#705 Brain Health & Dementia - Dr Heather Sandison
Jul 19, 2024
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Dr. Heather Sandison, a naturopathic doctor, discusses dementia prevention through lifestyle changes. Topics include naturopathy for Alzheimer's, concussions' impact on brain health, and strategies for brain resilience like stress management and diet. The episode also explores emotional struggles and trauma, emphasizing the importance of self-care and boundary setting.
Naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic brain health through lifestyle changes.
Balanced stress levels and personalized interventions can reverse Alzheimer's and dementia.
An ancestral diet emphasizing whole foods and community support promotes brain resilience.
Deep dives
The Transformative Power of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine focuses on empowering patients to make healthy lifestyle choices to treat the root cause of complex chronic diseases. Unlike conventional medicine, it aims to support the body's natural healing abilities. By addressing factors such as toxins, nutrients, stressors, infections, structural issues, and signaling imbalances, naturopathic medicine offers a holistic approach to improving brain health and overall well-being.
Lifestyle Factors Impacting Brain Health
Several lifestyle factors play a crucial role in optimizing brain health and preventing cognitive decline. Managing conditions like diabetes and hypertension, treating obstructive sleep apnea, addressing trauma and PTSD, engaging in stress-reducing activities, and ensuring adequate quality sleep are essential. The hormetic effect of stress, where strategically challenging the body can enhance resilience, exemplifies the importance of balanced stress levels for cognitive function.
Realizing the Potential for Alzheimer's Reversal
Research and clinical trials have shown promising results in reversing Alzheimer's and dementia through personalized lifestyle interventions. Emphasizing comprehensive approaches that include diet modifications, exercise, stress management, brain stimulation, and targeted treatments, individuals can significantly improve cognitive function. By addressing multiple factors affecting brain health and tracking measurable outcomes, individuals can enhance their brain resilience and combat cognitive decline effectively.
Adopting An Ancestral Diet For Better Health
Switching to an ancestral diet involves avoiding processed foods and focusing on what our ancestors typically ate, embracing variations in food availability and fasting periods. For optimal health, cutting out flour and sugar can be a beneficial first step, leading some individuals to transition into a ketosis state for improved mental clarity and energy levels. Flexibility in dietary choices is key, with diets evolving according to individual needs and life stages.
Accessible Strategies for Health Improvement
Supporting health doesn't always require significant financial resources, as free activities like walking, stretching, and connecting with friends can positively impact well-being. Prioritizing whole foods over processed options, even without organic produce, is emphasized for better nutrition outcomes. The importance of finding a supportive community or tribe to enhance mental and emotional well-being is highlighted, promoting a proactive approach towards self-care and health improvement.
Dr. Heather Sandison is a naturopathic doctor focused on dementia care. She is the founder of Solcere Health Clinic, San Diego’s premier brain optimization clinic. She shares her research with Paul and provides hope for dementia prevention and care through lifestyle changes you can make right now. Watch for her new book, Reversing Alzheimer's: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health.
