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  • Different Types of Sea Veggies & Their Benefits

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26 Nov

Different Types of Sea Veggies & Their Benefits

  • By Zach Nasr
  • In Articles
  • 0 comment

The Algaes: Sea Superfoods

The Main Edible Algaes

We are going to discuss all of the many types of sea veggies, and their benefits over the course of this article. The first major category is that of edible algaes.
There are two main categories of consumable algaes: green algaes and blue-green algaes. Most algaes are not edible in fact, may varieties are toxic to humans.
However, chlorella, spirulina, and AFA (Aphanizamenon flos-aquae ) are the most common nutrient powerhouses. Red Marine Algae is a less common, but still widely available edible red algae with astaxanthin (the color that makes salmon red).

While they are not high in the active form of vitamin B12, they are chock full of many other B vitamins, chlorophyll, vitamin A, and many other antioxidants, minerals, and enzymes.
Chlorella (considered a green algae) has 4 times the chlorophyll of wheatgrass making it amazing for cleansing! Chlorella can also help chelate and bind heavy metals to remove them from our system.

Blue-Green Algaes


Spirulina and AFA are considered blue-green algaes or cyanobacteria. Both of these algaes contain chlorophyll like chlorella, but they also contain a rare pigment known as phycocyanin which is a COX-2 (cyclooxygenase enzyme type-2) inhibitor.
COX-2 is a major inflammatory pathway that prescription drugs like Celebrex are designed to inhibit. This blue pigment that are what give cyanobacteria their name can inhibit this same enzyme as prescription pain killers.

Lower Klamath Lake, Oregon where AFA grows

AFA: Aphanizamenon Flos-Aquae

AFA algae has an even more curious component, and it even more rare than spirulina or chlorella. It only grows in Klamath Lake, Oregon shown in the picture on the left.
It has a rare neuromodulator in it called phenethylamine or phenylethylamine (PEA) that many researchers call this the “love hormone” because it activates a cascade of neurotransmitters that feel similar to falling in love.
AFA also contains various mild monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOI’s that allow for the PEA to cross into the gut and blood brain barrier much more easily than normal. The feeling is calm, and yet focused. I personally like to take it with spirulina.

The Types of Seaweeds:

Red Seaweed: Carotenoids

Pepper Dulse and Irish Moss

Red seaweed is typically red because of the carotenoid content. Carotenoids like alpha & beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are all brightly colored pigments that work like antioxidants.
These can all also be converted into fat soluble vitamin A by the liver, but this conversion process is not very efficient especially if your liver has been compromised by drinking, all kinds of drugs, and environmental pollution.

The Types of Red Seaweed

For example, nori which is the wrap used in most sushi is high in water soluble vitamin A, and in minerals like iron that help to boost energy, circulatory health, and hormone health.
Dulse has the most iodine of all of the red seaweed, but overall it is very low in iodine compared to other seaweeds. It also has carotenoids and other minerals that are essential to overall health and immune function.
Irish Moss is actually a seaweed, and a superfood. It turns into a gelatinous agent that can be used as a thickener for dishes and desserts as it has a very neutral flavor. This gel is very healing to the intestinal lining and mucosa.

Brown Seaweeds: Heavy Hitters of Iodine

If you have issues with your thyroid, then you want to make sure you are getting the right amount of iodine. The thyroid hormone T3 has  three iodine molecules in it, T4 has four iodine molecules in it etc.
You wouldn’t want to take massive doses without either knowing what your levels of thyroid hormone are or if you slowly worked up to a higher dose. The RDA for iodine is set at 150 mcg/day because you get goiter if you consume less than that.

Some of the Lesser Known Benefits of Iodine

Not sick does not necessarily mean optimal so some of us can get benefits from taking higher doses of iodine.
For example, a clinical study done on women with Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and  benign ovarian cancer gave these women 3,000mcg or 3mg per day which is 20 times the RDA for iodine!
They gave them 20 times the RDA for 3 months and all of the cysts and tumors disappeared.
However, some of us can have allergic reactions and/or detoxification reactions from higher doses of iodine because iodine is essential to immune system function, myelination, thyroid gland and thus metabolism and more.

Thyroid Issues

Always talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any kind of supplement or dietary changes. This is especially important if the supplement is iodine, and especially if you have issues with thyroid.
Usually food is a safer bet, but with brown seaweed, you could get a heaping dose of iodine that could make you feel amazing, or it could make you feel absolutely terrible. Let’s look at the numbers just to see what I am talking about.

