The old phrase “mind over matter” has increasing relevance as researchers discover the integral connection between a healthy brain and well-being of the rest of the body. CBS explored the connection in an interview conducted by Chris Wragge, co-anchor of “Saturday Early Show” with Daniel Amen, M.D., author of “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body” and founder of the Amen Clinics.
As Amen explained, because the brain is involved with everything about how a person thinks and feels, it’s no wonder that greater levels of mental stress can impact the heart, skin, memory and more. And while all people have the same basic needs for good brain function—water, oxygen, sleep, mental stimulation—the connection between brain health and issues such as depression, obesity or heart health mandates different treatments.
Of particular interest to Amen is the connection between brain function and weight. He told Wragge, “Compulsive overeaters need interventions that calm the brain, such as boosting a chemical called serotonin, through eating simple carbohydrates and using supplements, such as 5-HTP. Impulsive overeaters need interventions that stimulate the brain, which we can do by boosting a chemical called dopamine, through eating a higher protein diet and using supplements, such as green tea or L-tyrosine.”
However, Amen said there are also important connections between the brain and heart, noting improving blood flow can benefit all the organs, delivering more nutrients. Heart disease and hypertension actually are linked to an increased risk of depression and Alzheimer’s disease, he noted. In addition to working on stress reduction, Amen suggested consumers take fish oil, which has been found in studies to directly benefit both the brain and cardiovascular system.