Change Your Brain Every Day

It seems like every day we're told what foods are good and bad for you, but it's often difficult to translate all this information into a grocery store run and eating schedule. In the final installment of a series with BrainFitLife nutrition coach Zoe Davis, Dr. Daniel Amen and Zoe give prime examples of healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner, as well as how to make these healthy choices a habit.

It may make some squeamish, but there are 100 trillion bugs in your intestinal lining. 100 trillion! Believe it or not, these bacteria may actually be your brain's best friends. In part 2 of a series with nutritional coach Zoe Davis, Dr. Daniel Amen and Zoe describe the important ways your gut interacts with your brain, how the vagus nerve just may be to blame for your anxiety and depression.

When you start to think about food as medicine that can heal you, rather than just stuff you eat when you're hungry, everything can change. In the first episode in a series with BrainFitLife coach Zoe Davis, Dr. Daniel Amen and Zoe discuss the standard American diet (SAD), the food/mood connection, and how elimination diets can tell you if some of the biggest health offender foods are hurting you.

Many struggles that children or adults face in school or work are the result of an underdeveloped cerebellum. The good news is that you can increase blood flow to the cerebellum through a process called vestibular stimulation. In the third and final episode of Cerebellum Week, Dr. Daniel Amen and Wynford Dore discuss which of these activities will help the most with vestibular stimulation.

Science has shown us that the stimulation of the vestibular system (your inner ear) is crucial in development of the cerebellum, which is part of the brain hugely responsible for learning. So why are today's children having increasingly slow development in this area? In the second part of Cerebellum Week, Dr. Daniel Amen is joined by Wynford Dore for a discussion on how to make sure our children develop their cerebellum correctly and avoid learning disabilities.

When Wynford Dore's daughter struggled with learning disabilities, the pain became so great that she attempted suicide. Heartbroken and desperate, her father searched intensely for any information that could help her to overcome her challenges and push out thoughts of suicide. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dore shares the amazing discoveries that came from this search with Dr. Daniel Amen.

In the third and final episode on overcoming hardships with hall of fame karate Master Bob White, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss the strategies involved in sustaining the rewards won in life's victories, such as your support group, and coach-ability.

Everybody gets knocked down at one point or another, and we've all heard that what's most important is that we get back up. But just how, exactly, do we do that? In part 2 of a series with hall of fame karate Master Bob White, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss how to use your pain to create purpose for others, taking self-inventory, and being curious, not furious in the face of your mistakes.

When you're the tough, wise person that others come to for help, how can you seek help for yourself? In the first episode of a series on overcoming hardships, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are joined by hall of fame karate teacher Bob White to discuss his unique set of life circumstances, and how his response these challenges changed his life forever.

In the last episode of a series with Oscar-nominated actor Gary Busey, Tana steps up and takes Gary's signature memory challenge. Play along to see if you can make it as far as Tana did!

Dr. Daniel Amen is on a mission to fix Gary Busey's brain. In this episode of the podcast, they are joined by Tana Amen and Gary's partner Stephanie to discuss the intervention techniques laid out for Gary to help him get his brain back on track. Dr. Amen describes how Gary can address all of the BRIGHT MINDS risk factors that play a part in his brain function.

In a series focused on head trauma and brain injury, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are joined by Academy Award-nominated actor Gary Busey. Gary describes the brain injury he suffered in 1988 from a horrific motorcycle accident, as well as how his life's challenges have given him a unique perspective and method of defining what means the most to him.

In a series focused on head trauma and brain injury, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are joined by Academy Award-nominated actor Gary Busey. Gary describes the brain injury he suffered in 1988 from a horrific motorcycle accident, as well as how his life's challenges have given him a unique perspective and method of defining what means the most to him.