  1.  1 tbsp of Kelp contains about 2000 mcg of iodine (over 10x the RDA)
  2. 1 one inch piece of Kombu contains about 1450 mcg of iodine (almost 10x the RDA)
  3. 1 tbsp of Hiziki contains about 780 mcg of iodine
  4. 1 tbsp of Arame contains about 730 mcg of iodine
  5. 4 oz of fresh Cranberries has 400 mcg of iodine
  6. 1 tbsp of Wakame contains about 80 mcg of iodine
  7. 1 cup of Strawberries has 13 mcg of iodine (only 10% of the RDA)

 

Avoid this kind of seaweed salad if it has artificial colors in it.

Other Pretty Good Sources of Iodine

Seaweeds are the heavy hitters in the iodine arena with the exception of cranberries oddly enough.
Sardines, tuna, lobster, oyster, clams, cod, haddock, halibut, herring perch, salmon, sea bass, shrimp, garlic, Swiss chard, summer squash, turnip greens, and spinach are some of the other sources of iodine.

How Much Iodine I Usually Take

There is plenty to get you past the goiter level in almost all of these foods mentioned above, and in kelp there is even enough to get a therapeutic dosage which could causes issues if you have a preexisting condition related to iodine.
If you can safely take iodine, then you can start reaping the benefits of these superfoods today. Anytime I am feeling under the weather, I will take between 3 mg – 6 mg of iodine from kelp extracts. I have heard of people taking 12 mg – 15 mg!
You will have to slowly work up to the dose that you feel is best for you. I do my best to eat a little seaweed everyday so I get used to always having a little bit of iodine every day. I do experiment with cycles of taking larger doses.

Green Seaweed

Sea Lettuce is high in protein, iron, minerals, fiber, and vitamins A, B, and C. It is a little higher in starch/sugar than other types of seaweed, but it also has a lot more protein in it than most seaweed. Sea Lettuce is about 15% protein by weight.
Sea Lettuce is also called green laver, and it is great source of macro- and micro-minerals alike like most of the seaweeds out there. Mix it up and I highly recommend you check out the chart below to see a list of various products and sea veggies.

Sea Vegetable Chart:

Algae Blue-green algae (supplement)
Chlorella (supplement)
Spirulina (supplement)
Red Dulse Flakes (supplement)
Irish Moss
Nori
Brown Bladderwrack
Kelp (supplement)
Kombu Flakes
Wakame
Green Sea Lettuce

Use Cron-O-Meter to Explore Different Foods!

I also highly recommend you recommend that you look up each of these sea veggies on the diet tracking app called Cron-O-Meter. You can see all of the amino acids, minerals, vitamins and more in each food. 
It is a free tool that you can use easily just by signing in with your Facebook, and then searching different food ingredients. You can even use it to track all of your nutrient intakes if you truly want to track what a therapeutic diet means and is.

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Zach Nasr
Zach was on his way to being a doctor when a personal health crisis changed all of that. He decided that he wanted to create wellness instead of fight illness. He lost over a 100 lbs through functional nutrition and other natural healing protocols. He has since been sharing his knowledge of nutrition and functional medicine for the last 12 years as a health coach and health educator.

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Testimonials

Book is great, full of recommended micro nutrient and reason why…

“Book is great, full of recommended micro nutrient and reason why they are important to brain health. But it gets redudant over time when author tried to promote his website and his online shop frequently all over the book. But this is great book nonetheless.”

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- Vekit

Highly Recommended!

What an incredible journey for Cavin, from a predicted vegetative state, to an author and teacher, informing us how to
feed our brains to optimize our lives. Very informative book and well organized , and written so it is understandable. Love the charts. Thank you Cavin and thanks to your Mother who didn’t give up.

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- Gigi

Awesome

“I wish I saw this book one year ago. Thanks, Dr. Deborah Zelinsky, for asking (me) to buy it. Thanks, Cavin, for making time to talk to me. I am so happy.”

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- Amazon Customer

Feed your brain – read this book

“The author’s story alone is a remarkable account of not just survival, but transcendence of a near-death experience. Cavin went on to become an advocate for survival and survivors of traumatic brain injuries, discovering along the way the key role played by nutrition. But this book is not just for injury survivors. It is for anyone who wants to live (and eat) well.”

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- David L. Butler

If you are looking to get the optimum performance out of your brain, get this book now!

“As a brain injury survivor that still deals with extreme light sensitivity, eye issues and other brain related struggles I have found a great diet is a key to brain health! Cavin’s book is a much needed guide to eating for brain health. While you can fill shelves with books that teach you good nutrition, Cavin’s book teaches you how to help your brain with what you eat. This is a much needed addition to the nutrition section! If you are looking to get the optimum performance out of your brain, get this book now! You won’t regret it.”

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- Ben

The best / most practical book for TBI’ers

“Suffered a TBI or just want to improve, this book contains the information you need to blend into your life, and Cavin tells you how. Everything is backed up with scientific evidence. Implementation of this book will change / restore your outlook on life.”

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My dog was too literal

“Fine book but grossly misunderstood by dog. She ate the pages & her brain is fine. This speaks to the virtue of book’s content.”

