Dr. Beth John

04/17/2025

Can't Find Your Keys? Again? Feel Like You Have the Focus of a Goldfish?
We have answers!

This month we will be focusing on brain fog, memory loss, moods, mental clarity, and being able to remember where your keys are! Nutrition can be a big factor and a promising solution to these issues.

I am going to share 5 causes of brain fog, memory loss, and moods as well as a recent case where a patient diagnoses with both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's regained cognitive function.

5 Causes of Brain Fog and How to Correct Them.

1. A Poor Diet: a diet high in processed foods, refined carbs, and added sugars, can contribute to brain fog and lack of focus by causing inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and blood sugar fluctuations, impacting cognitive function.

A simple fix: Add more fresh uncooked fruit and vegetables to your diet. Starting with a simple commitment of 1 fruit and 1 veggie a day can be a great way to begin to correct this. These are great brain foods!

2. Nutritional Deficiencies: There are many nutrients that affect the brain and if you are lacking in any of them you could be experience memory loss, brain fog, depression or melancholy moods. Omega 3, B vitamins, and many of the minerals when deficient can lead to sluggish mental function and brain fog.

A simple fix: Take a home test for Omega 3's and find out if you are deficient. If you are taking an Omega supplement it will show whether or not it is working. Why guess when you can know. Call us for your home testing kit and find out now!

3. Gut Health: There is a strong correlation between gut health and brain function. Poor diet, not eating regularly, and stress, can disrupt gut bacteria potentially impacting brain function and contribute to memory loss, forgetfulness, brain fog, and a lack of focus. If you have a history of ulcers, gastritis, reflux, or irritable bowel, your cognitive function could be affected.

What to do? Many cases we begin with specific herbs or supplements that can soothe, take away the inflammation in the GI lining, and support the healing of the lining. In every case we look at dietary factors and recommend foods that will help return a balance to the GI system. A balanced GI system is the basis of a balanced brain. A professional nutritional consult can identify your specific issues and lay the ground work for a personalized program that will support the healing of the GI tract and the brain function.

4. Blood Sugar Fluctuations: Eating refined carbohydrates and sugary foods can cause rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, leading to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor memory and focus, and brain fog.

What can help? You have choices! We have a 10 day program designed for lowering blood sugar levels which we can easily sign you up for over the phone. Another option is a private nutritional consult where we look at your diet and lifestyle to find out what the causes are in YOUR life and create a targeted program for you. A general herbal recommendation and great place to start is using a quality gymnema to help curb the sugar cravings.

5. Inflammation: Diets high in processed foods, unhealthy fats, and added sugars can trigger inflammation in the brain, which can impair cognitive function and contribute to brain fog, memory issues, poor moods, and lack of focus.

All of the above can be a part of your picture but to sort it all out and be able to figure out which of the hundreds of brain products online are right for you can be overwhelming. Treat yourself to a private nutritional consult and receive a solid program developed specifically for you with quality products that work.

Read the article "Vitamins For Brain Function, Memory, Focus, and Brain Fog" below or at www.drbethjohn.com to see how one of our patients suffering with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's regained brain function.

Call 631-414-7575 for a personalized nutritional consult! Because who needs a memory like a goldfish when you can have a brain that actually works?

03/18/2025

Vitamins for Memory and Brain Health

More and more people are looking for vitamins for brain function and vitamins for memory. There has been a lot of study around this hot topic. I recently had a patient that received great benefits from using vitamins to help improve his brain function. Here is his story.

Tom is 82 years old and was diagnosed with both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. When his wife passed his brother, David, helped him move into assisted living. During conversation Tom would put his head in his hands and stop talking. His speech was hesitant and he would say things that didn’t make sense and sometimes things that were inappropriate. He could not handle his own finances or other personal matters. At night he was found wandering the halls and walking into the wrong room.

It was around this time that David came to me asking if there were vitamins for brain health that could help his brother. After reviewing his records, I put together a personalized program using specific brain vitamins that would help support the health of his nervous system.

