Memory Hacks to Improve Your Life

Memory Expert Rena Yudkowsky joined Kate Kunkel on Brain Health Matters to share her short and easy tips and tricks to improve your memory.

Some highlights of the show:

2:13 How memory works

6:15 You can remember people’s names! 1

6:44 Using all of your senses to remember keys, glasses, if you locked the door, etc.

18:00 The importance of being mindful

21:05 Self down affects your memory – BELIEVE in yourself to stay independent

22:29 Tips for focus and the myth of multi-tasking

28:32 Work with Rena

RenaYudkowsky.com at https://renayudkowsky.com

Claim your FREE copy of Five Key Steps to Improve Your Brain HERE

Kate Kunkel is the author of several books including:

Don’t Let the Memories Fade

The Vegan Brain

The Plant Lovers’ Fast-Start Guide and The Musical Brain

All available on Amazon everywhere. To learn many ways to improve your memory, your mind, and your brain with a healthy, mindful lifestyle, check out Kate’s many programs and more podcasts at https://brainhealthmatters.today

How your Eyes can Impact Brain Function and Health

In this touching story of overcoming pain and reading disability, Trent McEntire shares how he used his own pain to help others regain their mobility and quality of life. Trent joined Kate Kunkel on this episode of Brain Health Matters to share the connections between our brains and what and how we see. Some highlights of the show: 4:04 At 19, Trent learned that he had cerebral palsy and how he overcame the pain and limitations to help others 9:00 How a chance encounter with a vision therapist changed Trent’s ability to read 12:33 How sensory and eye training can improve life and movement for Parkinson’s patients 15:16 How playing enjoyable games with a special ball can improve our brains 21:57 Staving off dementia with games 23:49 A touching story of a miraculous interlude with a child on the autism spectrum 27:00 Contact Trent at Fire Up Your Brain.

Work with Kate to improve brain function and reduce your risk of developing dementia, visit Brain Health Matters.

Claim your copy of Five Key Steps to Improve Your Brain HERE.

This is your Brain on Alcohol

For season two we will be releasing a new episode every two weeks so that your host, Kate Kunkel, can focus on treating the many clients who are seeking help to improve their brains, and to complete her latest book, The Mindful Brain.

So be sure to subscribe to Brain Health Matters right here on YouTube or on your favorite podcast service at https://brainhealthmatters.buzzsprout.com/ to ensure that you get all of the latest episodes as they are released, because in every episode, we share important information that could change your life, or the life of a loved one.

This week – the mental and brain health effect of alcohol. Is it true we lose thousands of brain cells every time we imbibe? Our guest this week is Stephanie Pratico, an Independently Licensed Mental Health and Alcohol/Drug Abuse Counselor, Clinical Supervisor & Educator who has been in the field 12 years.

Some highlights of the show:

3:00 Do we really kill thousands of brain cells by overindulging in alcohol, even once?

4:50 The short and long term effects of alcohol use on the brain

8:14 What comes first – depression or alcohol use

10:55 Do traumatic brain injuries increase likelihood of developing alcohol dependency?

16:02 As a family member or friend – how to approach a difficult subject

22:00 The Whole Person wellness model to overcome addiction and the importance of setting goals

25:56 How does mindfulness fit into alcoholism or any other addiction?

28:35 Hope

Get help: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/

Peer-supported programs: https://www.aa.org/ https://www.smartrecovery.org/ https://www.refugerecovery.org/

Contact Stephanie directly: StephaniePraticoLMHC@kate

Claim your gift of Five Key Steps to Improving Your Brain Health by Kate Kunkel  HERE.  

And to learn more ways to protect your brain and reverse the effects of alcohol, check out Kate’s book, ‘Don’t Let the Memories Fade’ HERE. 

Aromatherapy: So Much More than a Pretty Scent

Welcome to Brain Health Matters with Kate Kunkel, a podcast dedicated to helping you connect with the people and resources that will help you improve your memory, boost your brain, and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Be sure to subscribe on YouTube or your favorite Podcast service to have access as soon as each episode is released.

In this week’s episode, Amy Galper joins us to share the amazing power of aromatherapy for healing body, mind, and spirit.

You’ll come away with so much information that you’ll probably want to take notes. Tune in to get Amy’s recommendations for specific oils to use for particular outcomes.

Amy Galper is the founder of the first Aromatherapy School in NYC, the New York Institute of Aromatherapy and has been a Certified Aromatherapist since 2001. Through consulting, books, and online classes, Amy seeks to inspire and empower others in their pursuit of holistic and mindful beauty and wellness.

Some Highlights of the show:

1:49  Are essential oils safe?

4:17 The importance of using any essential oils correctly and the most powerful technique

6:03 Diffusing best practices and warnings

10:18 Special Brain Health Matters announcement – Season 2

11:19 The mechanism of aromatherapy: How does it work?

16:08 Which essential oils help with leaky gut and stress?

18:18 Oils for inflammation and relaxation response

22:39 Oils for energizing, concentration and reducing brain fog

24:46 Oils to help you sleep

29:00 Become a certified aromatherapist

Check out our announcement at 10:18 in the show: This is the last episode of Season 1.

Be sure to join us for Season 2, when will have a new episode every TWO weeks. Our first guest will be talking about the effects of alcohol on mental health and the brain.

Here are some links to Amy’s resources:

Here is Amy’s Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram: 

Free Guide:  How to diffuse essential oils

Free Guide: How to blend essential oils

Claim your gift of Five Key Steps to Improving Your Brain Health by Kate Kunkel HERE.  

