Boost your brain naturally

Wednesday, December 04, 2013 by: Kshamica Nimalasuriya MD, MPH
Tags: brain health, vitamin E, natural supplements

(NaturalNews) Healthy circulation to the brain region is a must for ultimate health and well-being. Studies have shown that brain nourishment along with healthy circulation has a direct impact on the performance of your brain. It's well known that brain functions tend to decline as we mature into our later years. However, the decline of brain functions can be delayed, or even reversed, by proper diet and/or supplementation sources.

All natural walnuts and flaxseeds contain two sources of omega-3 fatty acids which help make up your grey matter, the part of your brain responsible for cognitive function. Omega-3 fatty acids also aid in vision -- they help your brain translate information from your eyes into a visual image. You need a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids each day -- men need 1.6 grams and women need 1.1 grams, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Consuming a tablespoon of ground flax or flax oil provides you with 1.6 or 7.3 grams, respectively, while an ounce of English walnuts gives you 2.6 grams of omega-3s.

Natural Supplements for Brain Nourishment

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, we need to get 1.3 milligrams of vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, each day. Chickpeas also provide an excellent source of vitamin B6; they contain 1.1 milligrams of the vitamin per one-cup serving. A medium banana or a cup of baked winter squash each provide you with 0.4 milligrams of vitamin B6, while an ounce of dry roasted mixed nuts contains 0.1 milligrams. Adding plant-based sources of vitamin B6 to your diet also helps promote healthy brain function. You need pyridoxine to make neurotransmitters, the biochemicals your nerve cells release to communicate with neighboring cells. Getting enough vitamin B6 benefits your mental health, as vitamin B6 deficiency causes depression.

Vitamin E is also known to be critical in promoting optimal brain health. It could potentially benefit Alzheimer's patients, since it diminishes oxidative stress in the cerebrum. The cerebrum is rich in lipids which are vulnerable to oxidative damage from free radicals. Oxidative stress can truly harm memory capacity and the cerebrum. In the brain, cell reinforcement molecules like those in vitamin E and blueberries wage war against free radicals, which can harm the cerebrum and brain function. Vitamin E has been demonstrated to stall the demise of neurons in the brain. Basically, a good vitamin E supplement can moderate the rate of cognitive decline as the cerebrum ages.

When choosing your dietary needs, it's important to plan and select items that support having a balanced healthy lifestyle, especially during your latter years. Involving brain nourishment and healthy circulation throughout the body will help ensure that your brain is operating in an optimized manner.

Sources for this article include:

http://ods.od.nih.gov

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
Kshamica Nimalasuriya MD, MPH is a renowned Preventive Medicine Physician involved with merging Media with Health, Open-Source Education, Herbal Medicine, Fitness, Nutrition, Wellness, and Love. She works on many initiatives bridging the global digital divide of health care education.

She has developed her own line of organic skin care and herbal supplements at www.kshamicaMD.com

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