Brain Health

Whether you’re a student studying for a test or an adult who’s becoming more forgetful, you’re probably looking for something to boost your memory.  The best way to optimize your memory is to eat right and exercise (your brain and your body), but it you find this isn’t helping enough, there are safe, natural remedies for improving your memory.  Here are some important nutrients and supplements that will help boost your memory along with other great side effects.

* Choline.  This is the main nutrient required in the production of acetocholine, the most essential chemical in retaining memories.  Choline can be found in fish (particularly anchovies), eggs, liver, soy, and various nuts.

* DMAE.   This is easily absorbed into the brain and also aids in the production of acetylcholine.  It can be found in sardines and anchovies, but most people prefer taking a supplement.  Be sure to take it in the morning, as it can cause insomnia.

* Vitamins.  Getting enough of the B vitamins and vitamin C are essential for the production proper brain function.  B vitamins have even been shown to raise scores on IQ tests.

* Pyroglutamate.  This is an essential amino acid that can be used to improve memory, concentration, coordination, and reaction time.  It improves reception of neurotransmitters and aids in the production of acetylcholine.  It is found in dairy products, fish, fruit, and vegetables.

* Phosphatidylserine.  This chemical has not only been shown to improve memory, but also to concentration, mood, and resistance to stress.  While you can get this nutrient from diet, you’d probably be more comfortable taking a supplement.

* Omega 3 Fatty Acids.  These “good fats” can be found in fish, including: tuna, salmon, and mackerel.  They can also be found in certain nuts and oils.  This boosts the amount of acetylcholine and serotonin in the body which improves memory and mood.

* Ginkgo Biloba.  This is used to improve circulation, increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain.  Ginko improves memory and gives you an energy boost.  It has been show to help memory loss from normal aging and Alzheimer’s.  Be careful how much you take, it can have side effects due to its blood thinning properties.

* Vinpocetine.  This supplement is derived from the periwinkle plant and increases circulation.  It has been proven to improve decision making and problem solving skills.

* Carnitine.  This is an essential amino acid that improves memory and brain function and mood; it also has antioxidant properties.  Acetyl-L-carnitine is essential in the production of acetylcholine.

* Glutamine.   Another important amino acid for brain function.  Along with the improved brain function, glutamine is an energy booster can help you break your addictions to stimulants.  It also helps balance neurotransmitters and blood sugar levels.

Getting one or two of these nutrients can help you feel better and improve memory, but if you want to have optimal functioning and memory, it’s best to get as many of these natural remedies as you can.  Get more info on MemoRise for Improved Memory and Retention

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Everyone knows that the key to a healthy body is diet and exercise.  We do not need to neglect to exercise our minds too.  Our brain is just like our muscles: use it or lose it.  If we don’t do daily activities to help keep our brain in top order, we lose important skills; particularly the skill of remembering.

So, how exactly does exercise help your brain?  How do you keep those neurons limber?

* Open a newspaper.  Reading it might expand your knowledge, but if you really want to get your brain in shape, turn to the crossword puzzle.  You can also try solving other puzzles that require using your language skills.  These help you remember things by making you regularly access simple memories (i.e. certain words)

* Try the latest puzzle craze.  Go to a book store, go online, or look in the paper; you’re likely to find Sudoku puzzles. These are number puzzles that are becoming increasingly popular.  They help exercise your brain’s deductive reasoning skills.  Plus, they’re fun and incredibly addictive.

* Learn something new.  You’ve probably heard people say that learning something new pushes old information out of your brain.  This is not only wrong, it’s just plain silly.  The capacity of your brain is only determined by how much you want to put in it.  Try learning a new skill or how to play a musical instrument.  Learning a skill and continue to use it will keep your memory accessing skills limber.

* Books, games and services.  While there aren’t actually gyms you can go to, there are ways to get exercises specifically designed to improve memory.  You can find these in book stores, online, and even in video game stores.

Interestingly, trips to the gym for physical exercise also help the brain.  Keeping your body in good physical shape will help keep your brain healthy too.  While cardio is the best work out to keep you healthy, you can still keep your memory if you can’t perform a strenuous workout.  Even a simple walk for an hour a day can help prevent or slow memory loss.  So get up and go as much as you can to keep your brain going.

Most people don’t worry about memory loss until they start to notice it slipping away, but the best time to start is while your mind is still sharp.  You may not be able to bring your memory back, but you can keep it from fading.  Regularly working your mind has even been shown to ward off Alzheimer’s.  So if you want to keep your mind sharp, be sure to eat right, get enough rest, and exercise regularly.

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The first step in fighting memory loss is to determine the cause.  Once you know what’s taking your memories, you can determine the best plan to fight it.  Here are some of the common causes of memory loss along with suggestions to help combat it.

The most common thing that causes memory loss is aging.  As we age, we naturally lose some of the memory capabilities we previously had.  One important thing you should always remember is that memory loss due to aging is a slow process.  If you notice a sudden or steep progressive loss of memory, it’s important to see a doctor immediately.  If your memory loss is caused by a medical problem, early detection could be the key to treatment.  Memory loss can be caused by Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumors, stroke, infection, or seizures.  All of these are very serious and need to be treated as soon as possible.  If you find you have a neurodegenerative disorder, you’ll probably find it helpful to take the steps mentioned above along with your prescribed medicines and therapy.  As with aging, you may not be able to prevent all memory loss from these conditions, but you can see improvement or slowed losses.

Have you been feeling kind of down lately?  Clinical depression is often caused by (and may cause) chemical imbalances in the brain.  If your brain isn’t working correctly due to depression, this may cause memory loss.  If you’re noticing memory loss along with symptoms of depression like sadness, changes in appetite, and not want to participate in activities; you should seek treatment immediately.  In addition to the therapy or prescription medication a psychiatrist may give you; eating right, exercise, and getting plenty of rest are good ways to help combat depression.

You may notice memory loss shortly after going on a new medication.  Many times these drugs are simply making you very tired, which is why you are forgetting.  Other medicines, particularly barbiturates, can just make you stop remembering things you used to.  If memory loss from a medication is interfering with your everyday life, ask your doctor if there are any other options for treatment.  You may also wan to look into herbal remedies which generally have fewer side effects than conventional medications.

This is not an exhaustive list of causes of memory loss, but it is a guide to the most common. As always, speak to a licensed health care provider if you are concerned.

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No one wants to lose their memory.  Thankfully, there are proactive steps you can take to help prevent it or slow it down. If you’re concerned about how to prevent memory loss, here are some of the most important things you can do.

Aging is a common cause of memory loss and obviously we can’t stop growing older. However, we can eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and other protein sources.  These foods contain nutrients that will help feed your brain and keep it working properly.

You should also keep your body in shape by getting regular exercise.  If you are older and can’t move as much as you used to, try to get up and walk as much as you can, every little bit helps.

Along with exercising your body, take steps to exercise your mind.  Do puzzles that require accessing memories and using deductive reasoning like crosswords or Sudoku.  Studies have shown that people who do crosswords regularly are less likely to get Alzheimer’s disease. You can also make an effort to learn new skills and practice them regularly.  This will help keep your neurons firing and your mind in shape.

The key to preventing memory loss is taking action early.  The sooner you act, the more likely you are to be able to stop or slow memory loss.  There are also natural remedies to help prevent memory loss. Get more info on MemoRise for Improved Memory and Retention 

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