And to learn more ways to protect your brain against toxic foods, chemicals, and much more, check out Kate’s book, ‘Don’t Let the Memories Fade’ HERE. 

Cannabis and Magic Mushrooms: Forbidden Fruit or Powerful Healers?

Brain Health Matters is a podcast dedicated to helping you connect with the people and resources that will help you improve your memory, boost your brain, and reduce the risk of developing dementia. From time to time, we invite guests on the show who have an uncommon or controversial topic. Please note that the opinions of guests on the Brain Health Matters show do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host or Brain Health Matters.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this program is not meant to be, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition, and before you embark on this or any other program, consult your physician or other trusted health advisor. If medical, psychological, or any other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

This week, we delve for the first time into plant medicine, and learn how we can use the power of CBD for a healthier brain.

Darlene Mea is a long-standing media personality in the world of alternative everything, representing all things natural, sustainable and life-promoting.

Darlene has personally been involved with plant medicine for wellness her entire life and now counsels those wanting to discover the powers of cannabis and other plant medicines for long-term natural healing and evolutionary benefits.

Some highlights of the show:

1:41 Hemp vs. Cannabis

3:24  Hemp seeds or CBD

7:50  The power of juicing cannabis leaves

8:30 50 years of study in Israel show the myriad of benefits to health  

11:29 Read the results of the study on the effects of cannabis oil on blood flow in the brain HERE.  

12:30 Effects on meningitis, Parkinson’s Disease, and strokes

15:25 Do the benefits outweigh any potential risks?

17:00 Can everyone take it?

19:00 What if you take pharmaceuticals?

23:00 New science for old medicine: Mushrooms

Learn more from Darlene at Hemptingon Post  or  Zenful Living

More studies on the value of cannabis for health include this one on Depression and this one on Inflammation.

The movie Darlene referred to regarding mushrooms is Fantastic Fungi. Excellent!

More information on the benefits of magic mushrooms can be found HERE.

Claim your gift of Five Key Steps to Improving Your Brain Health by Kate Kunkel HERE.  

And to learn more ways to protect your brain against toxic foods, chemicals, and much more, check out Kate’s book, ‘Don’t Let the Memories Fade’ HERE. 

Clear your Body of Mold, Parasites, and Toxicity for a Healthier Brain

Welcome to Brain Health Matters, a podcast dedicated to helping you connect with the people and resources that will help you improve your memory, boost your brain, and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

This week, we tackle mold, parasites, and toxins and learn many ways to turn off their threats to the health of our brains. If you’ve ever struggled with mysterious symptoms that have been dismissed, or all recommended treatments have failed, you need to listen to this show!

Evan Brand is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who has transformed the lives of thousands of clients with his online practice by finding and fixing the root causes of fatigue, depression, anxiety, digestive, and other issues.

He solved his own health struggles using the same advanced lab testing strategies and protocols that he now uses in the clinic.

Here is just a sampling of the many important points made in this episode:

01:49  The gut/brain connection and how gut problems are the root of many diseases

05:00 How to test for gut issues and microbiome health

09:00 What tests reveal mold exposure, a problem that causes a myriad of symptoms

10:19 How damage to the mitochondria (energy cells) affects our brains, fertility, and much, much more

12:00 Mold is one of the biggest threats as toxins, and how treating for it can also help treating other chemical toxicity

15:50 A valuable protocol for anyone suffering with COPD

16:45 Parasites don’t happen just to travelers to developing countries!

21:39 Creating a healthier home without mold

24:56 Symptoms of mold exposure – you won’t believe how it can manifest!

28:06 The exact steps to take to improve your health after suffering mold-related illness

30:31 Ivermectin – its place in treating parasites, fungi, etc. 

Links to important information:

Here is Evan’s WEBSITE. 

Interview with Ivermectin expert Dr. Pierre Korry is available HERE.

 Claim your gift of Five Key Steps to Improving Your Brain Health HERE.  

Can Meditation Improve Your Brain?

Welcome to Brain Health Matters, a podcast dedicated to helping you connect with the people and resources that will help you improve your memory, boost your brain, and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

This week, Christopher Manning, the Mindfulness Man, joins Kate Kunkel to share the many ways that meditation can help us concentrate, learn, and deal with stress.

Some highlights of the interview:

2:31 Do you have to sit cross-legged with your fingers in circles to meditate “properly”?

4:37 Why it is so powerful to pay attention to, vs. control, your breath

9:03 Alleviating the suffering from ADHD with meditation

13:09 BDNF: A cure for ADHD and depression

14:10 How meditation protects and enhances brain matter

15:00 Steps to start a meditation practice and overcome doubt

17:01 Is mindful eating helpful?

20:19 Achieving real joy doesn’t happen in 5 minutes a day

22:15 How to tap into Chris’s guided meditations online

23:32 Resolving real-life difficulties with the Loving-Kindness meditation

25:15 If you struggle with loneliness – meditation may be the answer

28:04 Meditation as a way to detach from circumstances and events that cause distress. Suffering is optional.

Tap into Chris’s meditation podcasts HERE.

Join Chris’s Facebook community HERE.

To learn more about the healing power of meditation, mindfulness and music, claim Kate’s gift, Five Key Steps to a Better Brain HERE.

Dive into Kate’s book, Don’t Let the Memories Fade, which includes a complete program incorporation mindfulness, meditation, and a healthy and compassionate lifestyle for a better brain. Available on Amazon everywhere.

