Change Your Brain Every Day

Longtime followers of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast will know that Dr. Daniel Amen believes the traditional psychiatric model for care is dysfunctional and in need of a revolution. Psychiatrists who do 15-minute checks and then prescribe potentially harmful medication are often hurting more than helping. In this first episode with "The Transformation" author Dr. James Gordon, the Amens and Gordon discuss how you can take your health matters into your own hands.

You have questions? The Amens have answers. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen answer some of your questions. This episode features information and tips on brain waves during a state of fear, family brain history in the adoption process, and the accuracy of claims made about animal-based food products in the new Netflix documentary, "Game Changer." If you'd like your question answered by the Amens, visit brainwarriorswaypodcast.com for information on how to submit.

It's time for another special "Brain in the News" episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen give their take on some of the most interesting news items revolving around brain health. This episode features information on crocus sativus and depression, binge-drinking and education, contaminated Juul pods, and using cannabinoids to treat mental health disorders.

Many of us tend to think of the holidays as a happy time. After all, we connect and spend time with family and loved ones and give thanks for what we have in our lives. In reality, however, there's more depression during the holidays than any other time of the year. So what can you do to keep the holiday stressors at bay? In this episode of the podcast, Daniel and Tana Amen discuss some of the biggest holiday stress culprits, and how to manage them to keep a level head going into the new year.

When holiday season rolls around, most of us are tasked with the time-honored tradition of picking out gifts for our loved ones. Yet much of the time, the gifts we choose don't promote the health of the recipient. In fact, usually the opposite is true. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen give you some tips to think outside the box when it comes to your holiday shopping so you can give the gift of health and wellness.

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen answer some of your questions. This week's installment covers such topics as video game violence, hypothyroidism, histamine intolerance, and the differences between samE and serotonin mood support. If you'd like your question answered on the Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, you can submit your questions at brainwarriorswaypodcast.com

For this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen take a look at some of the current news items and weigh in from a brain health perspective. This week's pieces range from the surprising, such as how Omega 3 can help children with mood disorders, to the bizarre, like the man who was arrested for drunk driving with a high BAC level, even though he never took a sip of alcohol.

We live in a culture where we celebrate with food. It's ironic that most of the food we choose to celebrate is actually hurting us, and is therefore nothing to celebrate. So what are our options? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen give you some suggestions for healthy (and delicious!) dishes you can bring to the next family gathering to help set an example of wellness for your loved ones.

Over the years, the focus of the Thanksgiving holiday has gone from gratitude to gluttony, which makes it exceptionally difficult for people to both celebrate the holiday and maintain their healthy lifestyle. So what can Brain Warriors do? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen give you tips for avoiding those weapons of mass destruction while saving face with the relatives.

In the fourth and final episode of a series with MMA fighter and author Justin Wren, Dr. Daniel Amen and Justin discuss the impact emotional trauma can have on a person, and what happens when you hold on to the hurt. They also touch on the benefits of EMDR therapy, self-care, and why happiness should not be seen as merely an option.

MMA fighter-turned author Justin Wren was at a crossroads in his life when he made the decision to venture into the Congo. The impact he made on the pygmy culture he found there would change their lives for the better, forever. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Justin discuss how purpose can transform your life, and how the concept of victory can exist on many different levels.

Things had been on a downward swing for MMA fighter Justin Wren, but then his desperation and faith provided him with the most unexpected of visions. Where that vision would ultimately lead him, no one could have predicted. In the second episode of a series with "Fight for the Forgotten" author Justin Wren, Dr. Daniel Amen and Wren discuss the remarkable circumstances that answered an entire culture's prayers.

When MMA fighter-turned social activist Justin Wren was bullied by his classmates, he struggled to find a reason for living. He eventually found that wrestling and mixed martial arts gave him an outlet for his frustrations, but something was still missing. In the first episode of a series with the "Fight for the Forgotten" author, Justin describes what happened when he made the shift from fighting people to fighting FOR people.

According to Dr. John Townsend, the key to growth, whether it be for large companies or for a single individual, is the need to need. What this means is that we need to have others that we rely upon, that we need in order to achieve success. In the final episode with Dr. Townsend, he shares with Daniel and Tana Amen some of the ways that needing other people (certain types of other people!) can bring us closer to our goals.

Setbacks are a normal part of life. No one goes through life without having some setbacks to respond to from time to time. But it's how we respond to these moments that make us who we are. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen are once again joined by Dr. John Townsend for a discussion on how you can utilize the help of others to get back up when you fall, and how to appropriately take responsibility for your contributions, in both good times and bad.

Studies have shown that people who lack in good friends and mentors in their life tend to struggle more both emotionally and physically. But if you don't have anyone on your side, how can you bring people in? In the second episode of a series on "relational nutrients," Dr. John Townsend discusses a recruitment process you can use to filter the types of people that are going to be most beneficial in your life to help you move forward.

In some ways, people are like the foods you eat. Some of them are rich in nutrients, while others simply drain you of your health. In this first episode of a series with "People Fuel" author Dr. John Townsend, he and the Amens discuss how the people around you affect your life, and how you can use Dr. Townsend's "relational nutrients" grid to define the deficiencies in your "people fuel diet" and then find ways to supplement.

