Essential Nutrients, Enhance Brain Function And Improve Memory! 

Foods and Vitamins to Boost Brain Power:

What is Memory Loss:

Every day, you have different experiences and you learn new things. Your brain cannot store all of that information, so it has to decide what is worth remembering. Memory is the process of storing and then remembering this information. There are different types of memory. brain

Short-term memory stores information for a few seconds or minutes. Long-term memory stores it for a longer period of time. Memory doesn’t always work perfectly. As you grow older, it may take longer to remember things.

Memory loss (amnesia) is unusual forgetfulness. You may not be able to remember new events, recall one or more memories of the past, or both. The memory loss may be for a short time and then resolve (transient). Or, it may not go away, and, depending on the cause, it can get worse over time.

Causes:

• 1. Normal aging can cause some forgetfulness:

It is normal to have some trouble learning new material or needing more time to remember it. But normal aging does not lead to dramatic memory loss. Such memory loss is due to other diseases.

• 2. Memory loss can be caused by many things:

  • To determine a cause, your health care provider will ask if the problem came on suddenly or slowly.

 

• 3. Many areas of the brain help you create and retrieve memories:

• • A problem in any of these areas can lead to memory loss.

Memory loss may result from a new injury to the brain, which is caused by or is present after:

• Brain tumor.
• Cancer treatment, such as brain radiation, bone marrow transplant, or chemotherapy
  Concussion or head trauma.
• Not enough oxygen getting to the brain when your heart or breathing is stopped for too long
  Severe brain infection or infection around the brain.
• Major surgery or severe illness, including brain surgery.
• Transient global amnesia (sudden, temporary loss of memory) of unclear cause
  Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.
• Hydrocephalus (fluid collection in the brain).

Sometimes, Memory Loss Occurs With Mental Health Problems, Such as:

• After a major, traumatic or stressful event.
• Bipolar disorder.
• Depression or other mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia.

 

Memory Loss May Be a Sign of Dementia.

Dementia also affects thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.

Other causes of memory loss include:

• Alcohol or use of prescription or illegal drugs.
• Brain infections such as Lyme disease, syphilis, or HIV/AIDS.
• Overuse of medicines, such as barbiturates or (hypnotics).
• ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) (most often short-term memory loss).
• Epilepsy is not well controlled.
• An illness that results in the loss of, or damage to brain tissue or nerve cells, such as Parkinson’s.
• disease, Huntington disease, or multiple sclerosis.
• Low levels of important nutrients or vitamins, such as low vitamin B1 or B12

Here’re Boosting Foods And Vitamins to Enhance Brain Power:

Various reports have revealed that a diet high in Vitamin E, Folic acid, Vitamin B 6, and B 12 can prove to be excellent for good memory.

1. Vitamin C, E, And Beta Carotene:

• Vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene (which is a form of vitamin A found in plant foods) are all antioxidants that protect brain cells from damage caused by free radicals.
• Additionally, Beta-carotene helps to keep brain tissue healthy and Vitamin E can aid memory by improving blood flow to the brain.

 

Below are some of the foods which have the highest concentration of these vitamins:

• Vitamin C: guavas, bell peppers, kiwi, papaya, citrus fruits, dark leafy greens, strawberries.
• Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, dried apricots, cooked spinach.
• Beta-carotene: sweet potato, kale, carrots, turnip greens, spinach, butternut squash.

 

2. Vitamin B6:

Vitamin B6. As indicated, vitamin B is very critical to proper brain health. Vitamin B6, on the other hand, is particularly helpful in converting 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) into serotonin and making dopamine. Serotonin is a mood chemical.

Consumption of vitamin B6 supplements should be restricted to between 2-10 milligrams per day. Natural sources of this crucial vitamin include mustard, garlic, kale, bell peppers, and turnip greens. The above-listed vitamins for brain health are all available from natural food sources.