A Sound Approach to a Better Brain

Welcome to Brain Health Matters, a podcast dedicated to helping you connect with the people and resources that will help you improve your memory, boost your brain, and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

This week’s very special guest is Craig Goldberg. Craig is the president and co-founder of Inharmony Interactive, a company dedicated to creating VAT technology that enables us to experience sound and frequencies in a unique and powerful way.

Some important points in the podcast:

3:30 Death by a thousand cuts – how the myriad of toxins in our environment band together to make us sick

9:30 A healing dream comes true with the experience of sound directed to the body

13:45 The effect of vibroacoustic sound on the central nervous system

17:24 Stress, the brain, and how to retrain your nervous system to be in parasympathetic – rest and relax – state

19:46 Alleviating the debilitating tremors of Parkinson’s Disease

21:00 Anti-spasmodic effects of VAT

26:20 Improving blood circulation in a pleasant and drug-free way

28:00 How vibroacoustic therapy or jumping up and down can be powerful tools for lymphatic drainage

31:00 What is Brain Tap?  

Contact Craig through IamHarmony.com

For a look at the technology Craig was referring to, click HERE. 

If you are interested in purchasing a system, claim the 5% discount Craig referred to by using the code BrainHealth

You will also find InHarmony on Facebook and Instagram and many other social media channels. You’ll find them all linked on the website.

And for information on Brain Tap – Click HERE. 

To learn many more powerful ways to use music, frequencies AND silence, check out The Musical Brain.

Build a Better Brain with MicroNutrients

This week on Brain Health Matters, Kate Kunkel interviews Dr. Bonnie J. Kaplan. She is a Professor Emerita in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada.

Dr. Kaplan’s interest in the biological basis of behavior led to postdoctoral training and then faculty research in neurophysiology. She has published widely on the biological basis of developmental disorders and mental health, especially the contribution of nutrition to brain development and brain function, including in her book, “The Better Brain”.

This powerful passage from the book is the perfect introduction to this discussion

“We are in the midst of a mental health crisis. An estimated one in five American adults suffer from some form of mental illness. Despite the billions of dollars spent in pharmaceutical research and the rising popularity of antidepressant drugs, we are more depressed and anxious than ever before.

What if we’re looking for solutions in the wrong places? What if instead of treating mental illness with prescriptions and medication, we changed what we eat and how we feed our brains?”

Be sure to tune in to this powerful discussion – Some highlights of include:

02:09 Psychiatric medication’s place in nurturing better mental health

08:04 ADHD – Turning it around with nutrition

10:30 How proof of mental health improvement is ignored or maligned in major media

12:25 Startling success with B vitamins

14:4 Why the “Magic Bullet” approach to vitamins cannot work to improve brain health

16:24 How mood regulation can be achieved with dietary changes and micro-nutrients

21:11 Organic or no? Is there a difference to the brain?

31:32 Withdrawal from any substances can be alleviated with broad spectrum micro-nutrients

34:00 It all begins in the soil  

You will find Dr. Kaplan’s website HERE

and Dr. Kaplan’s book is The Better Brain

Books that Bonnie referred to:

“Hooked” by Michael Moss 

“Metabolical” by Robert Lustig 

A video by Dr. Kaplan explaining how nutrients control brain synthesis and metabolism of neurotransmitters  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWIBf5ALLj4&t=39s

The Canadian micro-nutrient companies that Dr. Kaplan referred to are:

Truehope.com

Hardynutritionals.com

Learn many more ways that improve and protect your brain in Kate’s book, Don’t Let the Memories Fade, available in paperback and as an eBook on Amazon everywhere.

To begin your journey toward a healthier brain, claim your free copy of Kate’s Five Key Steps You Can Take Right Now to Improve Your Brain

News You Can Use to Boost Your Brain and Prevent Dementia

IN this episode of Brain Health Matters, Amen Certified Brain Health Professional Kate Kunkel shares some of the latest important research on risk factors for dementia and other brain disorders including dementia and anxiety.

Knowledge is power, and Kate has given you several powerful steps based on this research to help you protect your health and lower your chances of developing cognitive decline.

You can follow up on this research with the links provided here:

Sleep and Noradrenaline https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220714103016.htm

 Antibiotics and depression and anxiety: Neuroscience News  https://neurosciencenews.com/antibiotics-negative-emotion-20988/

Optimism for a healthier brain: https://www.awakeningfromalzheimers.com/studies-prove-optimists-are-less-likely-to-get-dementia/

Chronic disease and dementia risk: https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-068005

Obesity and dementia risk: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-is-now-the-no-1-preventable-cause-of-alzheimers-in-america-11657553007

Surgery and brain health risks:  https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/anesthesia-and-the-risk-for-postoperative-cognitive-dysfunction

Learn many more ways that improve and protect your brain in Kate’s book, Don’t Let the Memories Fade, available in paperback and as an eBook on Amazon everywhere. To begin your journey toward a healthier brain, claim your free copy of Kate’s Five Key Steps You Can Take Right Now to Improve Your Brain

Healing with Our Thoughts and with The Blues

Dr. Tanya English has been working for 30 years in the healing field, first as a massage therapist, then as a chiropractor and energy healer. Dr. English has been inspired by the idea that we have been born with power to heal but people have not been shown how this works in real life.

In this episode of Brain Health Matters with Kate Kunkel, Dr. English helps us understand how to tap into our own inner knowing to heal ourselves body, mind and spirit. And wait ‘till you hear how The Blues can help you heal!