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I wish I had this book when I suffered my…

“I wish I had this book when I suffered my TBIs 10 years ago, but never too late. Thank Cavin!”

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- SMack

Excellent resource for people wanting to feed their brains!

“Cavin’s story is so inspirational and moving. As a practicing Functional Neurologist that specializes in Post-Concussion Syndrome and having suffered multiple head injuries myself, the information that Cavin has put together based on his experiences is totally spot on.

I love seeing such cutting-edge information on brain health out there in the world. Highly recommended!”

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- Titus Chiu

A must read for everyone’s health and wellness journey!

“Such an informative and inspiring read! Insight into how optimal nutrients improved Cavin’s own brain recovery make this knowledge-filled read compelling and relatable. The recommendations are easy to understand as well as scientifically-founded – it’s not another fad diet manual. The additional tools and resources provided throughout make it possible for anyone to integrate these enhancements into their nutritional repertoire. Looking forward to more from Cavin and Feed a Brain!!!!!!”

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- Amazon Customer

I love this book

“I love this book! As someone that deals with an autoimmune condition, I deal with sever brain fog. I’m currently in school and this has had a very negative impact on my learning. I have been looking for something like this to help my brain function better. This book has me thinking clearer, and my memory has improved. I’m eating healthier and overall feeling much better. This book is very easy to follow and also has some great recipes included.”

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- Jennifer Ramirez

Cavin’s Balaster’s How to Feed a Brain is one the best written health nutrition books that I have ever read

“I have a bachelors degree in Nutrition Science. Cavin’s Balaster’s How to Feed a Brain is one the best written health nutrition books that I have ever read. It is evident that through his personal journey with a TBI and many years of research Cavin has gained a great depth of understanding on the biomechanics of nutrition has how it relates to the structure of the brain and nervous system, as well as how all of the body systems intercommunicate with one another. He then takes this complicated knowledge and breaks it down into a concise and comprehensive book. If you or your loved one is suffering from ANY neurological disorder or TBI please read this book.”

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- Ashley Jean Flowers

Very informative

“I enjoyed this book. It was full of practical information. It was easy to understand. I implemented some of the ideas in the book and they have made a positive impact for me. Not only is this book a wealth of knowledge it helps you think outside the box and piece together other ideas to research and helps you understand more about TBI and the way food might help you mitigate symptoms.”

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- Dixie

Must read

“Bought this to learn the best way to feed my son after he sustained a hypoxic brain injury. This book is very informative and the author Cavin is amazing. He had created a lot of resources that are very helpful.”

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- Steele Family

Worth the read

“Cavin Balaster is an amazing man with an amazing story. He is an inspiration and his book is a good resource for everyone who has a brain.”

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Five Stars

“Great read and info for anyone suffering from brain trauma.”

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- Laura-Florida

The very basic concept of good nutrition among all the conflicting advertisements and various “new”

“As a neuro-optometrist who cares for many brain-injured patients experiencing visual challenges that negatively impact the progress of many of their other therapies, Cavin’s book is a god-send! The very basic concept of good nutrition among all the conflicting advertisements and various “new” food plans and diets can be enough to put anyone into a brain fog much less a brain injured survivor! Cavin’s book is straightforward and written from not only personal experience but the validation of so many well-respected contemporary health care researchers and practitioners! I will certainly be recommending this book as a “Survival/Recovery 101” resource for all my patients including those without brain injuries because we all need optimum health and well-being and it starts with proper nourishment! Kudos to Cavin Balaster!”

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- Mary VanHoy

Wonderful!

“Cavin has done an amazing job in all aspects of his life. Overcoming the horrific life threatening accident, and then going on to do whatever he can to help others with his contagious wonderful attitude. This book is an easy to understand fact filled manual for anyone, but especially those who are or are caregivers for a loved one with tbi. I also highly recommend his podcast series.”

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- Nancy

One of this year’s very best health and wellness books!

“There are many health and wellness books being published daily. Do not miss the opportunity to read one of the best for this year: “How to Feed a Brain” by Cavin Balaster, a true expert on deep brain injury who writes from his personal experiences with a great sense of compassion and humanity.

You will not find a better treatment of this critically important subject. You need not have had brain injury to gain the superbly presented information Cavin provides.

For all of us who care about ourselves, friends and family – – this is a book to read and loan out…. but be careful “How to Feed a Brain” you may not get this excellent read returned!”

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Peter Magurean III

Relentlessly focused examination of TBI and nutrition’s affect on the brain

“Cavin’s journey is such an incredible one. He is singularly focused on examining everything he can about TBI (traumatic brain injury) and relentlessly pursues information about everything that affects the brain, particularly nutrition. If you have a loved one that has survived TBI, this book is a must read.”

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- Patrick R.