However,

there are supplements for all of them. Before you decide to use any supplements, consult your doctor so that you can get proper dosages and usage instructions. Taking this vitamin in less than the required amount for a long time may possibly cause a serious memory loss problem among men and women.

3. Vitamin B 12:

• It also plays a key role in the proper functioning of the brain like vitamin B 6.
• Scientists have warned that a lack of this vitamin in the body can develop fatigue, amnesia, disorientation, and another neurological malfunctioning.
• Any deficiency of vitamin B 12 creates abnormalities in the nervous system of the patients.

4. Antioxidants:

• Antioxidants help keep our bodies free of toxins called free radicals.
• In particular, they can protect valuable brain cells from damage.
• Keeping a diet rich in fresh fruits such as berries, and green vegetables like broccoli and spinach is a great way to ensure your body is getting enough of the antioxidant nutrients it needs.
• Another good source is tea, particularly green tea which contains catechins, which are very powerful antioxidants.
• Therefore, these help slow the process of aging that in turn delays the onset of memory-related diseases.
• Vitamin E and vitamin C are two antioxidants that help keep brain cells in a healthy condition.

 

5. Essential Fatty Acids “Omega 3”:

• Fish oil is an example of essential fatty acids that influence brain functioning.
• The fact is, patients with several psychological disorders have low levels of essential fatty acids.
• These illnesses are dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory disorders.
• Omega 3 has been shown to be effective at repairing damaged cells, too-another way to prevent or reverse symptoms of memory loss.
• The fatty acids in this supplement occur naturally in seafood such as tuna and salmon, as well as in foods containing flax and flaxseed oil.

 

6. Polyphenol:

• It protects against disorders related to the brain.
• The source of polyphenol is the skin of red grapes.
• These should be taken regularly.

 

7. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA):

• It must also be included in the diet. It is an antioxidant that is found to protect against several neurodegenerative illnesses.
• Therefore, it can treat memory loss very effectively.

8. Ginkgo Biloba Extract:

• It is an excellent cure for dementia in old people.
• It stimulates the flow of blood towards the brain and keeps it functioning well.

 

9. Choline:

Choline has always been an important part of the diet especially for pregnant women, and children in their early development. Like folic acid, it has been proven to be an essential nutrient that is needed for brain development in fetuses.

Human milk has high levels of this nutrient. This is why breastfeeding is encouraged, especially because brain development is most crucial and active within the first few years of life. Recent researches have also been entertaining the possibility that choline may also be crucial in preventing age-related memory loss.

Choline is readily available in many natural foods, like whole eggs, beef liver, tofu, peanuts, almonds, spinach, and cauliflowers. For people who eat very little of these, food supplements with Choline are also popular in the market.

And, 

• Choline has been shown to improve neurological functions such as mental energy, focus, and memory.
• It is an essential nutrient to form acetylcholine which is an important brain neurotransmitter that increases brain function. It is available in supplement form.
• There are a number of foods that have high amounts of Choline including egg yolks, peanuts, wheat germ, liver, meat, fish, milk, cheese, vegetables – mainly broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.

10. Electrolytes:

Electrolytes, which are crucial for conducting electricity in the body, come in the form of minerals such as sodium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, and the like. The wellness and ability of nerves to send electric signals to depend greatly on the presence, and balance of these electrolytes.

For instance,

too much salt (sodium) and very little potassium in the body can result in the body’s slow reaction to signals. Because excessive intake of salt in the body can be detrimental to all its functions, it is best to choose natural, unprocessed foods over sodium and preservative-laden foods.

Simply put, the amount of salt in canned meat, preserved vegetables, and processed dairy is too much compared to fresh meat, vegetables, and fruits. To flavor these, a little table salt to taste proves to be sufficient.

Natural Home Remedies:

• Reading and solving complex word puzzles can stimulate brain functioning and tackle the problem of memory loss.
• Intake of vitamin B complex and compounds like 5-hydroxytryptophan, Acetyl L-Carnitine, phosphatidyl-choline, and DMAE are quite useful for treating memory loss.
• Pistachio nuts can treat memory loss due to thiamine deficiency.
• Wheat germ, rich in vitamin E, can solve the problem of memory loss due to aging.
• Blueberries, strawberries, carrots, eggs, okra, apricots, and artichokes may be taken in large quantities, for they can function as memory boosters.
• Herbal tea made out of sage, rosemary, marjoram basil and green tea can strengthen the weak brain.
• Drinking tea and coffee stimulates brain functioning and improves brain.
• Getting adequate sleep is beneficial for the brain.
• Gingko Biloba tincture can improve circulation in the brain and improve overall health.
• Meditation and mind relaxing exercises can remove stress and solve the problem of memory loss.

Home Care:

A person with memory loss needs a lot of support (Home Care):

• It helps to show the person familiar objects, music, or and photos, or play familiar music.
• Write down when the person should take any medicine or do other important tasks. It is important to write it down.
• If a person needs help with everyday tasks, or if safety or nutrition is a concern, you may want to consider extended-care facilities, such as a nursing home.

Powerful Ways to Take Care of Brain Health:

We can all probably can agree, the brain is the most essential organ of the human body. It only makes sense to place care of maintaining good brain function a top priority. Taking care of the brain has not ignited much attention in the past, however, in today’s time, it has become exceedingly obvious there are great benefits in focusing on the health of our most vital organs.

Much of the brain’s health is due to consumption. What we put into our bodies has long-term effects and benefits. Activities play a key role in brain health. Never let it go unsaid that what we do from day to day doesn’t affect us in many ways.

1 Play:

Being young at heart has recently been promoted as a health benefit. When it comes to reducing stress levels and having a generally positive outlook on life, playfulness has been frequently mentioned. Playing games is also known to benefit brain health. Not the head games that keep a person suspicious or on guard, but board games or trivia games help induce the ability to exercise memory.

So be playful, pull up a chair, and pull out those old or new game boards. Have a little fun and quality time with close friends and family to boost your and their memory capabilities.

2. Sleep:

You may have heard of the old saying. ‘If You Snooze You Lose’, but in the case of cognitive health, good sleep will gain you developments of new brain cells. Adequate rest also promotes the ability to concentrate and retain memory.

So before you begin boosting the ability to engage in an activity that can last all night long, you should seriously consider feeling good about getting a good night’s sleep instead. This is especially good advice for students pulling an all-nighter in cramming for the next day’s exams.

3. Breath:

It may seem obvious that breathing is essential for brain health, but often the importance of breathing properly is overlooked. It is important to be able to take deep breaths for the benefit of getting adequate amounts of oxygen to the brain. Oxygen keeps the brain alert, and you awake.

One of the reasons we get sleepy after a heavy meal is due to the digestive system using oxygen from the body and leaving less oxygen for the brain to utilize. Deep breathes or a walk in the fresh air can aid in remedying this effect. Proper breathing exercise is an excellent way to keep healthy amounts of oxygen flowing to the brain.

5. Water:

Of all the consumption substances to consider for better brain health, water is essentially vital. The well-hydrated brain promotes alertness and the ability to concentrate. Some teas and juices could present a little hydration aid as well as medicinal benefits for brain health but should not be considered substitutes for water. Sufficient amounts of clean water are the drinking that keeps you thinking.

4. Meditation:

Last but not least, meditation has been commonly ignored as a health benefit in the past. However many people are reconsidering the effects meditation has on the Immune system and the ability to reduce stress. Recent studies reveal meditation as beneficial for brain health as well.

Such studies have shown that meditation can actually thicken the cerebral cortex of the brain. This aids memory, concentration, and focus. Ironically this means we should exercise the process of letting go of thoughts towards not thinking at all, in order to think better.

Although the brain is considered the most vital organ of the body, the focus on a healthy brain leads to a healthy mind.

If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.

Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

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