Veggie Extract Turns Back the Clock on Brain Age

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted February 17, 2023

You’re likely not familiar with the word neuroplasticity. But trust me when I tell you you’re going to want to do everything you can to enhance it.

Because if you want to keep your brain in tip-top condition as you add more candles to your birthday cake, then boosting it is the name of the game.

Neuroplasticity is essentially your brain’s ability to change.

A neurologist would define it as the ability of the brain to reorganize its structure, functions, or connections in response to changes in the environment or in the brain itself.

You see, a young brain can easily adapt to what’s happening in the world. For example, if you go blind, it can repurpose parts of the brain that are used for sight.

But an older person who goes blind is less likely to have their brain change in response to blindness … unless they’ve maintained their neuroplasticity.

So, HOW do you get a “younger,” more flexible brain?

It starts with a trip to the grocery store.

According to a new study published in the journal Acta Physiologica, there are two ways you can maintain and boost neuroplasticity as you age.

• exercise
• nitrates (found in beetroot juice)

But the trick is to combine them.

You see, beetroot juice is an excellent source of dietary nitrate. That’s important because nitrate causes muscles to contract more efficiently. And that’s exactly what the team behind the new study demonstrated.

Muscle force during exercise was significantly increased in volunteers who were given a nitrate supplement. And that boost happened FAST… within one hour of taking the nutrient.

This is excellent news for anyone who exercises. (Which, of course, should be EVERYONE.) Because increasing muscle force when working out means, you can build MORE muscle.

And remember, as I’ve often shared with you here in Living Well Daily, maintaining (and increasing) muscle mass is a VITAL for healthy aging,

But the good news doesn’t end there. Because when exercise and the nitrates you can get from beetroot juice are combined, you also improve BRAIN FUNCTION.

And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen these benefits. An earlier study published in 2017 in the Journal of Gerontology reached similar conclusions.

According to the researchers of the 2017 study, when older folks combined exercise with beetroot juice, they “had brain networks that more closely resembled those of younger adults.”

In other words, they had increased neuroplasticity.

If you want to try beetroot, it’s available as a juice or supplement. You’ll find it’s often combined with several heart-healthy nutrients.

That’s because the nitrate-rich veggie extract ALSO naturally reduces blood pressure and improves cholesterol. If you’re already taking blood pressure meds, check with your doc before trying beetroot.

You can also make beetroot juice at home if you juice your own veggies. I find its earthy flavor combines well with other juices like orange, lime, and carrot.

Remember to keep up your exercise routine too. You’ll find that you can go further, lift more, and feel less fatigued when you combine the two. And your brain will receive the nutrients it needs to maintain its neuroplasticity.

P.S. Nitrates aren’t the only way to fight brain age. Researchers identified another key nutrient that supercharges cognitive performance. And it works at any age! CLICK HERE for the details.

Source:

“15N-labeled dietary nitrate supplementation increases human skeletal muscle nitrate concentration and improves muscle torque production,” Acta Physiologica, First published: 06 January 2023, Early View – Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue e13924, doi.org/10.1111/apha.13924

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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