Five Stars

“Great read from a remarkable fellow.”

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- John

But I do feel better in several ways that just might be related to…

“I cannot overstate how grateful I am to Cavin for having published this book (and launched his podcast) before I needed it. I am 3.5 months out from a concussion and struggling to recover that final 25% or so of my brain and function. I fully believe that diet and lifestyle can help heal many of our ills, and this book gives me a path forward right now. Gavin’s story is inspiring, and his book is well-researched and clearly written. I am a food geek and so innately understand a lot of his advice — I’m not intimidated by the thought of drastically changing my diet because I know well how to shop and cook for myself — but I so appreciate how his gentle approach and stories about his own struggles with a new diet might help people who would find it all daunting. I am in week 2 of following his advice (and also Dr. Titus Chiu’s BrainSave plan). It’s not an instantaneous miracle cure, but I do feel better in several ways that just might be related to this diet.”

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- Sara

Five Stars

“Very interesting… “back-to-basics” … the first book I read to the end in years.”

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- Kristin

One of the best

“Cavin is a great man. A survivor… And a rock star.
I met him when I was 19, and re-met him later in life, after his accident. He still has this gorgeous understanding of the world that makes me believe in him, and always makes me listen to what he has to say.
When my mom had a stroke last year he was the first person I called. He had so much knowledge about what she was going though and totally understood what I was experiencing as well.
He was the first person I thought of, and hopefully the last I’ll need to.

You’re the best, Mr. B.”

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- Adrien Fox

Fistfuls of exciting brain foods to launch you plus feeding tube powerful nutrition implementation…

“In the hospital and ICU struggles, this book and Cavin’s experience are golden, and if we’d have had this book’s special attention to feeding tube nutrition, my son would be alive today sitting right here along with me saying it was the cod liver oil, the fish oil, and other nutrients able to be fed to him instead of the junk in the pharmacy tubes, that got him past the liver-test results, past the internal bleeding, past the brain difficulties controlling so many response-obstacles back then. Back then, the ‘experts’ in rural hospitals were unwilling to listen, ignored my son’s unexpected turnaround when we used codliver oil transdermally on his sore skin, threatened instead to throw me out, but Cavin has his own proof and his accumulated experience in others’ journeys. Cavin’s boxed areas of notes throughout the book on applying the brain nutrient concepts in feeding tubes are powerful stuff, details to grab onto and run with… hammer them!

And in general his expertise in implementation is unparalleled. His dynamite measuring empowerment of the human in a wonderland of changing everything with ‘fistful’ simplifying potency is the difference between progress and stumbling on techy adjustments in habits.. With this book you are ready to go.”

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- JH Raichyk

This book is a wonderful.

“This book is a wonderful, motivating reference for anyone who wants a healthy and sharp brain at any age.”

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- Ammon B.

I prefer to read about people who have lived recovery

“I have had brain issues for many years. I purchased the Kindle version. I like the idea of reading Cavins book because he has lived through a terrible brain injury and has come back victorious.”

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- T. Riley

Total game-changer

“Following this way of eating has been a complete game-changer for me. I am 1 year post concussion and thought I had stalled in my recovery. Buy this book, follow the instructions, see RESULTS!”

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- Sharon Lori Parker

Excellent book if you want to be vibrant

“Excellent book if you want to be vibrant!!!! Everything you need to know to achieve excellent health overalll….not just your brain! The author’s amazing story from tragedy to good health really inspires me.”

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- Opinions on Everything

A must read if you care about your brain and…

“A must read if you care about your brain and the assaults on it from environmental factors, including the “standard American diet”, which is really the industrial agriculture diet pushed on us by the government and giant agri-business.”

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- P. Hradkowsky

An absolute must for autoimmune sufferers!

“I bought this book because I didn’t want a weightloss diet, but I wanted the most optimal gut/brain food I could find to help with an autoimmune. I subscribe to Cavin’s podcast and another newsletter for gut health which also recommended this book. Also, he’s a personal friend of mine who’s recovery I have witnessed firsthand. Thank you so much for all of the research and your continued dedication to not only help yourself, but for also helping others!”

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- Lauren L. Chemin

Five Stars

“Helpful for those who want to have a brain boost :)”

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- Mark H. Zmudy

I prefer to read about people who have lived recovery.

“I have had brain issues for many years. I purchased the Kindle version. I like the idea of reading Cavins book because he has lived through terrible brain injury and has come back victorious.”

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- T. Riley

An Enlightening Book For Anyone With A Brain

“In 183 pages, Cavin Balaster’s new book, How to Feed A Brain provides an outline and plan for how to maximize one’s brain performance. The “Citation Notes” provide all the scientific and academic documentation for further understanding. The “Additional Resources and Tips” listing takes you to Cavin’s website for more detail than could be covered in 183 pages. Cavin came to this knowledge through the need to recover from a severe traumatic brain injury and he did not keep his lessons learned to himself. This book is enlightening for anyone with a brain. We all want to function optimally, even to take exams, stay dynamic, and make positive contributions to our communities. Bravo Cavin for sharing your lessons learned!”

