Did you know that your brain acquired a boost when you started SottoPelle® Therapy?  Research now provides abundant evidence of the vital role played by hormones (testosterone, progesterone and estrogen) in brain function, especially in aging men and women.  In fact, according to Dr. Rena Li, scientist and associate professor at Sun Health Institute in Sun City, AZ, the most common premise as to why women are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s is their reduced estrogen production after menopause.[1] On the reverse side, epidemiological studies have linked hormone replacement with a decline in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. All the more reason to continue to replace these important hormones when there’s a deficiency.

But something else besides your hormone levels also seriously impacts your brainpower—and that’s the food you eat. There’s good brain food and bad, of course, but saturated fat and sugar, staples during holiday food fests, are two of the biggest brain drains.

High-Fat, Low Brain Function

Research studies on high-fat diets continue to connect many diseases and health problems to eating too much ‘bad’ fat. (That’s the saturated fat found in animal products, some cooking oils or the trans fats like those added to microwave popcorn.) Scientists have also found especially strong links between what we eat and how our brains work.

Eating a meal that’s loaded with saturated or trans fat seems to starve the brain of its energy supply. Research shows that a steady diet that’s high in cholesterol and saturated fat can cause harmful inflammatory changes in the brain that are linked to a significant decline in the ability to think, learn and remember—something most of us in the 40+ crowd can’t afford to lose due to too many cheeseburgers.[2]

Ubiquitous Sugar

The foods most of us gravitate towards during the holidays are typically those that are high in sugar. Holiday stress can really add insult to injury.  During times of stress your cortisol and insulin levels go haywire and cause you to crave sweets and starch. Unfortunately, every bite raises your blood sugar and lowers your mental functioning. Remember your pre-SottoPelle brain fog? Say hello again!

Holiday Coping Strategies

There’s nothing wrong with a little seasonal indulgence, but too often holiday weight gain sticks with us. If you’re on the plus side to start out with, it’s even tougher to drop those pounds after the holidays are over. The best plan is to have a plan. Maybe these tactics will work for you, or you can invent some of your own:

•  Eat healthy meals during the week and save the treats for parties or family gatherings.

•  Don’t overindulge – keep portions small and eat a healthy snack beforehand.

•  Keep a holiday food diary.

•  Reduce stress: smile more, watch funny movies, go for a walk, breathe deeply and get plenty of rest.

•  Keep your SottoPelle® appointment! Let us keep you in a positive stress-free mode with healthy hormones.

And remember, it’s not what you eat from Thanksgiving to New Years.  It’s what you eat from New Years to Thanksgiving Day that really counts!