Some highlights from the interview:

A demonstration of the power of the mind to change physiology

Tapping away Kate’s horrific memory

Muscle testing is a great way to confirm if something is good for you

Why The Blues can be so healing

Tanya’s contact information:

Learn many more ways that music, including the Blues, can help you heal AND improve and protect your brain in Kate’s book, The Musical Brain.

To begin your journey toward a healthier brain, claim your free copy of Kate’s Five Key Steps You Can Take Right Now to Improve Your Brain

Supplements, The Good, The Bad, and the Confusing with Kate Kunkel

This week, Kate Kunkel guides you through what she calls the “minefield” of nutritional supplements by sharing gems of information released in the recently broadcast docu-series, “Supplements Revealed”.

Remember, supplements are just that – supplemental to your diet. And the steps you need to take before you begin supplementing are important. Kate lays them all out for you here.

Experts referred to in the podcast:

Dr. Edward F. Group III

Dr. Anne Shippy

Brian Vaszily

Dr. Dale Bredesen

Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Kiran Krishnan is the research microbiologist who talked about probiotics.  Check out his explanation of the gut/brain connection in THIS WEBINAR.  

Greg Horn

Loren D. Israelsen, who is with the United Natural Products Alliance

Dr. Daniel Amen

The article Kate referred to on magnesium is HERE

HERE is a VIDEO by Kate sharing some of the more obscure nutrients and herbs for brain health:

Removing toxins for a healthier brain: https://youtu.be/pKw1i9pdOGw

Geoff Palmer shares the benefits of a plant-based diet to get the nutrients we need https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIob9ILOY7Y&t=2s

Kate’s has written two blogs on the topic of supplements. You can read them HERE and HERE

Kate’s books with more information about nutrition from both food AND supplements that will help with brain health.

Don’t Let the Memories Fade: 

The Vegan Brain, 2^nd Edition: Will be delivered July 7, available for pre-order now.

Why are women three times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to men?

Our guest this week, Dr. Felice Gersh, explains how our hormones, what we eat, and how we sleep make a difference.

PLUS – what is the real danger in taking birth control pills and what about soy?

Dr. Gersh received her medical degree from USC School of Medicine and then studied obstetrics and gynecology at the Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles. After graduating, she launched a private practice founded in her passionate belief in holistic women’s health care. From the earliest years, her practice included acupuncture, massage, and Chinese medicine, leading to a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona. Dr. Gersh became one of the first dual board certified integrative gynecologists in the United States.

Dr. Gersh is a passionate speaker and the best-selling author of Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know.

Some highlights of this episode:

Why Alzheimer’s drugs don’t work

Can hormone replacement therapy work

What about synthetic hormones?

What are the real dangers of birth control pills?

Defeating autoimmune diseases and dementia with a vegan diet

How sleep affects hormone function

You can find Dr. Gersh through her website: Integrative Medical Group Irvine  https://integrativemgi.com/

Dr. Gersh’s book, Menopause, Fifty Things You Need to Know is available on Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Menopause-Things-Expect-During-Stages/dp/1638070962/ 

Dive into more ways to protect and enhance your brain by claiming Kate’s free guide, FIVE KEY STEPS to Improve your Brain and Create a Healthier, Happier, More Successful Future. https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/ 

Alzheimer’s Disease CAN be reversed and it happens every day

Despite popular wisdom saying it is impossible to turn it around and the failure of allopathic medicine to do anything but throw drugs at the problem, dementia, including the Alzheimer’s form, is reversible.

This week’s guest, Dr. Heather Sandison, is a Naturopathic doctor who specializes in neurocognitive medicine and neurohacking. She has been trained by Dr. Dale Bredesen, and works every day to not only treat those afflicted with dementia, but actually help them reverse it and return to their homes even after being institutionalized due to cognitive decline.

Dr. Sandison’s message is… There IS hope! It’s not easy, and you must start as early as possible, but Alzheimer’s can be reversed.

What you’ll learn in this episode

2:53 There is hope even once dementia has been diagnosed.

4:49 Witnessing miracles of dementia reversal and creating a place and space to help make them happen

7:53 The importance of working with a health coach to prevent dementia, because that is the ideal

9:14 If there is a diagnosis, start the reversal process as early as possible because the changes in the brain happen decades before symptoms arise

11:25 The comprehensive plan to reverse Alzheimer’s

17:17 The role of genetics

19:30 Why AZ drugs are a dismal failure

21:28 Caretakers – care for yourselves first!

27:34 Infections that can contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s include herpes simplex

34:21 Can COVID brain also be treated?

36:20 Success is possible – Don’t be overwhelmed

Register for the 2022 Reverse Alzheimer’s Summit HERE:

Dr. Sandison’s Clinic is Solcere https://Solcere.com

Explore the amazing Marama care facility  https://maramaexperience.com

You can work with Kate at Brain Health Matters. Visit the website  https://brainhealthmatters.today

To continue learning from more brain health experts like Dr. Sandison, be sure to Subscribe to the Brain Heath Matters podcast to be the first to have access to new episodes. https://brainhealthmatters.today/podcasts/

Next week, we will be learning from Dr. Felice Gersh, an OB-Gyn who specializes in integrative medicine. If you’re concerned about the fact that women are three times more likely to develop dementia as men, you will learn why in our interview that focuses on the role of hormones. More importantly, you’ll learn what you can do to mitigate the risk.

If you’d like to take action RIGHT NOW to nurture the health of your own brain, claim my free guide, “Five Key Steps to Take Right Now to Improve Your Brain”. CLICK HERE to get the download.