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- Chandini Bachman

His story changes lives…

“As a physical therapist with 30+ years of experience in treating neurological disorders such as traumatic brain injury, I simply could not believe it when Cavin told me the extent of his injuries. His story opened a new door to my awareness of the incredible benefits of proper nutrition, the power of attitude and community to heal anything we have arise in our lives Cavin is an inspiration and a true way-shower for anyone looking to invest in their health and well-being. No matter the state your brain is in, you will benefit from this cutting-edge information and be very glad (and entertained) that you read this fine work.”

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- Melanie Carlone

but I do feel better in several ways that just might be related to…

“I cannot overstate how grateful I am to Cavin for having published this book (and launched his podcast) before I needed it.”

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- Sara New Orleans, LA United States

Beautiful inspiring story about relearning how to live after a traumatic experience

“Amazing book and extremely inspiring story. The author is a close friend of mine and we were reunited later in life due to traumatic life experiences. Truly demonstrates the beauty and nature of the human body and the ability to bounce back. If I could rate this 6 stars I would!!!!”

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- Sammy Morrison

The Book is both interesting and helpful. Thank you all very much.

“Learning about about Head ingeries. I myself have had a concushion. Thank you.”

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- Scotty

Great Resource-brain injury not required

“Cavin Balaster knows brain injury as well as any specialist. He survived a horrific accident and came out on the other side stronger than ever. His book, “How To Feed A Brain” details how changing his diet helped him to recover further from the devastating symptoms of brain injury such as fatigue and brain fog. Cavin is able to thoroughly explain complex issues in a simplified manner so the reader does not need a medical degree to understand. The book also includes comprehensive charts to simplify what the body needs and how to provide the necessary foods. “How To Feed A Brain” is a great resource for anyone looking to improve their health through diet, brain injury not required.”

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- Amazon Customer

Five Stars

“Great book!! Full of important information for everyone.”

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- Mar

Great Information!

“My husband and I (Ryan Cedermark) are so impressed with the research Cavin did when writing this book. If you, a family member or friend has suffered a TBI, concussion or are just looking to be nicer to your brain, then we highly recommend this book! Your brain is only as good as the body’s internal environment and Cavin has done an amazing job on providing the information needed to obtain such!”

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- Elizabeth Gilchrist

So thankful for this book

“Cavin has been an amazing resource by sharing his first hand experience on living with a brain injury. A must read!”

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- Jennifer Zapp

Book that will change how you think about food!

“Very informational and well written book with practical advice on how to eat for better health. Put this on your list of books to recommend for people interested in switching to a healthier lifestyle. It can change your relationship with food by helping you understand how the food you eat affects your brain.”

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- Michelle

A book that keeps on feeding

“Cavin, you are phemomenal! An incredulous journey of a near death accident scripted by an incredible man who chose to share his knowledge of healing his own broken brain. I requested our public library purchase your book because everyone, those with and without brain injuries, should have access to YOUR brain and this book. Thank you for your legacy to mankind!”

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- Fasting Filly

Incredibly thorough!

“Incredibly thorough! How to Feed a Brain is so detailed. The author approaches a complex topic with the insight that can only be gained from having had to figure it all out on your own, as he did when he experienced a traumatic brain injury. Super helpful for people with brain injury or those looking to optimize brain health.”

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- T. Davis

He delivers the information in an easy to read manner

“Cavin’s enthusiasm and drive to help those who need it is unparalleled! He delivers the information in an easy to read manner, no PhD required from the reader. 🙂 Having lived through such trauma himself he has real empathy for other survivors and it shows in the writing. This is a great read for anyone who wants to increase the health of their brain, injury or otherwise! Read it!!!”

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- Delanee

Cavin is a superstar brain injury survivor! He knows…

“Cavin is a superstar brain injury survivor! He knows what works & shares his knowledge with anyone who is hungry for information.”

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- Julie J. Castell

Five Stars

“Very helpful information without being overwhelming.”

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- Amazon Customer

We can take care of our brains

“I am nearly four years out from my traumatic brain injury and I have been through 100’s of hours of rehabilitation therapy. I have been surprised by how little attention is given to adequate nutrition for recovering from TBI. I’m always looking for further opportunities to recover and so this book fell into the right hands. Cavin outlines the science and reasoning behind the diet he suggests, but the real power in this book comes when he writes, “WE.” WE can give our brains proper nutrition. Now I’m excited to drink smoothies and eat breakfasts that look like dinners! I will recommend this book to my friends.

(I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)”

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- Rachel J.

