Did you know that close to half of our nation’s millennials (30 to 35 year old) have been diagnosed with at least one chronic symptom associated with Mental Health? These include high blood pressure/cholesterol, depression, hyperactivity, substance abuse and Crohn’s Disease. The rates are rising dramatically!
Rather than automatically ingest some of the most commonly prescribed medications with their own side effects, I offer another possibility. Feed your head right with Researched Nutritionals BDNF Essentials – super for our Eyes too!
Among other nourishing herbs, I’d like to highlight benefits of Lion’s Mane and Black Rice Seed extract.
Preclinical studies suggest that Lion’s mane biological markers of amyloid plaque, improve cognition, and increase the release of nerve growth factor, a protein that can increase the length of nerve cell processes. This is critical to transmit impulses in an unbroken path from all over the body to reach the brain. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties and promotion of nerve growth factor gene expression Lion’s Mane shows great promise.
Black Rice, known as ‘Sacred Rice’ has the actions of invigorating the liver, benefits the eyes, and moves the blood.1 It is a fabulous replacement for Bilberry. The great majority of bilberry available today is contaminated with food coloring and high amounts of lead!
Black Rice’s beautiful dark purple (remarkably similar to blueberries) extract is standardized to 25% anthocyanins. A clinical study published in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, anthocyanin significantly decreased increased ocular pressure (common cause of Glaucoma) in just two weeks. Anthocyanins pass through blood-retinal and blood-aqueous barriers – which gives them ability to strengthen blood vessels, benefit brain function, and prevent oxidative damage.2 In vitro study, AC had a relaxing effect on ciliary muscle which is important to treat both myopia and glaucoma.3
Black rice contains high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids known for their role in supporting eye health. These antioxidants help to protect the cells in your eyes and to reduce the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.4 In particular, they help protect the retina by filtering out harmful blue light waves.5 A 1-week study in mice found that consuming anthocyanin extract from black rice resulted in significantly less retinal damage when animals were exposed to fluorescent lights.6
Independent Clinical study was performed on BDNF in Canada. The published results of the study will be coming out in Current Nutraceuticals Journal. In the meantime, you can see the highlights of that here:
Feed your head right,
Kim
Sources:
- Sacred Rice
- Therapeutic Effects of Anthocyanins for Vision and Eye Health
- Therapeutic Effects of Anthocyanins for Vision and Eye Health
- Black Rice: Health Benefits, Nutrition, and Uses
- The Effect of Lutein on Eye and Extra-Eye Health
- Black rice anthocyanidins prevent retinal photochemical damage via involvement of the AP-1/NF-κB/Caspase-1 pathway in Sprague-Dawley Rats
