Brain Function & Memory

Dr. Kayle Martinsen

This month’s class (September 14th @ 7:00 PM) is on brain function and memory. As with many of you my children started school recently. We all want our children to be successful in all they do. I want to go over one of the most common diagnosis’s given to school age children today “Attention deficit disorder or ADD” or ADHD that adds hyperactivity.

Characteristics of this disorder are as follows in the order of their frequency, which may be mild or severe:

- Hyperactivity
- Excessive, often inappropriate motor activity
- Perceptual motor impairment
- Motion instability
- High levels of distractibility
- Impulsive behavior
- Disorders of memory and thinking
- Specific learning disabilities
- Speech and hearing problems
- Neurological signs

A child with ADD may be described as disruptive, fidgety, easily frustrated, and having aggressive tendencies and the inability to concentrate. Usually an ADD child has a normal or above average IQ, but is hampered by a short attention span which results in poor school grades.

Some of the possible contributors to this condition are as follows:

- Dietary (artificial ingredients, preservatives, additives, refined white flour and sugar)
- Food allergies - especially dairy, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, egg, chocolate and peanuts
- Environmental allergies
- Essential fatty acid deficiency, faulty pathways may contribute to ADD
- Low blood sugar
- Genetic factors - parents of children with ADD often had ADD themselves as a child
- Injury or disease affecting the fetus or newborn (i.e. oxygen deprivation at birth, a
mother who smoked during her pregnancy, prenatal trauma to the fetus
- Emotional issues - boredom, feelings of insecurity
- Heavy metal toxicity
- Cranial involvement.
- The adrenals produce epinephrine and nor epinephrine, two major neurotransmitters

Nutritionally speaking the most beneficial supplements to help in these areas are Total Brain and Omega Balance.

Total Brain contains a combination of nutrients specifically formulated for brain function. Just one of the ingredients is B vitamins which are essential to nervous system function.

Omega Balance contains essential fatty acids. One of which is Docosahexanoic acid or DHA. Many experts recommend essential fatty acids (cod liver oil, flax seed oil, olive oil) for behavioral disorders. DHA helps support the brain's enormous need for energy, and is found in fish oil. Essential fatty acid pathways may be impaired in ADD.

Don't forget: Total Brain & Omega Balance are Products of the Month and are 10% off!