Vital information

“The author is a remarkable and inspirational survivor of traumatic brain injury. His breakthrough recovery through nutrition and holistic health care demonstrates a radical new approach to healing the brain. This is vital information for health care providers and the public.”

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"Armchair Shopper"

Love this book

“Love this book! Still reading and can’t wait to see what else I learn…and I am not brain injured! Cavin has already helped me to take steps to address my food sensitivity…seems to be helping and I am only on day 5! He has also helped me to help a family member who has suffered a stroke. Thank you Cavin, for sharing all your knowledge and hard work with us! This book is for anyone that wants to understand and implement good nutrition with all the latest research to back it up. Highly recommend!”

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- JSB

Heal Your Brain with Nutrition

“How to Feed a Brain is an important book. It’s the book I’ve been looking for since sustaining multiple concussions in the fall of 2013. I’ve dabbled in and out of gluten, dairy, and (processed) sugar free diets the past few years, but I have never eaten enough nutritious foods. This book has a simple-to-follow guide on daily consumption of produce, meat, and water.

I appreciate how Cavin writes about important concepts, such as leaky gut and glial cells, in a clear and concise manner.

There are a large number of people attempting to recover from brain injuries that are lacking the right information on nutrition. Thanks to Cavin and his team, we have this book now.

I look forward to eating my quality vegetables, proteins, and fats every day now as I know that they will help my brain to heal.

Cavin’s story is inspirational and worth a read on its own.”

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- Jacob

Well written, educational, and promotes positive lifestyle changes that can be made today!

“Cavin’s personal experience and humble writing to help educate, not only people who have suffered brain injuries, but anyone interested in the best nutritional advice for optimum brain function is a great introduction to proper nutrition filled with many recommendations of how you can make a changes to your diet immediately. This book provides amazing personal insight related to Cavin’s recovery accompanied with well cited peer reviewed sources throughout the entire book detailing the most recent findings around functional neurology!

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about nutrition and how it can impact brain function! As well as anyone willing to challenge themselves TODAY with the recommendations throughout this book!”

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- Andrew Ritter

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"...an easy-to-implement road map of nutritional changes to support your brain function and repair." -Dr. Mark Hyman, MD

Feed a Brain (Cavin Balaster)

feedabrain

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Dec 28

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What a ride it has been in Miami!!!

My past life seemed to converge with folks I knew since middle school…
to my band in NYC…
to New York bartender days…
to when I was renting sound equipment to events throughout the New York boroughs…

To make a long story short... people change in enormous ways and I had to rescue my dog.

I felt like I was in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City crossed with Ace Ventura Pet Detective! 😂.

This reel does not do it justice, but I bought a cart in Florida to get my dog: Spartacus.
.
Sparta is the music. They were one of my favorites in the early 2000s... and Spartacus is back with me because we did what needed to be done to take back control. 💪🙏🤘

What a ride it has been in Miami!!!

My past life seemed to converge with folks I knew since middle school…
to my band in NYC…
to New York bartender days…
to when I was renting sound equipment to events throughout the New York boroughs…

To make a long story short... people change in enormous ways and I had to rescue my dog.

I felt like I was in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City crossed with Ace Ventura Pet Detective! 😂.

This reel does not do it justice, but I bought a cart in Florida to get my dog: Spartacus.
.
Sparta is the music. They were one of my favorites in the early 2000s... and Spartacus is back with me because we did what needed to be done to take back control. 💪🙏🤘
...

23 0

feedabrain

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Dec 6

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Dios mío!
Eastern Oregon is so beautiful! I  was working on a ranch doing mostly lumberjack work with chainsaws, axes, a planer, and a lumber mill. 🪵 🪓

It feels awesome to be able to do manual labor after not being able to eat, walk, or talk for months and regaining my abilities over several years. 💪

And… It feels great to be traveling and able bodied and loving life! This ranch is beautiful!

And now... I'm ready for warmer weather! 

#nofilter #oregon #florida #beautiful #tbi #snowbird #adventuresintbi

Dios mío!
Eastern Oregon is so beautiful! I was working on a ranch doing mostly lumberjack work with chainsaws, axes, a planer, and a lumber mill. 🪵 🪓

It feels awesome to be able to do manual labor after not being able to eat, walk, or talk for months and regaining my abilities over several years. 💪

And… It feels great to be traveling and able bodied and loving life! This ranch is beautiful!

And now... I'm ready for warmer weather!

#nofilter #oregon #florida #beautiful #tbi #snowbird #adventuresintbi
...

31 4

feedabrain

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Sep 26

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Do you like snakes? 🐍 
.
I’m beginning to like reptiles more and more. 🦎 
.
While they lack a cortex, they have a limbic brain (reptilian brain) which responds to threat. 😫
.
And they can sense if we are a threat or not.
.
This guy didn’t find me to be a threat. 🙏
.
My dog, on the other hand, got hissed and rattled at.🐍
.
He was bluffing though. Gofer snakes are not dangerous.

