Ep. 341: How Exercise Can Transform Your Brain. An Interview With Dr. John Ratey, Author of Spark

Today the Train Your Brain Podcast welcomes very special guest Dr. John Ratey, MD onto the show.

Dr. Ratey is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. He’s the author of SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

Dr. Ratey has been promoting exercise as a cognitive tool for over 30 years. He explains that physical activity is a positive stressor to the brain and body. It’s only when we challenge and stretch ourselves that we can grow. The neuroscience around exercise is overwhelmingly supportive. Main examples include increased production in the Hippocampus and increased production of Gaba.

Dr. Trayford and Dr. Ratey discuss the Naperville Experience to illustrate the effects of exercise on academics where physically active students in Illinois are outscoring there peers all over the world.

Additionally, this podcast covers in depth the connections between exercise and Anxiety, Depression, Addiction Recovery, Longevity, and Heart Health. Thank you for joining us for this fascinating and important topic. Continue reading

Ep. 327 – Exercise: Get a Trainer

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Welcome to Episode 327 of the Train Your Brain Podcast! Today Dr. Trayford has a brain training tip for us and we’re back on the topic of exercise. Get a trainer! Getting a trainer helps us put things in perspective and keeps us on track and motivated to continue. You’ll automatically have someone who understands your wants and needs and who can help you achieve them. Thanks for listening!

To discover some simple techniques for memory improvement use this URL: memory.apexbraincenters.com/6weeks-registration

For your own free copy of Dr. Trayford’s E-book visit Apex Brain Centers.com. Continue reading

Ep. 303 – Streeeetch

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Welcome to the Train Your Brain Podcast episode 303. Today Dr. Trayford shares a brain training tip to enhance any other exercise-related brain training tip we’ve had yet! Before you can exercise, you need to stretch and before you stretch, you need to warm up! Dr. Trayford wants to share this tip so that we can all have a positive experience with exercise and not get injured. Yoga is a great stretching-based exercise that will help you be fit and flexible, both mind and body. Thanks for listening!

To sign up for Dr. Trayford’s 6-Week Memory Improvement Seminar, copy and paste this link into your browser: memory.apexbraincenters.com/6weeks-registration

For your own free copy of Dr. Trayford’s E-book visit Apex Brain Centers.com.

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Continue reading

Ep. 169 – Top 10 Brain Health Tips – Part 1

Welcome to Episode 169 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. In this show, Dr. Trayford condenses a lot of the great tips that he’s referred to so far in the form of a Top 10 list. If you want the most bang for your buck, then follow these most important brain training tips.
1. Get adequate sleep
2. Manage stress
3. Exercise
4. Drink water
5. Consume the right kind of fat

Also, for the daily tip of the day Dr. Trayford shares some information of what carbonation does to your brain. Listen in to hear about “Bubbles and your Brain.”

Thanks for listening and join us! For your own free copy of Dr. Trayford’s E-book visit Apex Brain Centers.com.

Now through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading

Ep. 129 – Sleep Is Way More Important Than Cramming Before a Test

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Welcome to Episode 129 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 129. This tip is all about strategy. Let’s say you have to take a big test or prepare for an important presentation. What would be your strategy to get ready? Would you study a little each day or would you spend the whole night before preparing all at once? Dr. Trayford strongly advises against cramming the night before at the expense of good sleep. You simply won’t be able to retain or efficiently use what you’ve crammed if you didn’t get a good night’s sleep. As he has explained before, sleep is the time when your brain assimilates what you’ve learned. We hope this helps! Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading

Ep. 128 – Get Out of Bed if You Can’t Sleep

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 128 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 128. He advises to get out of bed if you have insomnia. Tossing and turning in bed will not help you fall asleep. Actually continuing to lie in bed when you can’t fall asleep will send mixed messages to your brain about your bed and your ability to realize restorative sleep. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading

Ep. 127 – Brain Games: Do They Exploit the Fear of Memory Loss for Profit?

Good morning and welcome to Episode 127 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. It’s Monday again, so this is our weekly, 30-minute episode. (Tuesday through Sunday we produce five-minute episodes with daily tips.) Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast provides advice for helping you to improve the function of your brain.

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

In Episode 127, Dr. Trayford discusses brain training games and the research behind them. There is a debate going on right now as to the ethics behind marketing brain games. Are these companies exploiting those who fear memory loss? Dr. Trayford shares his take on the matter. He also presents brain training tip number 127: Gesturing. Using hand gestures while you’re talking allows you integrate all hemispheres of the brain which means you can be both emotional and analytical at the same time. Statistically, these individuals tested as more intelligent as well. Thanks for listening. Continue reading

Ep. 126 – Know Your Numbers: MTHFR

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 126 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 126: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. What a mouth-full! The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. This enzyme plays a role in processing amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is important for a chemical reaction involving forms of the vitamin folate (also called vitamin B9). Specifically, this enzyme converts a molecule called 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to a molecule called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. This reaction is required for the multistep process that converts the amino acid homocysteine to another amino acid, methionine. The body uses methionine to make proteins and other important compounds. Mutations in this gene are linked to numerous cardiovascular and neurological conditions and can be easily treated with appropriate nutritional intervention. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading

Ep. 125 – Hand-Eye Coordination Exercises for Improved Thinking and Social Interaction

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 125 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 125. The brain is fascinating! Today’s tip proves just how amazing the human brain is. Practicing hand-eye coordination exercises will actually improve your thinking and your social interaction! Combining physical activity and motor skills keeps your brain strong and sharp. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading

Ep. 123 – Listen to Your Heart: Heart Rate Biofeedback

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Happy New Year’s Eve and welcome to Episode 123 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 123. In this episode you’ll hear about a tip that will help you learn about the concept of heart rate variability. This is a very simple way to learn how to track and manage your heart rate. There are monitors available in so many different forms these days. There are apps and pulse oximeters, etc. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading