Let’s play a mini Hollywood quiz here.
What do the movies “Limitless” and “Lucy" have in common?
Aside from having A-listers headlining them, both movies feature the main characters ingesting certain substances that allow them to have a superhuman brain! The substances help them actively use a massive portion of their brain and achieve an out-of-this-world cognitive function.
Of course, these are pure fiction (for now at least) and it would take a Black Mirror-like dystopia for us to experience it ourselves.
But while an almost 100% brain function is still in the realm of sci-fi, achieving optimal cognitive function like attention, memory, reasoning, and learning languages is already possible.
Whether you want to learn faster, avoid Alzheimer’s disease, or simply win those memory card games (or mini quizzes like that one), you can boost focus, memory, and mental clarity... all thanks to vitamins.
For a healthier brain, here are the 5 vitamins that you should take stat!
Vitamin B-12
To function properly, your brain needs a good dose of Vitamin B-12, which is said to slow down or lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, especially when taken with Omega-3 fatty acids. [1]
B-12 is highly important for retaining memory. In fact, one of the first things doctors would look into for memory loss is the patient's Vitamin B-12 level.
According to Daniel Kaufer, MD, Director of the University of North Carolina's Memory Disorders program, a normal level is found somewhere between 200 and 900 picograms per milliliter. However, if levels are at the lower end of this range, then a person needs additional supplements to achieve an optimal level. [2]
Vitamin B-12 is usually found in animal products. Those who need Vitamin B-12 supplements include vegans and vegetarians, those with bowel issues, as well as older people who no longer absorb it as effectively as when they're younger.
It'd be good to note though that once the body reaches an optimum level of Vitamin B-12, taking supplements won't make your memory any better.
Vitamin E
As an antioxidant, Vitamin E can protect your body from harmful elements that can affect your brain cells negatively.
Found in foods such as nuts, vegetables (spinach, bell peppers), seeds, and dark-colored fruits (blueberries, blackberries), Vitamin E can boost memory and slow down the progression of Alzheimer's.
According to a study published in 2014 at the Journal of American Medical Association, high levels of vitamin E can "help people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease." [1, 3]
Vitamin E deficiency isn't really common but those with low levels maintain a low-fat diet.
On the flip side, be careful about overdoing your Vitamin E supplements, as taking more than 1,000 international units (IU) daily can be unsafe. [4]
Omega-3 fatty acid
Studies show the promise of Omega-3 fatty acids in creating optimal brain performance. In fact, some reports say that consuming fatty fish rich in omega-3 increase the gray matter in the brain, which is indicative of strong cognitive performance. [5]
However, the jury's still out on this one. Some studies have found the polar opposite, saying that omega-3 consumption for 5 years will NOT necessarily lead to better brain function. [6]
Either way, omega-3 has a lot of other health benefits such as healthier heart, so keep going for that fatty fish for dinner anyway!
Ginkgo Biloba
This supplement is popular in Europe for treating a certain type of dementia that is caused by reduced blood flow. While it doesn't necessarily prevent dementia, it may ease or stabilize symptoms of it.
However, more research needs to be done to confirm the effectivity of ginkgo biloba for boosting memory. Just like omega-3, there are conflicting studies saying that it doesn't really keep you from suffering a loss in memory, including an 8-year study done among over 3,000 elderly folks. [7]
Also a word of caution: ginkgo biloba has blood-thinning properties so avoid taking it after surgery or post-visit to the dentist.
Acetyl L-Carnitine (ACL)
According to WebMD: [8]
In the body, acetyl-L-carnitine is made from L-carnitine... an amino acid (a building block for proteins) that is naturally produced in the body [and] helps produce energy. Some people take acetyl-L-carnitine by mouth for a variety of mental disorders including Alzheimer's disease, age-related memory loss, depression, thinking problems related to alcoholism, thinking problems related to Lyme disease, and thinking problems related to very poor liver function (hepatic encephalopathy).
Studies have found that Acetyl L-Carnitine improves aged brain function [9] and leads to an improved long-term memory performance [10].
While ACL is naturally produced by the body, some supplements also contain a good amount of it.
If you're deficient in any of these vitamins, or want to make sure you're maximizing your brain health, taking a cognitive enhancement supplement can be helpful.
Check out our Neuro Force which also contains caffeine and L-Theanine, to give you smooth focused energy while helping to support blood circulation in the brain and nervous system for increased oxygen delivery to neurons and brain cells for increased memory and sharp mental cognition.
It'll help you get things done and be your best. (You can buy it here.)
Sources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10439712
[2] https://lunginstitute.com/blog/salt-therapy-and-copd/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27723955
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24591823
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16629791
[6] http://drsircus.com/salt/real-salt-celtic-salt-and-himalayan-salt/
[7] http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-pink-salt-lamp-benefits/
[8] https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/appendix-7/
[9] http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/04/science/science-watch-salt-and-sleep.html
[10] http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/himalayan-crystal-salt-benefits/