After about 5 weeks David sent me a video that he had received from an aide of his brother dancing at an event at the assisted living facility. What was remarkable was to see this man get up out of his wheel chair so quickly and easily. His dancing was well coordinated, flexible and you could see he was enjoying himself. His face looked alert and present. That far off look was gone.

After three months of being on the program David came for a follow up visit to discuss his brother’s case. The first words David said were “WOW!”. He went on to explain he had just seen his brother before coming to our meeting and was amazed at his transformation. David had gone to pick up Tom’s tax papers to bring to his accountant for him. Tom had a notebook ready where he kept all his papers and notes organized. Everything was in there and Tom explained it all to David in a completely coherent manner. Tom even noted that they were doing this a little late demonstrating he was clearly aware of time and dates.

Their sister joined them and together they reminisced about their youth. David said Tom was coherent and clearly spoke about his memories as a child. David was amazed that the hesitancy in his speech was gone and he didn’t once put his head in his hands.
David shared that periodically he would still search for words but the improvement was startling.

David reported that even the aide was amazed. She had told him that something was working because she saw a big difference in Tom with the vitamins and memory issues. She also noticed he was more coherent, spoke more clearly, and hadn’t been getting up to wander the halls at night.

A few days after this meeting I was sent a picture of Tom (see below) sitting at his old drafting table he worked at as an architect, working on a new drawing. When Tom had retired he had taken up painting and drawing as an art form. When the symptoms of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's began to set in he no longer had the mind, dexterity, or desire to create and paint. David was thrilled to see Tom's creativity coming through again and see him mentally able to create an image and have the dexterity and ambition to execute it into a drawing and painting.

Periodically Tom still searches for a word but his symptoms are much improved. The supplements have significantly improved his life. It is the difference between being able to live in Assisted Living versus being moved into a memory care unit. It is the difference between being able to have a conversation with your family and holding your head in your hands. It's the difference between getting up to dance and sitting aside not talking to anyone. It's the difference between being able to create, draw, and paint versus sitting and staring blankly at a TV. It's the difference between being "here" versus in a state of confusion. That is worth the cost of vitamins!

Before taking the supplement program the Assisted Living administrators were pressuring the family to have Tom moved to a memory unit due to his wandering the halls and into others rooms at night. Now they are fine keeping him at the Assisted Living place.

Vitamins for brain function can be an easy start to help improve ones memory. Call 631-414-7575 today for a consult to see if your loved one could benefit. Check out our website for more information at www.drbethjohn.com

02/27/2025

Check out all our services on the new website! Share with a friend who is in pain or needs nutritional counseling.

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01/20/2025

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06/26/2024

Research Shows Vitamins Can Help Prevent Skin Cancer and Sun Damage.

Love the beach and sun but worried about premature aging, lines, and worse yet, skin cancer? An article published by the Skin Cancer Foundation in 2022 stated “Growing evidence shows that food high in certain nutrients may indeed help prevent skin cancer.”

The sun wreaks havoc on skin by creating free radicals that produce inflammation and damage cell function and your skin’s DNA. This DNA damage can cause changes in your genes called mutations that lead to skin cancer. It can also lead to pre-mature aging, lines, and wrinkles.

Studies show that antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients, help fight off free radicals and prevent damage that can result in skin cancer. Therefore, it makes sense that replacing these protective substances could bolster the weakened defenses.

Sun exposure converts skin oil to Vitamin D. When a person has too much vitamin D in their skin but lacks essential fatty acids, then calcium will move out of the skin and into the blood. This leaves the skin with too much vitamin D and not enough calcium. This can cause itchy skin, hives, welts, cold sores, a shingle outbreak, prone to sunburn, fatigue and ultimately skin cancer.

Studies show skin cancer patients have an increase in vitamin D levels in their skin. The problem is actually not enough essential fatty acids and calcium to balance the excess vitamin D.

A 45-year-old woman came for a nutritional consult complaining that every time she went in the sun, she would get terribly itchy. I developed a program for her of tissue calcium and an essential fatty acid supplement. She took them and went to the beach for a long weekend of sun bathing. When she returned, she said she did not get itchy once. She was amazed at how quickly it worked and hasn’t had a problem since.