Psychiatrists are often quick to diagnose symptoms of brain fog and fatigue as depression, prescribe antidepressant medications, and call it good. But in large number of instances, these symptoms actually have an entirely different cause: low thyroid. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss how your thyroid function can cause symptoms that masquerade as depression, and how you can find out if your thyroid may be to blame for your illnesses.

In our society we are often fed the message that motherhood should cause nothing but infinite joy and love, but if this is the case, why are do so many mothers suffer from depression? Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss how stress and brain chemistry can cause emotional imbalances.

We all know about the negative effects of heavy alcohol consumption, but is it true that there are health benefits for drinking just 1-2 glasses of wine a week? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen break down just exactly what alcohol does to your body and brain, and if light alcohol consumption really is a smart way to increase longevity.

E-cigarettes has become increasingly popular among today's teens. Companies like Juul are producing E-cigarettes that come in many flavors, and that are less harmful than cigarettes. But what are the drawbacks? In the last episode of a series with addiction specialist Dr. Jennifer Farrell, Dr. Daniel Amen dives into the subject of vaping to determine the effects it has on teens and adults alike.

There's no question that social media has changed modern society for better or worse. Some say that social media makes us more connected, but is this really true? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen is joined by addiction specialist Dr. Jennifer Farrell for a discussion on the physical effects social media has on the brain.

In a psychiatric discussion reminiscent of the age-old "chicken or the egg" debate, Dr. Jennifer Farrell and Dr. Daniel Amen explore the question of what comes first, substance abuse or mental health issues? It's no surprise that there is a direct correlation between the two, and addiction specialist Dr. Farrell describes common scenarios among patients, as well as some effective treatment strategies.

Having a major medical procedure is never fun. But going in prepared mentally and physically can make a world of difference. As Tana prepares to go in for a major surgery, she outline some of the preparations she has made to make recovery much easier.

Recent research suggests that being able to walk at just 3 miles an hour significantly raises the likelihood an 80-year old will live at least another ten years. Even for those much younger, making small adjustments in the way we get from point A to point B will result in substantial health benefits. Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen provide additional insight into the way we exercise.

We often look directly to traditional western medicine when it comes to treating our ailments, but sometimes these methods are not only the least cost-effective, but also the least efficient. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss some of the alternative therapies that may provide relief without resorting to medication or surgery.

When we give in to the Standard American Diet (SAD) of highly processed foods, we're contributing to the demise of more than just our health. In the fourth and final episode of a series with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe the effects our food policy has on the environment and social systems we live in.

Once we know the types of foods that are actually healthy for us to eat, the next step is to figure out what that looks like in daily eating habits. In part 3 of a series with Dr. Mark Hyman, best-selling author of the new book Food: What the Heck Should I Eat, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen talk about what his diet looks like on a typical day.

If you're having trouble determining which foods are healthy for you and which are not, you're not alone. There are tons of conflicting ideas about the "correct" way to eat. In the second part of a series with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen break down the misconceptions about exactly which foods are good for you.

With all the information and misinformation surrounding nutrition these days, it can be really confusing figuring out what to eat. In this first episode of a series with best-selling author Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen go behind the food controversies and tell you how to know exactly which foods really are healthy for you, and which ones just pretend to be.

Signs of ADD usually first occur at a very young age, but what if you start showing these signs later in life? Could ADD actually be caused by a physical incident such at a brain injury? In this episode, Dr. Daniel and Tana discuss a new study which reveals some surprising data.

When someone you love suffers from borderline personality disorder, it can cause chaos, trauma, and trust issues in your own life. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen give tips and advice for how to cope with these highly combustible relationships.

If you or someone you know experiences drastic mood swings, erratic behavior, or dramatic shifts in self-image, it may be a case of borderline personality disorder. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss the 10 common signs of personality disorder.

In the third and final episode of a series with Genius Foods author Max Lugavere, Max shares some of his proven strategies for foods that will supercharge your brain.

Food is medicine, or it's poison. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Genius Foods author Max Lugavere shares his nutritional tips for detox, gut health, and brain health.

