Page Title

The Brain Aging and Amino Acids

So many of us have experienced health concerns that remind us that we are getting older and
we feel at a loss for what to do. Doctors often recommend medications for one thing only to
have it create a need for secondary medication to clean up the mess the first one.   These
deficiencies and the aging process can be frustrating, as well as limiting. For some people it
affects their diet, they suddenly can’t eat certain foods without indigestion. For others their
activity levels are limited due to risk of heart attack, arthritis or other complications. And for still
others their mental state, are burdened due to a sleep disorder, lack of confidence, depression
or anxiety. The question, “What can you do about it?” is the place to start.
Many aging problems are caused by things we did years ago. Deficiencies we created like low
calcium intake or assimilation causing osteoporosis. Or abuses like poor eating, excessive
drinking or dieting can create inadequate digestive abilities. Abuses to the body cause us to
use up our reserve of nutrients and amino acids that help us function. For some people this
can be as early as picking up an amino acid deficiency from our parents in the womb or as a
child due to availability or fussiness, thus causing ADD or ADHD. Or, our own abuse can
create headaches, vertigo, and muscle aches due to deficiencies. Still others feel as victims
when the weaknesses aren’t “diagnosed” until there is a full blown disease such as
Osteoporosis or Parkinson’s. The answer is that all of these can be dealt with in a fairly
simple fashion. Doctor Braverman has done research for many years and written a book
called The Edge Effect.    He outlines how to determine your amino acid deficiencies and
correct them. It is important to know that working with a nutritional therapist, naturopath or
doctor on this matter is advised. As you are dealing with your health you want to have a
professional opinion to direct your progress and support your efforts to regain balance. Eating
right is a good start; but with a long term deficiency, it is important to make sure you take the
right supplementation in the correct dosage so as to not throw the body farther from balance.
Also these professionals and the book can suggest foods that are high in the particular amino
acids in which you are deficient.
Doctor Braverman also talks about how certain medications can indicate which amino acids
may be at a low ebb. There is a pattern for certain medications to fill in for certain amino acids.
Other medications can cause some amino acids to not work as well. He has treated over 400
conditions, from PMS, to chronic pain and obesity, all related to brain chemistry. I was quite
impressed with his detailing of how to go from medications to whole food responses.   He
cautions about doing it too fast or without a support system. So talk with your health care
profession. I am a nutritional therapist that recently went through 3 and a ½ months of vertigo.
I had seen ten different health care professional s with minimal success.   Sometimes there
was no change, other times it would clear for a day or two. Finally I saw a physical therapist
that specializes in vertigo and had about an 80 % success. Yet it wouldn’t go away completely.
Many people told me I would have to learn to live with it for the rest of my life. But doing better, I
had the energy and ability to focus and continued my research. That is when I found Doctor
Braverman’s book. I put into practice the principles. I now understood completely what my
clients meant when they expressed their frustration upon initially seeing me and their joy in the
changes they experienced. I felt an immediate change within a day or two. Speaking with a
fellow nutritional practitioner, I made a long term plan of treatment and we concurred. This
success was an inspiration. I knew it would take a while to build up the amino acid that was
deficient and have now reached that point six weeks later. No more symptoms.   I thank my
friend for both her support and counsel. It was easier to monitor my progress by having a third
party to bounce off the progress results and it gave me the security that I was moving in the
right direction and not forgetting to ask important questions about balance. This is why I
adamantly recommend a partner, preferably a professional, as you go through this process.
Everybody’s body is unique. Sometimes balancing another portion of the body may be
essential to do before or while treating the largest complaint. It all depends upon the person’s
constitution and   the longevity of the concern. Massive amounts of supplements on an
ongoing basis can diminish the body’s ability to take care of itself, just as harshly as a
medication. So use caution and when things are not right. Always check with a professional.
Supplementation can help you get back in balance so that a healthy diet and lifestyle can keep
you younger longer.   Beginning to reverse the clock on aging is a wonderful feeling.
Written Feb 4, 2008 by K Branigan
References:
The Edge Effect   by Eric R. Braverman, M.D.
The Healing Nutrients Within by Braverman, M.D.