Royane Real
Are There Really Effective Memory Supplements That Can Boost Your Brain Power?
By: Dan Ho
Introductory comments
By Royane Real
Author of: “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative”
As we get older, many of us start to wonder if there is anything we can do to keep our brains in tip-top shape.
Is there anything we can really do to prevent Alzheimers, or to keep our brain and memory functioning well into our later years?
Your brain’s thinking power and ability to remember things depends on a lot of factors, but one very important factor is the presence of a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is sometimes called “the memory molecule” because it is so important to the memory process in your brain.
Your brain cells need a good supply of acetylcholine molecules in order to communicate with each other. Acetylcholine is a complex molecule that your body makes out of choline and some other nutrients found in the foods you eat.
When people start to develop Alzheimer’s disease, the supply of acetylcholine in the brain goes way down. The body stops manufacturing acetylcholine in sufficient amounts, and the receptors on the brain cells that are supposed to pick up the incoming messages start to disappear also. That means that communication between brain cells slows down tremendously. Eventually, much of the information that was stored in your brain is no longer accessible.
Scientists have been trying for years to unravel the mystery of Alzheimer’s disease and they desperately want to find a cure so that future generations no longer succumb to this terrible illness.
You might think that since the brain’s supply of acetylcholine goes down in Alzheimer’s, all you have to do is take in more acetylcholine in the form of supplements or medicine, and your acetylcholine levels would come back up. Unfortunately that method doesn’t work.
What does seem to help the brain to have more acetylcholine available is to increase the building blocks from which this molecule is made, and to decrease the enzymes in your brain that deactivate acetylcholine.
Scientists don’t know yet what sets off the process that ends up in the destruction of acetylcholine levels in the brain with Alzheimer’s disease. There may be many factors at play, such as inflammation in the brain, infection, brain toxins, genetic factors, nutrition, diabetes, and a variety of lifestyle factors.
Some researchers are hoping that for people who have brains that are still more or less healthy, the proper kind of nutrition and supplementation can slow down or prevent the development of Alzheimer’s and even the benign memory loss that comes with normal aging.
Research into the field of nutritional supplementation for the aging brain is still in its early stages, so be sure to consult with your doctor if you want to take supplements to try boost your brain power. Not all doctors are experts in the topic of how to best help an aging brain retain its peak function. If you suspect you are having serious problems with your memory and thinking ability, you should seek out a medical specialist or clinic with expertise in treating memory problems due to aging.
The following article by Dan Ho gives you some idea of nutritional supplements you can consider using if your brain is currently healthy and you would like to help it to stay that way.
( The introductory comments which appear above are written by Royane Real, author of “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative” which is a book full of brain boosting ideas. Download it at http://www.lulu.com/real )
Feature article:
Are There Really Effective Memory Supplements That Can Boost Your Brain Power?
By: Dan Ho
What are Memory Supplements?
Memory supplements and memory pills are experiencing increasing demand as rates of Alzheimer’s and similar cognitive disorders keep rising in the Western world.
Unfortunately, however, there is no guaranteed fix.
Even the best supplements and memory pills cannot cure progressive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, they can significantly help stave off cognitive decline and promote healthy mental functioning and acuity.
Which are the best?
What follows is a discussion of the memory supplements that, from our understanding, offer the most promise for maintaining and restoring a sharp mind.
Gingko Biloba: long touted as one of the best memory supplements
Gingko biloba is a well known herb that has been double-blind tested many times for its ability to increase the oxygen content to the brain (and other bodily tissues). Because of this, Gingko is often taken to enhance memory, and increase mental focus and clarity.
Recently, researchers from University of California , Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Institute showed that "the herbal supplement ginkgo biloba has demonstrated in brain scans to improve verbal recall among people with age-related memory impairment."
"Additionally”, the researchers say, “differing results could have much to do with the quality of ginkgo biloba used and the duration of studies."
We will discuss below the basic requirements for buying only the highest quality gingko (and other herbs, vitamins, and nutrients, and memory supplement and memory pills).
DMAE:
DMAE is a naturally occurring nutrient found in high concentrations in fish.
DMAE can elevate one's mood, counter depression, and boost cognitive functions (such as memory and concentration), and even increase intelligence. These benefits stem from this nutrient's role in manufacturing acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter that is responsible for healthy mental functioning.
Indeed, acetylcholine's main role is in acting as the messenger for memory, and has been shown to be severely depleted in those afflicted with Alzheimer’s.
In short, DMAE is one of the most powerful memory supplements that most people aren't even aware exists.
Gotu Kola:
The leaves of the Gotu Kola are a favorite food among elephants. Perhaps this is why there is an age-old adage that says "having a memory like an elephant."
Whatever the case may be, gotu kola is showing a great deal of promise as one of the best memory supplements and memory pills. It has been attributed a broad range of benefits that include enhancing mental acuity, staving off memory deterioration, and improving blood flow by strengthening blood vessels.
Indeed, in the book published by Reader's Digest called "The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs" it states: "In one study, 30 developmentally disabled children were found to have significantly better concentration and attention after taking gotu kola for 12 weeks"
Precautions about these memory supplements
The following are some precautions that you should be aware of before taking any of the aforementioned memory supplements.
Because ginkgo is a blood thinning agent, people who are already on other blood thinners -- such as aspirin -- should consult a qualified health practitioner or their physician to let him or her know of your intent.
Gotu kola can cause sensitivity to sunlight in some individuals. If you are the kind of person who burns easily in the sun, take extra precautions.
There are no known side effects with DMAE.
As always, pregnant women or women who are nursing should refrain from taking herbal remedies.
This list of precautions is not exhaustive. It only represents some of the more well known possible side effects of these memory supplements.
Some other things to keep in mind:
1) Acetylcholine cannot be produced by DMAE alone; the presence of some B vitamins -- like Vitamin B5, Biotin, and Folic Acid aids in the production of DMAE.
2) Always purchase memory supplements made from standardized herbal extracts. These are produced with the highest quality and potency.
Most supplement manufacturers do not use standardized herbal extracts because they cost more, and the lower the cost for them to produce, the higher their profit margins. As the researchers from the University of California , Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Institute stated, results can surely be dependent upon the quality of the ingredients used.
Why not buy the best? Your health depends on it!
Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com
Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Info and passionate about living in vibrant health. To learn more about memory supplements and memory pills, and what to look for in a product, visit us now.
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