New Age Organic

Building enhanced brain power and maintaining a healthy fully capable mind as we age is nothing to take lightly.  There is plenty of evidence to support the notion that both mental agility and memory decline to some extent as we age, but the good news is that this does not have to be the case.

By ensuring that our diets are truly healthy, and we get plenty of brain building exercise and continue to stimulate our minds as well as take specific supplements to enhance brain function, we can stay ahead of the aging process and remain as sharp and quick minded as we were in our younger years, in fact with rigorous focus we can be far better than we ever were.

What makes us forget?
Intense stress is most often the culprit behind being forgetful, interfering with our ability to concentrate, make important decisions and remember. Being over extended and over taxed, having too many irons in the fire may also be a problem.  When you are doing too many things at once you are less likely to focus on the details, the less you pay attention, the less you will be able to remember.

For 99% of people memory loss never becomes a serious problem, but some diseases, such as Alzheimer’s can lead directly to memory loss. Alcohol abuse and recreational drug use can also affect memory in significant ways.

Beyond diet and mental exercises we turn to specific natural vitamins and minerals to build brain power.

Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo exerts its vascular effects primarily on the lining of the blood vessels. It stimulates greater resilience in the venous system, aiding in the clearing of toxins that accumulate in the blood stream when there is a lack of oxygen. Ginkgo is mainly implicated in conditions that affect the brain, including short-term memory loss, vertigo, headaches and depression.

The memory enhancing benefits of Ginkgo are not limited to the elderly. In a double blind study, the reaction time of healthy young women performing memory tests was significantly enhanced after a period of taking Ginkgo as a supplement.

Recommended dosage is 60mg-80mg 3 times daily.

Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a powerful antioxidant, and has been shown to prevent oxidative stress in nerve tissue.  Lipoic acid helps maintain glutathione levels, which are found to be depleted in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. It appears to have a protective affect on the brain and nerves, as well as the liver which deals with toxins that can affect our brain function. It is found in meat and most vegetables as well as natural supplements.

Recommended dosage is 200mg to 400mg per day.

DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol)
This memory-building substance is common to a number of compounds that are known to stabilize cell membranes. Cell membrane degradation has been proposed as one of the key mechanisms of the aging process. DMAE is normally present in small amounts in the brain, and is known for its remarkable brain-enhancing effects. It is naturally occurring in anchovies and sardines, which may explain why fish is so often regarded as brain food. DMAE works by accelerating the brains synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which in turn plays a key role in maximizing mental ability and preventing memory loss in aging adults.

DMAE is also used for treating attention deficit disorder, enhancing memory and mood, and boosting cognitive function. DMAE is also used for treating Alzheimer’s disease, by increasing IQ, physical energy, and muscle reflex.

Recommended dosage is 75mg to 150mg per day.

Pycnogenol (Pine Bark Extract)
As well as having potent antioxidant effects, Pycnogenol also helps maintain neurotransmitters so that they function longer and improve the circulation of the brain. The increase in nitric oxide provided by Pycnogenol may also improve learning ability and memory.

Recommended dosage is 50mg to 150mg per day.

Super Oils
Rosemary essential oil has enjoyed a reputation of enhancing memory for hundreds of years, hence the old saying “rosemary for remembrance”. Try a single drop of rosemary oil on each wrist to stimulate the senses. Peppermint oil is another good choice to stimulate the mind.

Oils can also be used to affect your moods, which in turn will affect your memory. Antidepressant and cheering oils include bergamot, orange, and other citrus oils.  Rosemary is great for mental fatigue as well. Virtually any application of essential oils, including baths and massage, will have the desired effect. Another very effective way to use them is to simply get them into the air using a spray bottle (10 drops in 1 pint of water) or a vaporizer.

EFAs and Brian Power
Essential fatty acids are now recognised as star nutrients essential for optimal brain function and as mood stabilizers. Without omega-3 fatty acids (one of the EFAs) brain cells stiffen and inhibit the messages that pass between neurons. Shortages of these essentials have also been linked to low intelligence, learning disabilities, and depression. What’s more, they also enhance cognitive, aural, and optic development, which continue throughout life.

The best sources of these omega-3 fatty acids are avocados, cold-pressed oils like olive, and nuts and seeds such as walnuts and flax seed. Oily fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, pilchards and fresh tuna also contain omega-3 fatty acids.