The Seeds of Alzheimer’s are Planted in Childhood

We know that poor dental health including gingivitis has a direct effect on inflammation and the health of the body and brain. But what most people don’t realize is how the actual form and function of the jaw can also contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Since jaws develop during childhood, this episode of Brain Health Matters with Dr. Scott Saunders of Healthy Mouth Media will be of special importance to parents and grandparents because we can help prevent a lifetime of misery by attending to this issue early in life.

Some of the points Dr. Saunders shared with Kate:

1:40 – How the seeds of Alzheimer’s are planted in childhood

3:03 – How underdeveloped or misshapen jaws can be formed

4:53 – A special resource Dr. Saunders has made available for parents to understand and get ahead of the risk for their kids: A special resource Dr. Saunders has made available for parents to understand and get ahead of the risk for their kids: https://www.healthymouthmedia.com/healthysleep

5:40 – How sleep issues are related to jaw development and how that impacts brain health

8:26 – The myth that 5 hours sleep can be enough for anyone

10:27 – How gingivitis and other oral health issues can lead to brain-damaging inflammation

13:00 – How bad is it to breathe through the mouth?

16:12 – Snoring is a red flag

17:31 – An Action Plan for parents – claim Dr. Saunders’ special report here: https://www.healthymouthmedia.com/healthysleep

Learn more about Dr. Saunders’ work at Healthy Mouth Media

http://www.healthymouthmedia.com/

Dr. Saunders has also offered a free download of an adult or child sleep and breathing risk “quick assessment”. You can access that here: https://www.healthymouthmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10-Question-Risk-Assessment-for-Adult-Child-Sleep-and-Breathing-problems.pdf

Learn more about Dr. Bredesen’s ReCODE Here: https://healthymouthmedia.lpages.co/recode/

To continue learning from brain health experts, be sure to Subscribe to the Brain Heath Matters podcast to be the first to have access to new episodes. https://brainhealthmatters.today/podcasts/

Next week – Dr. Heather Sandison, the creator of the Reverse Alzheimer’s summit, will be joining us to talk about her work helping people REVERSE Alzheimer’s, and about the miracle of Marama, her long-term care facility from which people “graduate” after improving their brain health!

Join us for connection, information, and support in building a better brain and a healthier future in our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/preventdementiaandalzheimers

Learn more about Don’t Let the Memories Fade, which Dr. Saunders mentioned, for learning more about the mostly failed pharmaceutical approach to Alzheimer’s and the many ways you can reduce your risk of developing dementia.  https://brainhealthmatters.today/the-vegan-brain/dont-let-the-memories-fade-2/

The Neuroscience of Pain

Dr. Alissa Wolfe is a doctor of physical therapy and chronic pain specialist who got out of the clinical setting to better help people with chronic pain.

She helps people beat it by retraining the nervous system with strategies based on neuroscience .

In this week’s episode of Brain Health Matters, Dr. Alissa Wolfe, a chronic pain specialist, shared some important insights into the ways our brain and central nervous system are impacted by chronic pain. She also shared practical tips on ways you can utilize neuroscience to alleviate your suffering.

Some highlights of the show:

2:47: What is actually going on in the brain when you suffer chronic pain.

6:30 The changes that occur in the spinal cord with long-standing pain

8:41 Impacts on digestion and reproduction

11:34 How chronic stress feeds chronic pain

1719 The changes that can happen in the brain

18:21 Smudging

19:35 Pain signatures in the brain are different for everyone

21:35 Why pushing through the pain is not necessarily a good idea.

There are many things you can do to help improve your brain function – and many of them can be done immediately with no big learning curve! CLICK HERE to claim the FIVE KEY THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW – It is Kate’s gift to you to help you get on the healthy brain train!  

 Get your free pain self-assessment HERE.  

Connect with Alissa on social media at Pain Crusader

 Learn about Alissa’s Chronic Pain Breakup Method 

To continue learning from brain health experts, be sure to Subscribe to the Brain Heath Matters podcast to be the first to have access to new episodes. Next week – how your dental health can have a huge impact on your brain.

Join us for connection, information, and support in building a better brain and a healthier future in our Facebook group

Learn more about The Musical Brain to tap into the healing power of music for body, mind, and spirit.

Your Brain on Toxins

Once you realize the devastating effects toxins of any kind can have on your brain, it’s easy to see why it’s so important to be aware of everything you put in and on your body and in your home.

Amen University Curriculum Director and Functional Medicine Coach Fallon Jordan shared with Kate Kunkel how a toxic brain looks, how mold, artificial scents, antiperspirants and household cleaners can wreak havoc on your overall health, your personality, and your brain.

Some highlights of the show:

1:53 How scans determine if the neurological or psychological issues you’re having could be from toxic exposure

3:33 Simple steps to get the detox ball rolling

4:20 The Think Dirty App

5:33 Toxic dangers of over-the-county medications, sleep medications and more

9:45 Mold – a hidden and persistent danger

12:37 Herpes Simplex is much more than a nuisance

14:50 Personality changes from mold exposure

15:58 Innovative ways to release trauma

18:38 Screening for toxic exposure

19:54 Toxins in our everyday products

Learn more about Fallon HERE

The Moldy movie

The Body Keeps the Score

The candle manufacturer Fallon mentioned is Simply Latina on Instagram

Join us for connection, information, and support in building a better brain and a healthier future in our Facebook group

Learn more about The Musical Brain to tap into the healing power of music for body, mind, and spirit.