A 35-year-old male life guard came to me complaining of fatigue whenever he is in the sun. He said he often doesn’t move from the life guard chair all day yet he comes home exhausted. If he works inside, he doesn’t tire. I recommended tissue calcium and essential fatty acids and two weeks later he reported that the fatigue was gone. He also said he didn’t burn as easily and his skin healed much faster when he did get burned.

The body is much like a symphony in that it not only needs vitamins and minerals but they need to be in a proper balance, just like a symphony needs instruments but needs them all playing their part in a balanced harmonious way. The proper balance and orchestration of vitamins is as important as the vitamins themselves.

Call now if you would like to know how to protect your skin from aging and the damaging effects of the sun.

If you are just interested in receiving the products mentioned in this article, give a call. We ship anywhere in the U.S.

You do not need to be a patient to order vitamins and herbs from us!

The products mentioned are not intended to take the place of medical care that you can get from a licensed medical physician. These products are to help support the structure and function of your body. None of this information has been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nutrition is an individual process and each person is unique.

05/14/2024

Tip of the day:
Did you know that Calcium inhibits the absorption of zinc? Take 1-2 hours apart.

05/02/2024

Osteoporosis – Causes other than calcium!

Sometimes osteoporosis and osteopenia are not just about calcium deficiencies. There can be a variety of different factors contributing to bone loss. Here is a list of some deficiencies relating to bone health and recommendations on how to correct them.

1. Poor hydration and filtered water:
It’s not just about drinking water, it is about drinking water that has minerals in it. Many water purification systems and filtered bottle water companies remove minerals significantly lowering your mineral intake. Water with low mineral content can drastically reduce calcium intake and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Dehydration can also lead to decreased bone density and increased risk of fracture.

My recommendation: Evian Water is my favorite because it has a high amount of calcium bicarbonate in it and has a perfect pH of 7 in every bottle I tested.

2. Poor absorption of calcium:
Recent research indicates that a lack of gastric acidity may impair calcium absorption through the intestine. Proton pump inhibitors can also be a factor. Digestive enzymes are helpful in these situations.

My recommendation: I use Zypan, a stomach enzyme, for my patients and have great results. Another solution is using apple cider vinegar and oil on salads at 2 meals/day.

3. Faulty utilization of calcium:
Without certain vitamins and minerals calcium is not utilized properly. Vitamin D enhances the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphate, both of which are needed for bones. Low vitamin D is associated with impaired calcium absorption.

My recommendation: I often recommend a natural form of vitamin D from lanolin, balanced with vitamin A, or good quality pure vitamin D.

4. Decline in hormone production (primarily estrogen).
Estrogen helps prevent bones from getting weaker by slowing the natural breakdown of bone, its reduction during menopause significantly speeds up bone loss. This makes women more prone to osteoporosis than men.

My recommendation: I often look to two products, one called Symplex F and the other is Wild Yam Complex. I have much success with these two products being part of an osteoporosis program.

5. Lack of weight bearing exercise:
People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than those more active.

My recommendation: Any weight-bearing exercise is good for your bones, but walking 15-30 mins/day, running, jumping, dancing and weightlifting seem particularly helpful. A trampoline during the winter works great.

6. Mineral deficiency:
One obvious mineral deficiency is calcium. Some of you may have read my previous article “Why Do I Have Osteoporosis When I Take Calcium?” In that article I go in depth about the different types of calcium and how they are not all bone calcium. First, one needs the proper form of calcium for bones. Trace minerals deficiencies, in particular zinc, copper, and manganese, can also be a factor in osteoporosis.

Helpful Tip: It is important to note while one needs both calcium and zinc one should not take the two supplements together. Calciuim can accentuate the problem of low zinc by impairing the absorption of zinc when ingested together.

The body is complex and people are unique, therefore, some people need a nutritional analysis to sort out what issues are at play in their condition.

There are other factors such as steroid use, certain medicines, inadequate protein intake, insufficient vitamin K, and excessive alcohol consumption that can all play a role in osteoporosis.

All products mentioned in this article can be ordered without being a patient or having a consult by calling 631-414-7575.