#🐍 #snakes #dogmeetssnake #gofersnake

Do you like snakes? 🐍
.
I’m beginning to like reptiles more and more. 🦎
.
While they lack a cortex, they have a limbic brain (reptilian brain) which responds to threat. 😫
.
And they can sense if we are a threat or not.
.
This guy didn’t find me to be a threat. 🙏
.
My dog, on the other hand, got hissed and rattled at.🐍
.
He was bluffing though. Gofer snakes are not dangerous.

#🐍 #snakes #dogmeetssnake #gofersnake
...

9 0

feedabrain

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Aug 25

Open
Inspiration is like a spark ⚡️ that Ignights a flame. 🔥 
.
And that spark ⚡️ comes from everything that our senses are exposed to… from our sensory diet.
.
From the colors we see…
The sounds we hear…
The the foods that we eat…
The scent in air we breathe…
And the life that surrounds us.
.
Inspirations sparks the flame. ⚡️🔥
.
Appreciation makes that spark bigger. 🙏 
.
And the company we keep can fan those flames or extinguish our flame.
.
Stay Empowered.
Stay Strong.
Stay Steadfast.
Stay Inspired.
.
🙏 @amanda_love_wellness 
#inspiration #nature #dogs #servicedog #findinspiration

Inspiration is like a spark ⚡️ that Ignights a flame. 🔥
.
And that spark ⚡️ comes from everything that our senses are exposed to… from our sensory diet.
.
From the colors we see…
The sounds we hear…
The the foods that we eat…
The scent in air we breathe…
And the life that surrounds us.
.
Inspirations sparks the flame. ⚡️🔥
.
Appreciation makes that spark bigger. 🙏
.
And the company we keep can fan those flames or extinguish our flame.
.
Stay Empowered.
Stay Strong.
Stay Steadfast.
Stay Inspired.
.
🙏 @amanda_love_wellness
#inspiration #nature #dogs #servicedog #findinspiration
...

30 4

feedabrain

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Jun 22

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Learning how to shoot arrows with Lars King while ensuring the safety of my dog. 😁

Learning how to shoot arrows with Lars King while ensuring the safety of my dog. 😁 ...

11 1

feedabrain

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May 15

Open
Happy first half birthday, Sparky!!!! 

Sparky is 6 months old! 

What an amazing dog! 

He is named after my great great uncle who is one of my angels.

I am so glad we get to share this awesome life together!

#awesomedog

Happy first half birthday, Sparky!!!!

Sparky is 6 months old!

What an amazing dog!

He is named after my great great uncle who is one of my angels.

I am so glad we get to share this awesome life together!

#awesomedog
...

6 0

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May 14

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Instagram post 17950574098885996

...

4 0

feedabrain

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Jan 26

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So... I got a puppy!

Do you like puppies? Me too! Especially this guy.

He’s not gonna stay a puppy, but right now, he’s only 2 months old and I already have him pretty well trained to be with me in public and in my travels.

He’s so awesome!

While I’ve been training dogs for quite some time, I have never trained a dog from a puppy and I am beyond excited to do so!

His mom is the dog of some amazing friends, so I have known this puppy since before he was even born!

So what’s his name?

If you know much about me, you may have noticed an 80 year old motorcycle jacket from the 1940’s that I wear constantly. You may even know that this jacket was originally the prized possession of my great great uncle Sparky.

You may also know that I was wearing this jacket when I experienced a severe TBI that left me in a coma for 12 days and was given less than a 10% chance of ever waking.

Miraculously I woke from that coma and recovered beyond all expectations!

You may also remember that when my apartment was robbed in 2018 many things were stolen, including turntables, speakers, records, and even my car. This jacket was also stolen!

Miraculously, not only did I end up recovering the turntables, records, speakers, and even my car, but I also got my jacket back!

I like to think that my jacket played a role in the recovery of everything that I had lost… my abilities, and anything that is wrongfully taken from me.

This jacket is magic, and while I never met my great great uncle Sparky, he is clearly looking out for me. He is one of my Angels.

The night I found out this puppy was going to be mine, I laid down for bed and received a very clear vision of my uncle Sparky wearing the jacket and walking a dog.

The next day, when I went to visit this puppy I asked “are you Sparky?” and he jumped on my lap and started kissing my face! So…

Meet Sparky!

Sparky is now officially joining the my Adventures in Brain Injury so stay tuned! For now, here is where you can follow his adventures on my Instagram: @cavinb 

#puppy #servicedog #labrodoodle

So... I got a puppy!

Do you like puppies? Me too! Especially this guy.

He’s not gonna stay a puppy, but right now, he’s only 2 months old and I already have him pretty well trained to be with me in public and in my travels.