There's a critical link between the foods you eat and the way your brain functions. In this episode of the Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are joined by Max Lugavere, author of the new book Genius Foods. Max tells the story of how his mom's heartbreaking diagnosis set him on the path to learn and spread the message of eating right.

There are many reasons while some relationships thrive while others fail, but it's no question that untreated ADD can devastate families and intimacy among couples. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen break down exactly how ADD threatens relationships.

People with ADD tend to have a difficult time managing their everyday lives, but how do you know if you have it? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen reveal the 5 hallmark symptoms of ADD. If you know you have ADD, and more specifically if you know what type of ADD you have.

Why is it that certain people cause you to feel like you need to walk on eggshells around them? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen reveal a surprising cause for this type of behavior that has more to do with the physical function of the brain than pure psychology.

A recent study revealed that children who begin social media at age 10 are more likely to suffer from depression by the time they turn 15. So what exactly is it about social media that causes this depression? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe what the effects social media has on a child's psyche.

Did you know that your brain is about the consistency of soft butter, and that it's housed in a skull with sharp, bony ridges? There's no way around it: our brains are fragile and easily damaged. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss the major risk factors for brain injury, as well as what to do if you've already had one.

Dr. Daniel Amen and colleagues recently published a study on patient outcomes and Depression in the Journal of Alzheimer's. In this episode, he and Tana share some of the study's findings, including some easy ways to help treat depression, and how certain treatments can backfire if you don't know your depression type.

Drug abuse and suicide amongst high school students has reached epidemic proportions in the last few years. Why is this? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss the possible causes for all this tragedy occurring in today's youth.

He had always been a happy and sweet kid, so when nine-year-old Andrew suddenly attacked a girl on the baseball field for no apparent reason, something was clearly wrong. But no one, not even his mother, could have ever anticipated what would happen next. In this special episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen tell the amazing and heartwarming story of how young Andrew's life was changed forever.

Studies have shown that children of alcoholic parents exhibit the same brain types as soldiers who have been in war. What is it that causes these similarities? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss what exactly happens to the children of alcoholics.

In the final episode of a series with Prison Fellowship CEO, James Ackerman shares some of the life lessons he's learned from rehabilitating inmates and changing lives, such as understanding the context of criminals' lives.

Sometimes the most difficult challenges we face in life are centered around those who have wronged us in some way. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen are joined by Prison Fellowship CEO James Ackerman for a discussion on some of the more extreme cases of forgiveness.

It's been estimated that a staggering 77% of inmates will be arrested for a new crime within five years of being released from prison. James Ackerman, CEO of Prison Fellowship, has found that through his program, the rate drops all the way down to 17%. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen speak with James about how his fellowship's 4 pillars help to turn people's lives around for good.

When you hold someone's hand, there is a surprising side effect in your brain waves. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe this phenomenon, and how it can either help or hurt your emotional state of being.

Perhaps the most human issue every person deals with is the question of how to deal with your own mortality. We may all be dying (although at different rates), but it can be said for all of us that how you live affects how you die. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss how your belief system can help you when it becomes your time to go.

We all know about the hormonal changes in women as they age, but we rarely discuss what happens in men as they hit their 40's and go through what some call "manopause." In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe what happens to male hormones as they age, and what you can do to drastically reduce the effects of these hormonal changes.

Chronic pain is a huge health issue for many people, but those who suffer are often unaware of what's really causing it. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen illuminate some of the more hidden causes, such as emotional trauma or inflammation, and then give treatment options.

It's a known fact that people who are lonely and socially isolated tend to have more problems with their mental health, but is it possible that connecting yourself to others socially can actually improve your physical health, as well. In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss a recent study that provides a surprising answer.

A recent study shows that 20% of teenage girls have experienced major bouts with depression. But where do these feelings begin? In this episode of The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss the role that anxiety plays in a child's upbringing.