Jim Karol, author of "Ultimate Memory Magic," has developed the ultimate tool to help you remember huge lists and other large numbers of items. It's called the mental matrix, and it just might blow your mind. In the final episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast series with Jim, he describes what the mental matrix is, and how you can use his (or your own!) to turn your brain into a well-oiled memory machine.

Did you know that by improving your memory, you also improve your overall health? So if your memory is bad now, it's important to get it functioning at optimum levels. Fortunately, there are some easy tools you can use to start improving your memory right now. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are again joined by memory master Jim Karol to discuss some of Jim's most effective tricks to radically improve your memory today.

"Ultimate Memory Magic" author Jim Karol has spent years refining his technique to help him achieve near-superhuman memory. But you don't need to have a superbrain to drastically improve your own memory. In the second episode of a series with Jim, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss the practical tips you can introduce into your life today to help you begin to remember things more clearly and easily.

When Jim Karol got laid off from his job at a steel mill in Allentown, PA, his prospects looked grim. When his doctor told him he also had a dangerously enlarged heart, Jim knew it was time to turn his life around. However, nobody could have predicted what happened next. In the first episode of a podcast series with author and memory expert Jim Karol, Dr. Daniel Amen, Tana Amen, and Jim recount the fascinating story of Jim's redemption.

In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen address some listener questions and dole out helpful advice. This week's topics include clean products for personal and household use, sedation vs. general anesthesia during surgery, workout tips, intermittent fasting to lose weight, and eating clean while away from home. If you'd like your question answered on the Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, you can submit your questions at brainwarriorswaypodcast.com

In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen weigh in on brain-related current events. This week's "Brain in the News" items feature a link between the supplement ashwagandha and improved sleep and stress, two types of medication that are linked to dementia, a 9 year-old arsonist charged with first degree murder, a startling childhood obesity prediction, and a correlation of ADD/ADHD in teen moms.

When Tana Amen was suffering from depression, she had no idea it was caused by her thyroid medication. She started taking antidepressant medication, and the effect it had on her was completely unexpected. In the second episode of a series on antidepressants, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana describe how some antidepressant medications can give your entire personality an overhaul, and how it may not always be a positive change.

For some people, the choice to take antidepressants leads to a happier, healthier quality of life. For others, it only makes things worse. Therefore it's crucial to understand the benefits and drawbacks of choosing this route of treatment. In the first episode of a series on antidepressants, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen arm you with the information you need to decide if antidepressants are the right choice for you or your loved one.

In this final episode of a series with 'Thriving as an Empath' author Dr. Judith Orloff, she and the Amens discuss the phenomenon of the mirror neuron system, and how it can create either empathy or narcissism in individuals. Orloff then explains how knowledge of this system can help parents guide their children to experiencing more empathy for others, and how that can lead to happier relationships in their future.

In this final episode of a series with 'Thriving as an Empath' author Dr. Judith Orloff, she and the Amens discuss the phenomenon of the mirror neuron system, and how it can create either empathy or narcissism in individuals. Orloff then explains how knowledge of this system can help parents guide their children to experiencing more empathy for others, and how that can lead to happier relationships in their future.

Have you ever felt like you have an uncanny ability to make judgements about people that turn out to be correct? There may be more than simple guessing involved. In the third episode of a series on empaths, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are again joined by bestselling author Dr. Judith Orloff for a detailed discussion on the crucial differences between someone who is an empath, and someone who merely feels empathy for others.

When a person is described as "sensitive", the label usually carries with it negative connotations. But as Dr. Judith Orloff suggests, there are plenty of advantages to a sensitive nature, and this disposition should be encouraged and nurtured rather than suppressed. In the second episode of a series with the 'Thriving as an Empath' author, she and the Amens discuss tips for people to use their sensitive nature as an advantage.

A small contingent of our population claims to be able to physically experience the emotional energy of other people. Sound crazy? Well there may be an actual science behind this. In the first episode of a series with Dr. Judith Orloff, the bestselling author of 'Thriving as an Empath', Dr. Daniel Amen, Tana Amen, and Orloff shed some light on this mysterious ability.

In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are here to answer your questions. This week's installment includes information on the ApoE4 gene and Alzheimer's risk, combining supplements and medication, and the health ramifications of coffee. If you'd like your question answered on the Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, you can submit your questions at brainwarriorswaypodcast.com.

It's time for "Brain in the News," our weekly brain health news roundup, where Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen go over all the latest news in brain health from the Amen angle. This week's stories include recent findings of cancer risk in tap water, a spike in suicides in the military, usage of St. John's Wort to help treat symptoms of menopause, and a fascinating scientific claim that human skulls are evolving in a way that could ultimately be detrimental to our health.

In the second episode of a series on healing with oxygen, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen take you under the hood to see exactly how hyperbaric oxygen treatment works, and why it can be effective when other treatment types have been less successful. Daniel and Tana also break down the many circumstances in which hyperbaric oxygen can be efficiently used, ranging from reducing simple inflammation to saving someone's life.