The Healing Power of Animals for Mental and Physical Health

Taylor Chastain Griffin joined Kate Kunkel on Brain Health Matters to explore the many ways that animals can help us improve body, mind, and spirit. Taylor is Executive Director of the Association for Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals. With her doctorate in research psychology focusing on the human-animal bond, Taylor is passionate about bolstering pet therapy with empirical investigation. Taylor is also a dog trainer and a registered handler with Pet Partners. Taylor is based in Georgia where her family includes 9 dogs and 3 cats.

Some of the highlights of the show:

3:09 What Animal-related engagement can tell us about ourselves

6:26 How animal-assisted therapy can help stave off dementia

8:26 Kittens can change your life!

12:13 Once someone is already suffering cognitive decline, animal-therapy can be a Godsend

15:20 Live-in therapy animals for assisted living and nursing homes

17:29 Improving children’s mental health

18:45 A vision of a beautiful world with animal therapy in schools

20:52 You can get involved! The organizations Taylor mentioned are: Pet Partners and AAAIP:

Join us for connection, information, and support in building a better brain and a healthier future in our Facebook group

Your Brain Needs You to Dump the Sugar

Let us count the ways that sugar can disrupt your health and your brain. In a study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s, 1000 seniors who were studied. Those with the highest intake of carbos and processed foods and sugars were 89% more likely to have cognitive decline. The more sugar they ate, the higher their likelihood of developing dementia. Those who ate the lowest amount of sugar and highest amount of healthy fats had a REDUCTION in likelihood of developing dementia. That’s why I invited Registered Dietician Becky Bell to join me on Brain Health Matters in a highly enlightening conversation that demonstrated how insulin resistance and sugar addiction can cause problems with your body and your mental facilities. Here are a few snippets of what you’ll learn:

7:30 – How sugar spikes mess with your insulin levels

8:34 – How insulin resistance develops

10:58 – Tips for getting rid of sugar from your diet and your life

12:09 – What about fruit?

13:45 – Sneaky sources of sugar

18:07 – The effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners on the gut microbiome

20:12 – Going cold turkey

24:04 – Stress and blood sugar

Connect with Becky Bell on Instagram at Rooted.Dieticians https://www.instagram.com/rooted.dietitians/ Becky’s website is RootedNutritionTherapies.com https://www.rootednutritiontherapies.com/

Learn much more about using music for a healthier brain with Kate’s book: Don’t Let the Memories Fade https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Memories-Fade-Preventing-ebook/dp/B08GBR1Z37

To become part of a community that helps you stay on track and committed to nurturing a healthier brain, join the Boost Your Brain and Prevent Dementia Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preventdementiaandalzheimers

If you prefer to listen to this episode, remember, this, and many more Brain Health Matters episodes are available on all podcast services. Find the show on your favorite service here: https://brainhealthmatters.today/podcasts/

The Effects of Technology on Mental and Brain Health

Dr. Larry Rosen is Past Chair and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He is a research psychologist with specialties in generational differences, parenting, child and adolescent development, and educational psychology, and is recognized as an international expert in the Psychology of Technology. He is co-author with Adam Gazzaley of “The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World https://www.amazon.com/Distracted-Mind-Ancient-Brains-High-Tech/dp/0262034948/ In this candid interview with Kate Kunkel, Dr. Rosen explains what obsession with devices does to our brains, and how anxiety and other mental health issues can be exacerbated with overuse.
Plus – what effect does technology have on developing brains and how can we use it without losing our ability to communicate and make good decisions? Some highlights from this show;

2:32 What happens in the brains of kids who use technology to excess

4:42 Parents need to set limits on technology

7:44 Is multitasking possible or is it task switching? And what does that do to the brain?

12:11 Did technology make things easier – or not?

18:34 Why we make poor decisions when we are young

27:37 Suggestions on ways to live kindly with technology

Learn more about Dr. Rosen’s work at: http://drlarryrosen.com/

Kate Kunkel is an Amen Licensed Brain Trainer, sound therapist, and vegan nutritionist. She coaches midlife and older clients to improve brain function that is compromised due to head trauma, diabetes, obesity, or early cognitive decline. We are not stuck with the brains we have, and Kate helps you make yours the best that it can be. With this podcast and a series of courses, programs, and books, Kate shares proven techniques and tools to help you create a healthier, more vibrant future free of worries about dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases. Learn much more about using music for a healthier brain with Kate’s book: Don’t Let the Memories Fade https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Memories-Fade-Preventing-ebook/dp/B08GBR1Z37/ To become part of a community that helps you stay on track and committed to nurturing a healthier brain, join the Boost Your Brain and Prevent Dementia Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preventdementiaandalzheimers
If you prefer to listen to this episode, remember, this, and many more Brain Health Matters episodes are available on all podcast services. Find the show on your favorite service here: https://brainhealthmatters.today/podcasts

Tracing the Connection between Sleep, Your Gut and a Healthier Brain

In this episode, Kate interviews Ariel Jarvis, a Natural Health Practitioner located in British Columbia, Canada. 

Ariel’s passion to help people has led her to persist through the education required to discover the most effective ways to see life-changing results with natural health options. Her specialty is in cellular rehabilitation & gut health. She also has a passion for the deaf and is one of very few health care workers fluent in ASL and committed to making a difference in that community! Today, we’re talking about sleep, gut health and… water.  When you hear this episode, you’ll be thinking a lot about the quality and quantity of the water you drink each day!

2:40 Understanding the cycles of sleep and how long it takes to clean out the detritus of living

4:09 What happens if you don’t get restorative sleep?

