HEY, DISNEY WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT??!

Happy Sunday everyone.

Got home from church today and my wife relayed a very interesting account of how Zel, my 5 year old boy, got so emotional and broke down in tears supposing his favorite character from Disney's Pocahontas animated movie, John Smith, actually died in the closing scenes. Though she admitted the boy had been fully engrossed and had watched the whole length with rapt, unbroken attention, she somehow couldn't fathom how a boy that young could connect so deeply with a cartoon character as to elicit such deep emotions. Hmmmm.....

The night before we were also watching a movie and I was sharing with her how it was some people watch movies with their eyes while others watch with their minds. Those who watch with the eyes absorb the peripherals, the flash points, the action scenes; and they soon drift and fall asleep if there's some prolonged delay in seeing some of their preferred "action". There are those however who watch with their minds. These one's "enter" into the movie and "feel" the thrill in each and every scene. They are alert and listen for the conversations, follow the plot and are able to decipher even the slightest gesticulation or genuflections. These are the ones who get their money's worth at the Cinemas! 

So what exactly's my point? 

MENTAL HEALTH

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of an individual and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Subsequently, one can be said to be well without necessarily being healthy.

If you live in a city like Lagos and you are not endowed with at least an above-average level of mental health /alertness, you can be sure the boys down-town will have you fleeced anytime, anywhere, AM or PM. Now consider these scenarios:

• A woman who sets out to get a toothpick from the dinning table but ends up wondering how she returns with the kitchen knife.
• The husband who rushes into the bedroom and temporarily forgets the object of or reason for his hurry.
• An older citizen with a slowly but surely fading ability to recall names and faces of loved ones, places of interest etc....am sure you get the picture. 

MENTAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION

What we eat can influence our brain chemistry and subsequently affect our mood/ alertness. For example, when we are deficient in essential nutrients, our nerves perform differently and we experience mood swings and behavior change. Balanced nutrition, and having all the right biochemicals in our system, work together to encourage overall health and stamina, and improve one's natural ability to endure both physical and emotional stress.

The foods we eat influence our brain messengers or neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline). These brain messengers communicate between nerve cells and control mood, appetite, thoughts and behaviors. They generate feelings of happiness, mental alertness and calmness. As these neurotransmitters are derived from the food we eat, positive dietary modifications can regulate their levels naturally and improve your body’s response to stress – whereas an imbalance can lead to anxiety or depression.

RECOMMENDED FOODS AND SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH

GINGKO BILOBA 

Has been used to support optimal brain function. This legendary "brain tonic" dates back 5 millenia. The ginkgo tree is said to be the oldest surviving tree species. They live incredibly long (often over 1,000 years), and are extremely resistant to fungi and insects. Ginkgo Biloba is one of the most popular herbal supplements available in Europe and North America.

Extract from the ginkgo leaf yields flavonoids and terpenoids which strengthen capillaries. They also act as antioxidants. Ginkgo has been shown to increase circulation of blood to the brain, making it a remarkable “brain tonic.” The active compounds of Ginkgo Biloba act as free radical scavengers. They support the utilization of oxygen and glucose, healthy circulation, activity, memory and mood balance. 

Recommended Supplement: FOREVER GINGKO PLUS

Consider Forever Ginkgo Plus a great 'Food For Thought!' This supplement was developed by Forever Living Products with one of the world's foremost herbal authorities, combining Ginkgo Biloba Extract with Reishi Mushroom, Schisandra Berries, and Cured Fo-Ti. This Synergistic formulation's ingredients have been found to increase circulation of blood to the brain, which can help increase short-term and long-term memory as well as mental alertness. Our unique formula combines not only Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, which has made recent news for its beneficial properties, but the other herbal components revered in Chinese herbology for similar effects! Forever Ginkgo Plus - Food for thought!

FOLIC ACID and B12 

Help to support optimal brain function and mental energy, clarity, and focus.