When Dr. Daniel Amen was working on the largest ever NFL study on the brains of active and retired players, one of the biggest takeaways was how the subjects' brains reacted to hyperbaric oxygen treatment. In short, they got much better. In this first episode of a series on healing with oxygen, the Amens discuss the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and Tana shares her recent first-hand account of how it helped her recover from a surgery.

Q&A time! This episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast features Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen answering some of your questions. Topics covered in this episode include the health benefits and risks of drinking milk, and what you can do to avoid a midday crash. If you'd like your own question answered on the show, please visit brainwarriorswaypodcast.com for instructions on how to submit.

It's time for more Brain in the News! In this episode, the Amens contribute to the discussion of the brain health topics in the recent news cycle. This episode features a study on the world's biggest consumers of antidepressants, a study on ashwagandha and schizophrenia, QEEG for concussions in junior hockey players, a teen who went blind from a bad diet, and a study on how eating fish can make you live longer.

In this second episode of a series on toxic products, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen give you tips to give the personal product supply in your bathroom a makeover. Learn the 10 ways that toxic products disrupt your health, as well as the most effective and easy way to make the gradual shift towards a healthier bathroom, and a healthier life.

An oft overlooked fact about personal products (makeup, hair & skin care, etc.) is that what you put on your skin goes into your body and affects it. Therefore, you could be poisoning yourself every day and not even know it. In the first episode of a series on toxic products, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe how easy it is to be tricked by product marketing, as well as the simple way to see exactly how healthy the products you use are to you, so you can throw them out!

It's time for another Q&A! In this episode, the Amens dip into the mailbag to answer some of your questions. This episode features information and tips on automatic negative thoughts, brain injuries, Omega 3 benefits, and dealing with impulse control. If you'd like your own question answered on the podcast, visit brainwarriorswaypodcast.com and follow the instructions on how to submit.

In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen look at some of the current news stories involving the brain. This installment includes an in-depth look at cyberbullying. Dr. Amen and Tana give you some of the characteristics to look for in your own child's life, as well as tips for effective ways to approach the subject to make them feel safe and supported.

The recent epidemic of deaths and illnesses from e-cigarettes has made it clear that vaping poses a very real health hazard for teens and adults alike. But how can you quit this unhealthy habit? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss some of the brain-based strategies you can use to get yourself off of e-cigarettes for good.

With the recent headlines of illnesses and deaths attributed to vaping and the CEO of Juul promptly resigning, the nation's attention is focused on e-cigarettes. So what is vaping? And what exactly is the threat it poses to our youth? In the first episode of a series on vaping, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe the physiological issues associated with e-cigarettes, and why their marketing campaigns have become so problematic.

In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen answer some listener questions. They give info and advice and such topics as putting the brain in a healing environment, brain tips for salesmen and entrepreneurs, and fighting the social media blues. If you would like the Amens to answer your question, visit brainwarriorswaypodcast.com.

In this episode, The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast introduces a new segment called "The Brain in the News," where Daniel and Tana Amen review some of the latest news in neuroscience and weigh in with the Brain Warrior perspective. This episode features such hot topics as problems with the vegan diet, blood tests for PTSD, marijuana use during pregnancy, and antidepressant effects in the gut.

In the previous episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discussed the brain functions involved in judgement, particularly from a negative point of view. However, there are many instances in which judgement is crucial, whether in social situations or for safety reasons. But should you always listen to your gut? Learn the difference between judgement for discernment or discrimination, and positive thinking vs. accurate thinking.

Research using brain scans has shown us that people with extreme views tend to share similar aspects of brain function. In this first episode of a series on judgement, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe how the brain's frontal lobes play a huge role in determining where people may fall on the political spectrum, and how they may even help explain the existence of such negative social phenomena as racism and mob mentality.

Many of the neurological issues prevalent in our society are the result of a conscious effort of the food industry to confuse and conflate the differences between pleasure and happiness. So what exactly does this mean? In the last episode of a series with "The Hacking of the American Mind" author Robert Lustig, Dr. Amen and Lustig describe how the crucial differences between dopamine and serotonin are disrupting our health.

Fruit juice has long been considered a healthier alternative to soft drinks like Pepsi and Sprite, but unfortunately this is far from accurate. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen is again joined by "Fat Chance" author Robert Lustig for a discussion on why fruit is good for your body while fruit juice is not, and why we need to shift our focus to protecting the liver and feeding the gut.

Back in 1955, President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack, prompting a nationwide inquiry as to what was causing cardiovascular disease. The two camps of thinking centered around either fat or sugar as the culprit. Fat won out and was subsequently demonized. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, author Robert Lustig and Dr. Daniel Amen explain why this was the wrong decision, and the eventual fallout that resulted from this misconception.

In Robert Lustig's early work as a pediatric endocrinologist, he began studying the effect certain molecules had on the body's organs. What he found was a stunning connection between fructose and liver function, which helps explain the reason for today's obesity epidemic. In the first episode of a series with the author of "Fat Chance," Dr. Daniel Amen and Lustig discuss how and why fructose is making people fat.