5:29 The Four Pillars of Health to produce a healthy ecosystem – Water, Sleep, Food and Herbs are Medicine, Exercise and Stress Management

6:26 What is structured water?

10:09 Sleep hygiene and parasites

20:30  Feeding the neurotransmitters in the brain

22:36  The one thing you must do to have a healthy brain 

Connect with Ariel on her website at https://vitalitywc.com/

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitality_wellness_/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitalityHW/

Kate Kunkel is an Amen Licensed Brain Trainer, sound therapist and vegan nutritionist. She coaches midlife and older clients to improve brain function that is compromised due to head trauma, diabetes, obesity, or early cognitive decline.  We are not stuck with the brains we have, and Kate helps you make yours the best that it can be. With this podcast and a series of courses, programs, and books, Kate shares proven techniques and tools to help you create a healthier, more vibrant future free of worries about dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases. 

Connect with Kate on the website:  https://brainhealthmatters.today
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrainHealthMattersToday
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dementiapreventionspecialist/

Helping our Children Develop Healthier Brains.

Allison Davies is a music for the brain specialist who creates online resources for parents and educators. She works with schools to deliver professional development around the topics of childhood brain development and the use of music to support brain function and reduce anxiety for children and their parents. As a person with autism herself, Allison understands the challenges of being neurodivergent, and does powerful work to help parents work with their children to embrace and appreciate differences while working to enhance cognitive development. Highpoints of her interview with Kate Kunkel on Brain Health Matters:

At 4:48 – what happens to our brains when we listen to or even THINK about music

At 6:07 – why Allison considers neurologic music therapy the “atheism” of music therapy

At 7:48 – how working to change society’s interpretation of cognitive health is the way to lessen trauma and nurture children to develop healthier brains no matter their neurological state

At 12:32 – using music as a tool to make the brain feel safe

Contact Allison at https://www.allisondavies.com.au/ Allison is also available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/allisondavies.com.au/ and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/allisondavies_musicandthebrain/ Learn much more about using music for a healthier brain with Kate’s latest book, “The Musical Brain” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q2FTWB9

Is ShameGuilt Destroying Your Brain?

Lois Hollis suffered years of physical abuse and emotional trauma, which consequently left her with debilitating pain, crippling migraines and severe anxiety and depression. But a chance encounter led her to unlocking the prison of her past. Understanding that one emotion was holding her captive allowed Lois to be free of her past.
As Lois said: “Shameguilt has only one defect: It dissolves in Detection.”
Once you understand it and pull back the curtain on shameguilt, you can also become healthier and happier.   Learn more about Lois here: https://www.loishollis.com/ Lois’s film is https://www.imgoodfilm.com/ To learn more about Kate Kunkel’s work helping you improve mental, physical and brain health, visit https://brainhealthmatters.today For many fun and easy ways to help you overcome trauma and improve your own health and your brain, get The Musical Brain and Improve Memory, Sharpen Focus, and Master Your Mind with the Healing Power of Music.

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Good Vibrations!

Good, Good, Good, Good Vibrations. (Gotcha singing?) We are all vibrating all of the time. Everything is in a state of vibration all of the time. When something with a negative vibration intersects with our vibration, we feel bad. That can be anger, fear, hate…. those emotions emit a vibration just as much as a jet engine over our head or a boom box disrupting a quiet morning on the beach. (I speak from experience here.)

On the other hand, positive feelings like joy, appreciation, and passion vibrate at high frequencies. These high frequency vibrations make us feel good, and that’s why we call them “good vibrations”. We can also create these good vibrations with music, and it doesn’t mean you have to be “good” at creating music. Just be yourself. Today, on Brain Health Matters, with special guest Diane Annie Mathias, you’ll learn how to capture and utilize the vibration-raising power of music and sound and silence to become healthier and happier.

With respect to silence, Annie says, “Being a part of the whole, in the silence, is a powerful place to be.” This is one of the most powerful and beautiful episodes we’ve ever done on Brain Health Matters. Be sure to join us. Join Annie in one of her groups or watch one of her videos by going to her website at: https://uncoveringwonder.org/

To learn more about the many other ways you can utilize music to heal body, mind and spirit (and your brain), purchase The Musical Brain, Kate Kunkel’s newest book. It is available on Amazon everywhere. https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Brain-Improve-Sharpen-Healing-ebook/dp/B09Q2FTWB9

Music and Frequencies for a Healthier Brain

Have you ever heard of The Resurrection Code? Once you learn what it is, you’ll be incorporating it into your life as Del Hungerford has!

 And… what if your music was based on a frequency that is more in tune with your body and the earth than the 440 hz. that we’re most familiar with? Del Hungerford is a professional clarinetist and music educator, but beyond her amazing classical music training and knowledge, Del is an intuitive and creative composer whose music is used for healing, meditation and much more.

In this episode of Brain Health Matters, Del shares the value of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for helping people deal with trauma including PTSD. If you know anyone suffering from any form of trauma, this is an important show.

PLUS – Have you ever wondered why some music feels more comforting to you than some other music? Beyond the tune is the intention and the tone. Learn more about Del and claim your free song and scavenger hunt at https://www.healingfrequenciesmusic.com/

Visit Kate’s website at Brain Health Matters to get more tips and tools to improve body, mind, and spirit for a healthier brain. Coming up next week: A beautiful soul and talented creative, Diane Annie Mathias, who will be sharing the transformative power of drumming, didgeridoos and Native American flutes.

