Brain POWER

[Sardaukar]

Sadly, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, I dont have these in depth, philosophical thoughts that others do, I dont understand most things as well as others, and I am a slow learner. For someone cursed with an overactive, enquiring mind, this is very frustrating. However, I have found some handy nutrients that actually helped me get through some difficult exams. Anyway enough of that, nobody reads this shit anyway, here are some brain nutrients:

Omega 3,6,9 - these vital fats are essential for optimum brain function, as they form part of the structure of brain cell membranes. Make sure you take it in the optimum ratio, and ensure a high level of EPA and DHA

Ginkgo Biloba - helps to increase blood flow to the brain, usually takes a few weeks to start working.

Pantothenic acid - 100 -500mg
Choline 500 -1000mg
Phosphatidyl serine 30 - 100mg
DMAE 100 - 500mg
PABA (warning, this affects your mood, and could make you feel awesome,and its LEGAL) 50 -100 mg
pyroglutamate 250 - 750mg

synergy is the key, if you can find a supplement that contains these things in a capsule then take it, keep in mind that it will only be affective if you already eat healthily and supplement accordingly. Avoid coffee, as this affects the absorbtion of nutrients. So if you are studying, or just need a boost, try this advice, it can take some time to work, but when it does you will notice a MAJOR difference.

 

[Isabel]

Thanks for the info. And actually, I think it's good to be reminded regularly how nutrition affects us. When in depression, we tend to minimize or neglect the importance of a healthy lifestyle on our mental well-being.

 

[LightInTheDarkestNight]

Thanks for the info. And actually, I think it's good to be reminded regularly how nutrition affects us. When in depression, we tend to minimize or neglect the importance of a healthy lifestyle on our mental well-being.

I was told by a family member who was listening to a psychiatrist that many people are on anti depressants when if they did cardio for 30-45 minutes 5 times a week they wouldn't need to be on it.

Another herb that can help is called Ashwagandha or winter cherry it has a host of benefits.

For some people the effects can be sedating in higher doses therefore it's good to be taken before bed almost as a sleep aid for insomnia. For others in lower doses it can have almost a mild stimulating or invigorating effect.

There's another study relating it to being an adaptogen where men with low testosterone and sperm count it raised the testosterone level by 40% and people with a more normal level got a 15% raise taking 5grams over 3 months. The % withanloides plays into effect on this as well.

I've also read that it aid in restoring balance to the HPA axis and help people deal with adrenal fatigue by regulating cortisol, among one of it's effects.

Introduction to Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years. It has many applications, and has been used by Native Americans and Africans to treat inflammation, fevers, and to protect against infection or illness. It has also been used to boost the immune system, improve memory, and to promote overall wellness.

Ashwagandha is a shrub that flourishes in India and North America. The roots of the ashwagandha plant have been employed for millennia by Ayurvedic healers. Ashwagandha has many beneficial elements, including flavonoids and members of the withanolide class. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha shows great promise for being effective in reducing inflammation, decreasing stress, increasing mental activity, invigorating the body, and as an antioxidant.

Learn more about Ashwaghandha - This link will take you to Vitabase.com which sells a high quality ashwagandha product. You can save $5 a $25 purchase there by using the coupon code "fiveoff".

Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

Scholars at Banaras Hindu University, located in Varanasi, India, have conducted research that has shown that many of the elements of ashwagandha are antioxidants. The researchers looked at the effects these elements have on the brains of test animals and found that ashwagandha led to larger amounts of three different natural antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The scholars conclude, “These findings are consistent with the therapeutic use of W. somnifera as an Ayurvedic rasayana (health promoter). The antioxidant effect of active principles of W. somnifera may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects produced by them in experimental animals, and in clinical situations."

For years, Indians have prescribed ashwagandha as a treatment for cerebral disorders in the elderly, including memory loss. Scholars from the University of Leipzig looked at the effects of ashwagandha on the brain. They dosed rats with ashwagandha and then looked at their brains to see if ashwagandha affected neurotransmitters. The research showed that ashwagandha led to more acetylcholine receptor activity. The scholars concluded that the increase of activity in that particular neurotransmitter could account for the increase in cognitive ability and memory that is attributed to ashwagandha.

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center also looked at the effects of ashwagandha. They found that extracts of the shrub had activity that was similar to GABA, which could explain why the plant is effective in reducing anxiety.

Another study, conducted in 2002, found that ashwagandha leads to increased growth of axons and dendrites. Another study in 2001 found that the plant can enhance memory. A 2000 project indicated that ashwagandha reduced anxiety and depression in animals.