The brain – what can we do to improve its performance?
For the past few years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has dedicated a week each year to the brain. The idea behind this is to attract the attention of doctors, scientists, teachers and parents alike to one of the body’s most vital organs, which is not only responsible for generating thoughts and actions, but also happens to be the intelligence and personality headquarters of each individual. The quality of one’s life is very much dependent on how well the brain functions.
Not taking full advantage of the capabilities of the brain is often times the cause of distress. The loss of efficiency due to the premature brain aging, mental illness or cerebral vascular accidents can result in lower self-esteem. All these problems have become almost commonplace in today’s society, and yet the issue of properly stimulating the brain draws very little attention. It is almost as if the brain is our “forgotten organ.”
Free radicals, the brain’s Enemy No. 1!
Throughout the course of our lives, all the body’s cells, including nerve cells, are constantly bombarded by unstable chemical compounds, referred to as free radicals. These are formed in the body during all life processes. They are highly harmful, as they damage the DNA of cells and can lead to death of the cell itself. The amount of these free radicals constantly increases with age.
The extent of damages caused by free radicals depends on the effectiveness of the antioxidants used to combat them. Only antioxidants can help us avoid, or even reverse any nerve cell-damaging processes. Therefore, antioxidants can be used to prevent and treat any degenerative changes in the brain. They can help improve memory, and can significantly postpone the aging process of the brain. Keeping this in mind, the best favor we can do for our brains is to make sure we supply it with a sufficient amount of antioxidants.
…and you can stop aging immediately!
The strongest natural antioxidants come from the Chinese Wolfberry fruits (Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum), combined with licorice root extract, which has regenerating properties. Both these components can be found in Forever Lycium Plus.
Vitamin C is also regarded as one of the most important antioxidants, as it helps maintain the efficiency of arteries that supply blood to the brain. It helps reduce the risk of blood clots (also learn about Xarelto), which in turn lowers the risk of stroke and developing Alzheimer’s disease. Forever Lite proves to be a great source Vitamin C.
Another important antioxidant is the element selenium. A selenium deficiency can be the cause of having a bad mood, anxiety, as well as memory impairment. Sadly, the diet of the average American consists of only a quarter of the daily requirement of selenium. Forever Nature-Min is a great supplement for this. Selenium can also be found in Forever Garlic-Thyme.
Selenium is often associated with Vitamin E, another super-vitamin for the brain. Vitamin E helps protect the brain by:
- neutralizing the free radicals that damage brain cells
- regulating the “communication system” between brain cells
- regulating the immune system, which reduces inflammation in the brain that can, ultimately, lead to stroke and dementia
- reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that restrict the flow of blood through the arteries that supply blood to brain tissue
It is also key in delaying the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Therefore, there are many reasons why it is beneficial to regularly take Vitamin E supplements. Statistics show that about 30 percent of Americans suffer from a Vitamin E deficiency. Thankfully, Vitamin E can be found in Forever Lite. In addition, Forever Lite contains:
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1), whose deficiency is more and more common among young people. Thiamine is effective in the treatment of depression and sleep disorders, and it can also help improve memory. It has also been found that thiamine is the best mood-boosting food supplement, especially for women.
- Niacin (nicotinic acid). Niacin deficiencies are the cause of low brain efficiency and the increase of cell damage by free radicals. Niacin can help improve memory in people of all ages.
- Vitamin B6, which has a huge influence on neurological function. Deficiencies of Vitamin B6 have been known to cause irritability, depression, fatigue, and memory loss. Studies show that Vitamin B6 deficiencies are extremely common.
- Folate (folic acid). The most common neuropsychiatric manifestation of a folate deficiency is depression. Older people are especially vulnerable to a folic acid deficiency. The deterioration of intellectual functions in the elderly may be a result of poor absorption of the compound. Folic acid protects against strokes and prevents the occurrence of Alzheimer’s. Only 10% of Americans receive folic acid in sufficient quantities.
Nutrient deficiencies in the brain are hardly detectable, as people with these deficiencies do not exhibit the normal symptoms of malnutrition. We live in a world of “quality starvation”, because our normal diets do not contain many substances that are crucial for the proper functioning of the brain. For this reason, it is important to supplement the diet with mineral and vitamin supplements.
