fail
13. Breathing airways start resisting to the airflow
14. Bronchi1s width decreases dramatically
15. Asthma symptoms worsen
16. Breathing gets unstable
17. Ventilation is inhibited
18. Arterial hypertension develops
19. Increased heart rate occurs
20. Pathological hyperactivity of the brain neurons develops
21. Evoked electrical potentials of the brain cortex get inhibited
22. Evoked electrical potentials of the spinal cord and subcortical structures show abnormal patterns
23. There is a decrease in favorable alpha wave power in the electroencephalogram
24. There is a threefold excess in the release of adrenaline into the blood
25. Panic attack develops
26. The blood inclines towards clotting
27. Gastro-intestinal tract hyperactivity develops, leading to irritable bowel syndrome Are these pathologies reversible? Luckily yes. Abnormal breathing causes them, breathing normalization cures. But what does breathing normalization mean? Breath deeply — isn’t it the key in all kind of breathing techniques? Then how about hyperventilation?!
It depends. You could see what happens with hyperventilation. Are there cases when it can be helpful? Yes, but mostly in clinical situations, when medical professionals take care of you. For example, in the case of acute brain trauma, edema, stroke, high intracranial pressure, high intraocular pressure. Perfectly adequate is deep breathing during birth process, when it is beneficial for both mother and baby. It is OK to breath deeply while exercising or during the hot weather. It is OK in any case when your body needs to elevate the pH.
Message: It is shown that the Western environment pushes calories into our bodies through the sweet-addiction gateway
“There is evidence that the brain favors consumption of carbohydrates (CHO) rather than fats, this preference resulting in glycolysis-based energy metabolism domination. This metabolic mode, typical for consumers of the “Western diet” (Cordain et al., 2005; Seneff et al., 2011), is characterized by over-generation of reactive oxygen species and advanced glycation products both of which are implicated in many of the neurodegenerative diseases (Tessier, 2010; Vicente Miranda and Outeiro, 2010; Auburger and Kurz, 2011). However, it is not CHO but fat that is often held responsible for metabolic pathologies.”
Source: Carbohydrate-biased control of energy metabolism: the darker side of the selfish brain
>> Read why: click here (it’s not too technical).
Message: Canadian hemp and Himalayan herbs can be out of your reach but vanilla is everywhere.
Apocynin (acetovanillone) is structurally related to vanillin. In 1970s, apocynin was isolated from Himalayan medicinal herb Picrorhiza kurroa but long before that, in 1880s, it was found in the root of Canadian hemp Apocynum cannabinum, thus the name. Under this name, it is currently being extensively researched. An important antioxidative effect of apocynin is discussed in connection with its potential to fight neuronal dysfunction and inflammmation in diseases ranging from stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases to psychiatric disorders (1).
Interestingly, researchers from Food Products Development Centre, Switzerland, considered vanillin more than a flavoring agent but a potent antioxidant effective in quantities as little as 0·01–0·5% added to foods (2). It showed stronger antioxidant activity than did Vitamin C (3).
Sources
- Frontiers Biosci (2012) E4, 2183-2193
- J Sci Food Agric (1989), 48, 1, 49–56
- Biochim Biophys Acta (2011) 1810, 2, 170–177
Message: Women, you are at a higher risk of stroke! Whole grains can protect you.
As a part of the famous Nurses’ Health Study, over 755000 women (who are at greater risk of stroke then men are) were followed up for 12 years; 352 had ischemic stroke over these years. The risk of having stroke has been calculated after excluding the factors influencing cardiovascular health (both positively and negatively) such as smoking, drinking alcohol, exercising, consuming saturated fat and trans-fats, diabetes, heart disease or vascular diseases. The results showed that the highest intakes of whole grains – but not refined grains – was associated with the lowest risk of ischemic stroke.
This protective effect may be due to multiple factors and their combination (see synergetic effects) such as antioxidants, minerals, phytochemicals, and fibers, which are removed during grain processing and not present in refined grains. Out of constituents characteristic for the whole grain, folate, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, and fibers are considered most probable protectors.
Source:
JAMA. 2000 Sep 27;284(12):1534-40
Message: Already taking melatonin or resveratrol? Think of having both
Melatonin is naturally present in the brain (1). It controls daily rhythms of our bodies (hence its use as a sleeping pill) and influences the immune system and aging (2,3).
When combined with vitamin C or alpha-lipoic acid (4,5), it works with them synergistically (6) highlighting their positive effects while adding something else. Recently, it was shown to be true for the the melatonin plus resveratrol combination (7).
Sources
- J Exp Bot 2009; 60:57–69
- Curr Top Med Chem 2002; 2:167–779
- J Pineal Res 2010; 48:282–289
- J Pharm Pharmacol 2001; 53:1393–1401
- J Pineal Res 2003; 34:269–277
- Synergistic effect: help or hype?
- J. Pineal Res. 2011; 50:110–123
Further reading:
Resveratrol and curcumin, plant’s own weapons that protect the brain
Brain aging and antioxidants on the market
Message: “The neuroprotective efficacy of caffeinated coffee was similar to that of decaffeinated coffee, indicating that active compounds present in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, such as chlorogenic acid, may drive the effects” (1)
We wrote before that caffeine is good for your brain (2,3), now it turns out that coffee keeps working even after it’s decaffeinated.
- Neurochemistry International 60 (2012) 466–474
- Caffeine protect against neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease
- Coffee, tea, and chocolate can help to avoid Parkinson’s disease
Message: Don’t overlook common things
Oxidative stress is implicated in more than 100 diseases including neurodegenerative diseases since it damages brain cells (1). Many hawthorn species, e.g., Crataegus pinnalifida, monogyna, pinnatifida are recognized cardioprotectors and neuroprotectors including the cases of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, ischemic stroke or traumatic brain damage (2,3).
It’s a good news since hawthorn is a very common plant and its berries is widely used in cooking (4).
Sources
- Resp Physiol (2001) 128, 3, 379–391
- J Neurochem (2004) 90, 1, 211–219
- Evidence-Based Compl Alt Med (2012) 984295, 8; doi:10.1155/2012/984295
- What can I do with hawthorn berries?
Message: Think green
The natural antioxidants in green tea are candidates to be qualified as neuroprotective drugs because of their pharmacological activities. Green tea is particularly rich in flavanols named catechins and, compared to black tea, contains four times more of the catechin fraction.
Source: J Agric Food Chem 2002, 50, 565-570
Message: there are many supplements on the market believed to postpone brain aging but they are still on clinical trials. To wait until consensus is reached or to go for them since they wouldn’t hurt depends (mostly) whether you can afford them or not.
Vitamins E and C, alpha-lipoic acid, creatine, melatonin, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, CoQ10, curcumin, resveratrol, glucose, malate and other antioxidants and (and their combinations) are subjects of around 30 registered clinical trials investigating diseases blamed for the consequences of brain aging — Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Source: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 25 (2011) 187–208
Message: Mood swings and memory problem? Try calcium and vitamin D
Premenstrual syndrome, PMS is often perceived as a trait of hysterical, hypochondriac women. In fact, it is a serious medical condition with a number of unpleasant symptoms:
• fatigue and trouble sleeping
• upset stomach, bloating, constipation or diarrhea
• headache
• appetite changes or food cravings
• joint or muscle pain
• tension, irritability, mood swings, or crying spells
• anxiety or depression
• trouble concentrating or remembering
• breast swelling and tenderness
As simple a measure as higher intakes of calcium and vitamin D might be helpful in case of PMS.
Source
Archives of Internal Medicine, June 2005.
