Most of us use
only 5 percent of our brain power. It may be possible to
enhance the brain power by using the remaining part of
the brain to increase mental clarity and enhance memory.
Many substances have been shown directly or indirectly to
affect the brain cells to make them fuction more
effficiently. Since ages people had been curious to find
out means to increase memory. Some of the substances said
to affect the brain power are :-Alpha Lipoic Acid : It is an
antioxidant that fights free radicals in both the watery
and fatty areas of the body. Animal-based research
demonstrates that ALA protects brain cell membranes from
free-radical damage and improves long-term memory in
aging animals.
Phosphatidylserine : PS is a
vitamin-like substance used by the body to help build and
maintain healthy brain cells. It sharpens the mind by
helping the brain's nerve cells function better including
generation, storage, transmission and reception of nerve
impulses.
Huperzine
A: Huperzine A is a naturally occurring compound
found in club moss, a plant used in traditional Chinese
medicine. In recent years, Chinese researchers have
discovered that a purified and standardized extract of
Huperzine A enhances memory and learning in animals. In
human studies, the compound has been shown to increase
clearheadedness, memory and language ability in
Alzheimer's patients.
Acetyl
L Carnitine : ALC molecules are
found naturally throughout the body. It is thought to
improve communication between the right and left
hemispheres of the brain, thereby promoting intuitive and
balanced thinking.
Coenzyme
Q10 :
This vitamin-like nutrient found in every cell of the
body is thought to safeguard sharp thinking by protecting
mitochondria (a cell's power centers). Mitochondria are
prime targets of free-radical damage, and CoQ10 may be
one of the few nutrients that provide protection for
these delicate and important cell structures.
Docosahexaenoic
Acid :
The brain is more than 40 percent fat, much of it DHA.
DHA, found in fish oil, makes brain cell membranes more
fluid which may help sharpen mental acuity. In Japan,
students frequently take DHA pills before exams to
improve their academic performance. DHA is also critical
for the early development of the brain especially in the
three months prior to and following birth, the time of
most rapid brain growth.
Ginko
Biloba :
Ginko Biloba is supposed to stimulate intellect by
increasing the availability of oxygen to the brain. It
has benificial effect on many fuctions of brain such as
alertness, memory and intellectual capacity.
Brahmi:
This traditional ayurvedic herb has been widely used in
India for more than 3,000 years to build and improve
mental performance. The herb is safe for use by healthy
people of all ages. In India, brahmi tea is given to
infants starting in their first month of life to
encourage optimal mental development.
Ashwagandha
:
Ashwaganda is believed to nurture and clear the mind
while calming and strengthening the nervous system.
Ginseng
: This
powerful herb has been used traditionally to enhance
memory and sharpen mental acuity. It is a mild stimulant
so it is sometimes recommended for people feeling
lethargic or having trouble concentrating.
Rosemary : The long-standing
herbal tradition of rosemary for remembrance has
persisted for at least five centuries. This may be
because rosemary contains more than a dozen antioxidant
compounds, and studies show that the herb exerts its
antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals.
Gotu
Kola :
Ayurvedic physicians in India claim that gotu kola can
increase intelligence, memory and longevity.
Antioxidants : Free radicals,
implicated in heart disease, cancer and various other
serious ailments, also can have a negative effect on the
brain. The brain may bear the brunt of free-radical
attacks since it is rich in fatty acids, and it uses
large quantities of oxygen (a potential source of free
radicals). Antioxidant nutrients such as Vitamine C,
Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, immobilize dangerous free
radicals before they have a chance to damage brain cells.
B-
Complex :
The B vitamin family is critical to proper brain
function.
B1 ( Thiamin ) helps the brain efficiently utilize
carbohydrates for mind fuel
B3 ( Niacin ) may help improve memory, protect against
stress and blood clotting, and help prevent strokes.
B5 ( Patothenic Acid ) may increase stamina as well as
help during times of stress.
B6 ( Pyridoxine ) is essential for production of the
brain's chemical messengers (or neurotransmitters):
norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine.
B12 ( Cobalamin ) may relieve stress and fatigue in the
brain because it helps release the energy found in food
for use by the brain. It is also linked to the production
of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that affects
memory and learning.
Folic
Acid ::
Also known as folate, this important vitamin helps the
body produce the category of neurotransmitters called
catecholamines. A lack of these chemicals can cause
depression, anxiety and an inability to concentrate.
Iron
: Iron
is essential for clear, uncluttered thinking. By helping
the blood form hemoglobin, the substance that carries
oxygen from the lungs to the brain, iron enhances memory,
learning, reasoning and judgment.

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