He’s so awesome!

While I’ve been training dogs for quite some time, I have never trained a dog from a puppy and I am beyond excited to do so!

His mom is the dog of some amazing friends, so I have known this puppy since before he was even born!

So what’s his name?

If you know much about me, you may have noticed an 80 year old motorcycle jacket from the 1940’s that I wear constantly. You may even know that this jacket was originally the prized possession of my great great uncle Sparky.

You may also know that I was wearing this jacket when I experienced a severe TBI that left me in a coma for 12 days and was given less than a 10% chance of ever waking.

Miraculously I woke from that coma and recovered beyond all expectations!

You may also remember that when my apartment was robbed in 2018 many things were stolen, including turntables, speakers, records, and even my car. This jacket was also stolen!

Miraculously, not only did I end up recovering the turntables, records, speakers, and even my car, but I also got my jacket back!

I like to think that my jacket played a role in the recovery of everything that I had lost… my abilities, and anything that is wrongfully taken from me.

This jacket is magic, and while I never met my great great uncle Sparky, he is clearly looking out for me. He is one of my Angels.

The night I found out this puppy was going to be mine, I laid down for bed and received a very clear vision of my uncle Sparky wearing the jacket and walking a dog.

The next day, when I went to visit this puppy I asked “are you Sparky?” and he jumped on my lap and started kissing my face! So…

Meet Sparky!

Sparky is now officially joining the my Adventures in Brain Injury so stay tuned! For now, here is where you can follow his adventures on my Instagram: @cavinb

#puppy #servicedog #labrodoodle
...

19 1

feedabrain

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Jan 16

Open
"Everyone is going to have to take a hard look at where they want to be at this moment in history as we're looking at efforts across the country to to prevent people from being able to exercise their fundamental rights."

- Jen Psaki, Press Secretary

#godsaveamerica #humanrights #fundamentalrights

"Everyone is going to have to take a hard look at where they want to be at this moment in history as we're looking at efforts across the country to to prevent people from being able to exercise their fundamental rights."

- Jen Psaki, Press Secretary

#godsaveamerica #humanrights #fundamentalrights
...

113 24

feedabrain

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Jan 13

Open
So… I’ve been trying to get COVID for almost 2 years now (I want strong natural antibodies, not mRNA created spike proteins (which are problematic)) and I still haven’t gotten it! I’ve been traveling, getting poor sleep, sleeping outdoors, and exposing myself to germs everywhere, and I’m still coming up short… no COVID… no antibodies. 

In speaking with some of my medical mentors, the prevailing theory is that my innate immune system is nutritionally supported enough to block acquisition of the virus so adaptive immunity hasn’t needed to get involved. 

In other words, the virus has not set up shop in my body because I nutritionally block acquisition, and I’ve never developed antibodies because… even if some of the virus got into me, I use clinical and functional nutrition to block the replication of the virus so that the adaptive immune system is not called upon.

If you’re interested in clinical and functional nutrition strategies against viruses, check out the menu on feedabrain.com. 

#covid #naturalimmunity🖕 #spikeproteinistheweapon #covidtest #immunity #antiviral #functionalnutrition #feedabrain

So… I’ve been trying to get COVID for almost 2 years now (I want strong natural antibodies, not mRNA created spike proteins (which are problematic)) and I still haven’t gotten it! I’ve been traveling, getting poor sleep, sleeping outdoors, and exposing myself to germs everywhere, and I’m still coming up short… no COVID… no antibodies.

In speaking with some of my medical mentors, the prevailing theory is that my innate immune system is nutritionally supported enough to block acquisition of the virus so adaptive immunity hasn’t needed to get involved.

In other words, the virus has not set up shop in my body because I nutritionally block acquisition, and I’ve never developed antibodies because… even if some of the virus got into me, I use clinical and functional nutrition to block the replication of the virus so that the adaptive immune system is not called upon.

If you’re interested in clinical and functional nutrition strategies against viruses, check out the menu on feedabrain.com.

#covid #naturalimmunity🖕 #spikeproteinistheweapon #covidtest #immunity #antiviral #functionalnutrition #feedabrain
...

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Terms and Conditions: The content and products found at feedabrain.com, adventuresinbraininjury.com, the Adventures in Brain Injury Podcast, or provided by Cavin Balaster or others on the Feed a Brain team is intended for informational purposes only and is not provided by medical professionals. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the food & drug administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. Readers/listeners/viewers should not act upon any information provided on this website or affiliated websites without seeking advice from a licensed physician, especially if pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or suffering from a medical condition. This website is not intended to create a physician-patient relationship.

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The term Feed a Brain™ is a trademark of Feed a Brain. Whenever the term “Feed a Brain” is used on this or affiliated websites, it is referring to the Feed a Brain™ brand.

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