Recommended Supplement: FOREVER B12 PLUS

Forever B12 Plus: An excellent combination of essential nutrients, Forever B12 Plus® combines Vitamin B12 with Folic Acid utilizing a time-release formula to help make possible metabolic processes - including cell division, DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and proper nerve function. In addition, Forever Living has utilized a new source for B12 that enhances the product’s potency and stability. Additionally, we have changed the shape and taste of the new tablets to make them easier to swallow

Vitamin B12, or Cyanocobalamin, was first discovered in 1948 as a nutritional factor that is vital for red blood cell production. B12 also works with folic acid to maintain healthy homocysteine levels in the body.

ESSENTIAL OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS 

Oily fish is rarely a regular feature in people’s diet but it really should be! The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are found in salmon, herring, mackerel and trout. These fatty acids are believed to be responsible for maintaining cognitive function and reducing the decline in mental health associated with the aging process.

Recommended Supplement: FOREVER ARCTIC SEA

The best way to obtain Omega-3’s is to supplement our diet with Forever's Arctic Sea. Consider the following. Each daily amount of Arctic Sea gives your body over 1,300 milligrams of Omega-3 fatty acids. No conversion process is necessary; the EPA and DHA are available for assimilation directly from the capsules. Consuming Arctic Sea helps to restore a healthy Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio. The formula includes natural vitamin E to prevent oxidation. Forever uses a proprietary blend of the finest fish oils that have undergone a very strict process which eliminates contaminants and toxins, and locks in purity. Each batch of Arctic Sea undergoes 46 qualitative and quantitative tests to insure safety, purity, and potency.

Additionally, DHA intake has been associated with a decreased risk of mental decline associated with aging. No other fatty acid demonstrates this relationship.

• Custom Omega 3 ratio to mimic a diet rich in seafood
• All-natural citrus flavor for a pleasant aroma and minimal fishy flavor
• Ocean friendly and responsibly sourced • Pure source of EPA and DHA (SUSTAINABLE NORWEGIAN CALAMARI SOURCE)

The supplier of the fish oil used in Arctic Sea has received the following certifications: International Organization of Standardization, Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, Therapeutic Goods of Australian (which, by the way, is recognized worldwide as a very high level of quality), Korean Food and Drug Administration, and it is an active member of the technical committee of the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3. In addition, they have received a 5-star rating from the International Fish Oil Standards. The result is fish oil that is rated “best in class” quality. You simply won’t find a more pure and safe fish oil anywhere at any price. In addition, your brain, eyes, joints, skin and heart will thank you!

L-ARGININE 

L-Arginine is an amino acid that’s so potent, scientists refer to it as the “Miracle Molecule.” And for good reason, because our bodies convert L-Arginine into nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax and open wide for greater blood flow. Greater blood flow supports many important functions in our body:

• Healthy blood pressure levels
• Overall cardiovascular health
• Immune function
• Muscle growth
• Bone & tissue growth & repair
• Male sexual function
• Fat and glucose metabolism
• Anti-aging hormone production and more

Recommended Supplement: FOREVER ARGI +

It's not very often scientist dare to use the term "miracle" but that's exactly what they're using to describe L-Arginine, an amino acid that is so beneficial to overall health they're calling it the "miracle molecule".

L-Arginine is used for heart and blood vessel conditions including congestive heart failure (CHF), chest pain, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. L-Arginine is also used for recurrent pain in the legs due to blocked arteries (intermittent claudication), decreased mental capacity in the elderly (senile dementia), erectile dysfunction (ED), and male infertility. L-Arginine has been used for preventing the common cold, improving kidney function after a kidney transplant, high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia), improving athletic performance, boosting the immune system, and preventing inflammation of the digestive tract in premature infants.

To better appreciate the wonder of this product, I leave you with a video by Professor Louis J. Ignarro, who, for demonstrating the signaling properties of nitric oxide, was co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Robert F. Furchgott and Ferid Murad.

Meanwhile, my boy Zel has been on a regular take of Forever Bits n Peaches, Forever Kids Multivitamin and Forever Arctic Sea for close to two years now. So am not surprised :)

For more information on how to obtain these products, please contact me.

Do have a great week ahead!

To your health and wellness,

AdeDolamu