ORDER TODAY! WE ARE CHEAPER THAN AMAZON!

Or schedule a nutritional analysis today to determine what factors are issues for you and create a plan to correct them!

Zoom or in person appointments are available by calling 631-414-7575.

This information is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease and has not been evaluated by the FDA

04/17/2024

Is Depression, Dementia, and Nutrition Related?

This article is about how the lack of nutrition and depression can lead to severe cognitive decline and physical decline. It is also about how even loving family members may not recognize their family member is in a spiral until it’s too late.

A 63 year old woman living alone was brought to me by her brother. She used a walker and exhibited moderate to severe dementia. Her speech was extremely slow. She would often pause in the middle of a sentence for a full minute before speaking again. Sometimes she would continue where she left off and sometimes not. She repeated things, could not answer questions well, and often had a glazed look on her face.

She also had physical problems. She was so weak she required a walker. Even with a walker if she got to a curb she was too weak to lift her leg up onto the curb so had to walk to the end of the sidewalk where there was a ramp in the cement. One would think she was 93, not 63. She also had low back pain that kept her awake at night.

A thorough nutritional work up revealed that she was terribly nutritionally deficient and many organs and glands were weak. Her brother learned that her diet consisted largely of cheese and fast food.

A chiropractic exam revealed a severe scoliosis in her low back with disc degeneration.

I created a supplement program and diet for her and got her started with chiropractic adjustments. I told her brother that it was imperative she follow the full program otherwise in 3-4 months she would need home care or a nursing home. She would not be able to live alone safely much longer.

Over the next few months her speech pattern started to improve. She became more alert and aware and her back pain resolved. I then incorporated a training program to help strengthen her and improve her balance and coordination while she continued the supplements.

In 12 months all signs of dementia were gone. Her mind was sharp, her speech clear, and her conversations intelligent. She no longer needed a walker. Not only could she step up on a curb but she was jumping rope, going for jogs around her neighborhood and even shooting baskets at the local park. It was hard to believe this was the woman who had been unable to step up a curb and finish a thought.

She was eating a well-balanced diet, taking her supplements, and was now out of back pain. To this day she continues to get chiropractic adjustments, nutritional supplements, and goes to a gym.

Many years later I asked her how she had gotten into that state when she first came to see me. I was shocked to hear her say she had been depressed after her mother died and stopped taking care of herself. It didn’t happen overnight but over a number of years.
She was tired and depressed and as result did not have the motivation to make a meal. It was easier to eat cheese and fast foods. It was over 8 years of eating this way that eventually took such a toll on her health she could no longer put a sentence together or had the strength to step up a curb.

This woman came from a loving family and has 4 brothers and sisters. No one picked up on the slow decline until she was quite far down the road. No one knew how she was eating or that she was depressed and growing weaker every day.

I share this case as a cautionary tale. It is very easy to miss a gradual decline or recognize a chronic depressed state. When someone loses a loved one the journey through depression can be long, and the effects of poor eating slowly erode one’s health until you’re so weak and infirmed you can’t think or step up a curb.
This was a bright woman who had been a teacher. She was not in tears and by all counts it looked to her siblings she was faring well.
This case demonstrates how important good nutrition is to both your mental and physical state. It is even more important when one is grieving because we are less motivated to take care of ourselves or want to eat.

I hope this encourages you all to watch your family and friends more closely during times of loss. Not just in the days or weeks that follow, but always.

Eating good food is an investment in your future mental and physical state. The food you eat today will affect how you feel in the years to come. So start investing now! You don’t need a professional to get started. Take things in your own hands today by committing to eating two raw fruits and two raw veggies a day. Stop at the grocery and pick up some fresh veggies, melon, apples, oranges, or whatever makes your mouth water. Then pick up an extra apple or orange for a friend! It’s the best thing you can do for your future self!

For a nutritional consult call 631-414-7575. We offer zoom consults in addition to in office.

This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All nutritional recommendations are solely to upgrade the quality of foods in one’s diet in order to supply good nutrition to support the physiological and biomechanical processes of the human body.