The Brain Aging and Amino Acids

So many of us have experienced health concerns that remind us that we are getting older and we
feel at a loss for what to do.  Doctors often recommend medications for one thing only to have it
create a need for secondary medication to clean up the mess the first one.   These deficiencies and
the aging process can be frustrating, as well as limiting.  For some people it affects their diet, they
suddenly can’t eat certain foods without indigestion.  For others their activity levels are limited due to
risk of heart attack, arthritis or other complications.  And for still others their mental state, are
burdened due to a sleep disorder, lack of confidence, depression or anxiety.  The question, “What
can you do about it?” is the place to start.  
Many aging problems are caused by things we did years ago.  Deficiencies we created like low
calcium intake or assimilation causing osteoporosis.  Or abuses like poor eating, excessive
drinking or dieting can create inadequate digestive abilities.  Abuses to the body cause us to use up
our reserve of nutrients and amino acids that help us function.  For some people this can be as
early as picking up an amino acid deficiency from our parents in the womb or as a child due to
availability or fussiness,  thus causing ADD or ADHD.  Or, our own abuse can create headaches,
vertigo, and muscle aches due to deficiencies.  Still others feel as victims when the weaknesses
aren’t “diagnosed” until there is a full blown disease such as Osteoporosis or Parkinson’s.  The
answer is that all of these can be dealt with in a fairly simple fashion.  Doctor Braverman has done
research for many years and written a book called The Edge Effect.    He outlines how to determine
your amino acid deficiencies and correct them.  It is important to know that working with a nutritional
therapist, naturopath or doctor on this matter is advised.  As you are dealing with your health you
want to have a professional opinion to direct your progress and support your efforts to regain
balance.  Eating right is a good start; but with a long term deficiency, it is important to make sure you
take the right supplementation in the correct dosage so as to not throw the body farther from
balance.  Also these professionals and the book can suggest foods that are high in the particular
amino acids in which you are deficient.  
Doctor Braverman also talks about how certain medications can indicate which amino acids may be
at a low ebb.  There is a pattern for certain medications to fill in for certain amino acids.  Other
medications can cause some amino acids to not work as well.  He has treated over 400 conditions,
from PMS, to chronic pain and obesity, all related to brain chemistry.  I was quite impressed with his
detailing of how to go from medications to whole food responses.   He cautions about doing it too
fast or without a support system.  So talk with your health care profession.  I am a nutritional
therapist that recently went through 3 and a ½ months of vertigo.  I had seen ten different health care
professional s with minimal success.   Sometimes there was no change, other times it would clear
for a day or two.  Finally I saw a physical therapist that specializes in vertigo and had about an 80 %
success.  Yet it wouldn’t go away completely.  Many people told me I would have to learn to live with
it for the rest of my life.  But doing better, I had the energy and ability to focus and continued my
research.  That is when I found Doctor Braverman’s book.  I put into practice the principles. I now
understood completely what my clients meant when they expressed their frustration upon initially
seeing me and their joy in the changes they experienced.  I felt an immediate change within a day or
two.  Speaking with a fellow nutritional practitioner, I made a long term plan of treatment and we
concurred.  This success was an inspiration.  I knew it would take a while to build up the amino acid
that was deficient  and have now reached that point six weeks later.  No more symptoms.   I thank
my friend for both her support and counsel.  It was easier to monitor my progress by having a third
party to bounce off the progress results and it gave me the security that I was moving in the right
direction and not forgetting to ask important questions about balance.  This is why I adamantly
recommend a partner, preferably a professional, as you go through this process.  
Everybody’s body is unique.  Sometimes balancing another portion of the body may be essential to
do before or while treating the largest complaint.  It all depends upon the person’s constitution and   
the longevity of the concern.  Massive amounts of supplements on an ongoing basis can diminish
the body’s ability to take care of itself, just as harshly as a medication.  So use caution and when
things are not right.  Always check with a professional.   Supplementation can help you get back in
balance so that a healthy diet and lifestyle can keep you younger longer.   Beginning to reverse the
clock on aging is a wonderful feeling.  
Written  by K Branigan
References:
The Edge Effect   by Eric R. Braverman,  M.D.
The Healing Nutrients Within  by Braverman, M.D.
Aging Articles