Your brain has 86 billion neurons, so why are we treating it like it runs on coffee?

The Brain, the Body and the Nutrition Between Them

The brain is amazing.

It allows us to think, learn, move, communicate and experience the world around us.

But the brain does not work alone.

It is part of the nervous system, an enormous communication network connecting the brain and spinal cord with nerves throughout the body.

Every movement we make involves this network.

So does every sensation we feel.

Even many processes we rarely think about involve communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body.

That is why understanding brain and nerve nutrition begins with understanding one important idea:

The brain is connected to the body, and the body is connected to the brain.

THE BODY'S COMMUNICATION NETWORK

The nervous system is generally divided into two major parts.

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.

The peripheral nervous system includes the nerves extending throughout the body.

Together, these systems receive information, process information and transmit signals.

Within this network are specialized cells called neurons. Neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals, while many other types of cells help maintain the environment in which neurons function.

Like every other part of the body, these cells depend upon normal metabolism and adequate nutrition.

Which brings us to Aroga Pathways Plus Brain & Nerve Support.

INSIDE THE FORMULA

Aroga Pathways Plus Brain & Nerve Support contains:

167 mg Ashwagandha

plus

833 mg Proprietary Brain & Nerve Herbal Blend

The formula brings together a variety of botanicals containing naturally occurring plant compounds.

Instead of looking at those plants as one mysterious mixture, let's look at some of the science behind them.

ASHWAGANDHA AND ADAPTOGENS

Ashwagandha has a long history of traditional use and is commonly classified as an adaptogen.

Adaptogen is a term used for a category of botanicals studied in relation to the body's responses to physical and environmental challenges.

It is important not to make the term mean more than it does.

Calling a plant an adaptogen does not mean that it treats stress, changes a particular hormone level or produces the same response in everyone.

Botanical science is considerably more complicated than that.

BACOPA AND BACOSIDES

Bacopa is another botanical with a long history of traditional use.

Among its naturally occurring constituents are compounds known as bacosides.

Bacosides have attracted scientific interest, which makes Bacopa an interesting example of just how chemically complex plants can be.

A plant is rarely about one ingredient.

Roots, stems and leaves may contain many naturally occurring compounds, and scientists continue to investigate their chemistry and biological interactions.

GOTU KOLA

Gotu kola also contains a diverse collection of naturally occurring plant compounds, including compounds known as triterpenes.

Like many traditional botanicals, Gotu kola continues to be studied as researchers work to better understand its composition and interactions with human biology.

There is still much to learn.

ASTRAGALUS AND PLANT POLYSACCHARIDES

Astragalus introduces another fascinating area of plant science:

polysaccharides.

Polysaccharides are large carbohydrate structures made from smaller sugar units joined together.

Astragalus naturally contains plant polysaccharides along with many other compounds.

And those complicated carbohydrates lead us into an even bigger field of science.

GLYCOBIOLOGY: SUGAR ISN'T JUST SUGAR

When most of us hear the word "sugar," we think about something sweet.

Biology sees a much bigger world.

Sugar molecules can be arranged into complex structures called glycans.

Glycans can be attached to proteins and fats and are found throughout biological systems, including on cell surfaces.

The study of these structures is called glycobiology.

Scientists now know that glycans participate in many aspects of normal cell recognition, organization and communication.

That does not mean consuming a particular plant directly changes a particular glycan pathway.

It simply demonstrates how much more there is to nutrition and biology than calories, vitamins and minerals alone.

KUDZU AND ISOFLAVONES

Kudzu provides another example.

Kudzu naturally contains compounds called isoflavones, members of the broad family of plant compounds often referred to as phytochemicals or phytonutrients.

Plants manufacture these compounds as part of their own biology.

Scientists study them because the chemistry of plants and the chemistry of the human diet are remarkably diverse.

WHAT DOES "SYNERGY" REALLY MEAN?

We often use the word synergy when discussing nutrition.

In this context, it should not be interpreted to mean that combining ingredients automatically makes them more powerful or produces a particular health outcome.

Instead, it describes the formulation philosophy of bringing multiple botanical sources and their naturally occurring constituents together in one formula.

Nature rarely packages nutrients one at a time.

Plants contain complicated mixtures of carbohydrates, fibers, pigments, polyphenols, minerals and many other compounds.

Brain & Nerve Support follows that broad botanical approach.

AUTOPHAGY IS NOT APOPTOSIS

Two words frequently encountered in modern cellular biology are autophagy and apoptosis.

They are not the same thing.

Autophagy is a normal cellular process through which cells break down and recycle certain cellular materials.

Apoptosis is a regulated form of programmed cell death used during normal development and tissue maintenance.

One involves cellular recycling.

The other involves the controlled removal of a cell.

Both are important areas of biological research, but neither should be treated as a shortcut for explaining what a dietary supplement does.

The presence of botanical compounds in a formula does not, by itself, establish that the finished supplement activates autophagy, induces apoptosis or produces a particular clinical outcome.

Those are separate scientific questions requiring appropriate evidence.

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED

We divide the human body into systems because it makes anatomy easier to understand.

Nervous system.

Digestive system.

Cardiovascular system.

Endocrine system.

Immune system.

But the body itself does not operate in separate textbook chapters.

The digestive system processes nutrients.

The cardiovascular system transports materials throughout the body.

The nervous system communicates with tissues and organs.

Cells exchange chemical signals.

Hormones carry messages.

Nutrients participate in normal metabolism.

It is one remarkably interconnected system.

That interconnectedness is an important part of the philosophy behind Aroga Pathways Plus Brain & Nerve Support: a botanical dietary supplement formulated with Ashwagandha and a proprietary blend of plant ingredients as a complement to a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

The more we learn about the nervous system, plants, glycans, cellular biology and nutrition, the more fascinating the picture becomes.

And perhaps the most exciting part is this:

There is still an enormous amount left to learn.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.