You’ll find The Musical Brain at https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Brain-Inspiring-Healthier-Healthy-ebook/dp/B09Q2FTWB9
When you purchase The Musical Brain between now and April 10th, 2022, you can also receive free admission to ReSet Your MindSet, a powerful online retreat to help you deal with anxiety, depression and worry in a beautiful way. Get the details here:  https://harplady.lpages.co/reset-gift-with-musical-brain/ 

Harps and Healing Music for a Better Brain with Tami Briggs

Join host Kate Kunkel on Brain Health Matters for a heartfelt discussion with healing harpist Tami Briggs. Be sure to catch each new episode of Brain Health Matters by subscribing to this channel or to Brain Health Matters on your favorite podcast service. In this powerful and heart-warming episode, you’ll learn how playing a musical instrument improves the functioning of the brain and increases the size and strength of the corpus callosum. The healing power of the harp and music extends to the end of life as well, and hospice patients can also benefit from this powerful modality. Harpists – Tami is inviting you to join her Healing Harps for Global Peace and Unity. Learn more Here: https://musicalreflections.com/healing-harps-for-global-peace-and-unity/ Visit Tami’s website at https://musicalreflections.com/ To learn many more ways to use music to build a healthier brain and a more robust memory, read The Musical Brain, on Amazon everywhere. https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Brain-Inspiring-Healthier-Healthy-ebook/dp/B09Q2FTWB9 Join Kate for her upcoming program, Tune Up Your Brain. Five weeks to enjoy music, art, mindfulness and more to improve your memory, banish brain fog, and reduce stress. https://brainhealthmatters.today/tune-up-your-brain/

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The Brain-Boosting Power of Music

Music teacher and coach Emma Nottage joined Kate Kunkel on Brain Health Matters in a wide-ranging discussion about the power of music to enhance mental abilities and health while also improving brain function.

Whether it is through listening, dancing to, or playing music, the importance of this, like all arts, cannot be overstated. For more ways to use music for a better brain, be sure to get Kate Kunkel’s newest book, ‘The Musical Brain’ available on Amazon everywhere.

And to be sure you get all the latest Brain Health Matters episodes as soon as they’re available, subscribe to this channel You Tube, or tap into the show on your favorite podcast.

Find the links HERE: https://brainhealthmatters.today/podcasts/

Deal with Trauma in a Healthy Way for a Healthy Brain

In this heartfelt and honest interview, Author and coach Carol Holland March shares with Host Kate Kunkel how she overcame the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. You will learn how you, too, can survive and thrive by understanding what trauma means to the physical functioning of your brain and how to tap into spirit and your own inner knowing to heal. Learn more about Carol at: http://www.carolhollandmarch.com/ Find Carol’s memoir here: https://www.amazon.com/When-Spirit-Wh… To learn how to enhance your brain for healthier, more vibrant future, find Kate’s best-selling book, Don’t Let the Memories Fade here: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Memor… For an audio-only version of this interview, download the podcast at your favorite platform. Find it HERE: https://brainhealthmatters.today/podc…

Laugh Your Way to a Heathier Brain

You’re going to be so glad you’ve joined us on Brain Health Matters for this episode, because we did some laughing! You’ll love learning a simple, joyful way to get that belly laugh started, and how laughter can help you deal with the many stressors in our lives. Dave Berman is a laughter coach and the creator of Laughnosis, a blend between laughter and hypnosis. Dave is also host of the Laughter Gym. Learn more about Dave at his website. https://davebermancoaching.com Be sure to subscribe to this channel for ongoing interviews with experts in their field so that you can learn the most effective and enjoyable ways to boost your brain and prevent dementia. Learn more about Kate’s

Dance Your Way to a Healthier Heart

Movement specialist and Holistic Health Coach Holly Wade joined Kate Kunkel for our first episode in the Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain series.  Holly shared the power of dance to overcome chronic disease AND to improve heart and brain health.  

Strength and Stamina with Whole Plant Foods

Did you know that one of the proteins ingested from animal products actually causes cancer? 

Geoff Palmer is one of the most knowledgeable guests that has ever appeared on Brain Health Matters, and shares more information about nutrition in 30 minutes than many people absorb in their lifetime. Do. Not. Miss. This. Show. 

Bonus Video

Protect Your Brain with Whole Plant Foods

Tracing the Connection between Alzheimer’s and animal protein. This is a VERY IMPORTANT video, and a special segment in addition to our interview January 26 with creator of The Clean Machine Geoff Palmer. In this special segment of Brain Health Matters, he shares some shocking information about the formation of the plaques and tangles that cause Alzheimer’s disease, and how a common nutrient disrupts the negative cognitive effects. 

DeClutter Your Mind

Decluttering your space is a powerful tool to decluttering your mind and making your brain healthier. The Intentional Organizer, Jessica Hritz Morrick, joined Kate Kunkel on Brain Health Matters to share specific steps to clean up your space. Jessica described how important it is to choose just one spot or one small space at a time to declutter and shared her navigational system to get a more organized space and life. Claim Jessica’s gift PDF, ‘The Top Three Tips To Jumpstart Your Decluttering’ by writing to Jessica@Jessicahritzmorrick.com Book a consultation at https://jessicahritzmorrick.com/

Visit Kate’s website at https://brainhealthmatters.com to get more tips and tools to improve body, mind, and spirit for a healthier brain. You’ll find The Musical Brain at https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Brain-Inspiring-Healthier-Healthy-ebook/dp/B09Q2FTWB9