REVEALED: Secrets About the SIZE of Your Brain
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted August 26, 2020
Dear Reader,
A big brain sounds like an excellent idea doesn’t it?
The bigger the brain, the smarter you are –– ask any salamander.
In fact, because your brain tends to shrink as you get older, having a bigger brain usually means you keep your cognitive functioning longer (and avoid dementia).
But…this isn’t always the case.
Sometimes a bigger brain is the last thing you want.
A new study found that our brains shrink when we are depressed and as we get older.
BUT a certain area that brain becomes significantly larger when people are anxious (and that’s not good news).
The research team looked at more than 10,000 people to find the effects of depression and anxiety on brain size. They published their work in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience.
The study team found that depression has a pronounced impact on the hippocampus (the part of your brain linked to memory and learning). A smaller hippocampus is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and can even accelerate the development of dementia.
(But there are plenty other signs and triggers for Alzheimer’s… some of which might even be hiding in your kitchen. Find out what foods could skyrocket your Alzheimer’s risk, here.)
When anxiety is present, another part of the brain called the amygdala swells in size.
The amygdala is the integrative center for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation. It is also the processing center for danger.
So, if you are more easily frightened, always worry, then there’s a good chance your amygdala is larger and more easily triggered.
There is a way to calm the amygdala and make it smaller.
Dr. Scott’s Anxiety-Stomping Program:
- My favorite method for dealing with anxiety is called exposure therapy. Often, the things we are afraid of turn out to be not as bad as we think. Exposure therapy is simply putting yourself IN the situation that causes you anxiety in small doses. This works well for fear of snakes, flying, or talking in front of groups… but doesn’t work well for anxiety that comes from outside forces (like having a visit from one of your always-in-trouble children).
- Sleep: Anxiety and sleep go hand in hand. Most of us know we feel more anxious when we don’t sleep. But getting enough sleep can be a tough battle. Natural supplements like L-theanine, melatonin, and chamomile can be very effective.
- Calming herbs: Speaking of sleep… I’ve given herbs usually used for sleep to people who have anxiety and found they work pretty well (though, not for everyone). Try taking a half-dose of a sleeping formula in the morning and see how it works.
- Exercise: Anxiety and exercise also go hand in hand: exercise reduces anxiety. Find something that works for you that you enjoy. The more you can make exercise fun, the better.
P.S. If you suffer with anxiety the best thing you can do is find out what’s causing it. Find out the ROOT cause of your anxiety here and more easy steps to fixing it.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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