NeuroTalk Support Groups - List of Best Food and Vitamins for the Brain

Here is a list of food and vitamins that are good for the brain:

1.Water. Dehydration raises stress hormone levels,
causing serious brain damage. Drink at least ten glasses
of water a day.

2. Fish. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, is the
main component of brain synapses. A lack of omega-3
has been shown to diminish intellectual performance
and is linked with dementia. If you don't eat fish,
omega-3 is also found in walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and
flax seeds. In addition, you can take it as a supplement;
1000 mg a day is what we recommend. (For a list of the
best fish to eat, click here.)

3. Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables. The best of
these, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
are blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries,
spinach, raspberries, brussels sprouts, plums, broccoli,
beets, avocados, oranges, red grapes, red bell peppers,
cherries, and kiwis. Five servings a day of fruits and
vegetables is recommended.

4. Complex Carbohydrates. For energy, your brain needs
fuel, and the best choice is glucose. Complex
carbohydrates, such as whole grains, starchy vegetables
and fruits digest slowly, providing a steady supply.

5. Green Tea. Ingredients in green tea (and to a lesser
extent, black tea) slows the build-up of plaque in brains
from amyloid deposits. Drinking tea is associated with
mental alertness.

6. Eggs - Free Range are best... Eggs are rich in choline, a
fat-like B vitamin, which has been shown to enhance
memory and minimize fatigue.

7. Alpha Lipoic Acid. This powerful supplement is both
water and fat soluble, meaning it enters all parts of cells
to neutralize free radicals. It is the only antioxidant
supplement that can easily get into the brain. There is
some evidence it is useful in the prevention of strokes.

8. Acetyl L Carnitine. This is an essential contributor to
the production of the neurotransmitter "acetylcholine,"
which is required for mental function. Double-blind
clinical trials suggest acteyl-L-carnitine delays the
progression of Alzheimer's disease and enhances the
overall performance of people with the disease.

9. Phosphatidylserine (PS). Stimulates cells in your brain
to make new dendrites and axons. People who take PS
remember more names, faces, phone numbers, and
written information.

10.Fermented Soy, fermented soy products facilitates
better blood flow throughout the body.

Best Brain Food Vitamins

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is found in
all cells, but is most highly concentrated in the walls
(membranes) of brain cells, making up about 70% of its
nerve tissue mass. There it aids in the storage, release and
activity of many vital neurotransmitters and their
receptors. Phosphatidylserine also aids in cell-to-cell
communication.

Phosphatidylserine is involved in the upkeep and
restoration of nerve cell membranes. Among its list of
functions, phosphatidylserine stimulates the release of
dopamine (a mood regulator that also control physical
sensations, and movement), increases the production of
acetylcholine (necessary for learning and memory
enhancement), enhances brain glucose metabolism (the
fuel used for brain activity), reduces cortisol levels (a
stress hormone), and boosts the activity of nerve growth
factor (NGF), which oversees the health of cholinergic
neurons.

Research has shown that dietary vitamin
supplementation with phosphatidylserine may slow and
even reverse the decline of learning, mood, memory,
concentration, word recall related to dementia or age-
related cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly
subjects.

Related phosphatidylderin supplement product: VITA-
MIND Vitamins

Acetyl L-Carnitine-ALCAR
Acetyl L Carnitine (ALCAR) a natural remedy super
antioxidant, occurring form of L-carnitine that
specifically benefits the brain. ALCAR helps supply the
brain with energy by improving energetics in the
mitochondrion, the cell's energy generator. ALCAR
promotes biosynthesis of acetylcholine, a key
neurotransmitter for brain and nerve function. Acetyl-L-
Carnitine has been shown in clinical studies to benefit
cognitive ability, memory and mood.

Acetyl-l-Carnitine is an amino acid the body uses to turn
fat into energy. It is not normally considered an essential
brain food nutrient because the body can manufacture
all it needs. However, supplemental carnitine may
improve the ability of certain tissues to produce energy.
This effect has led to the use of carnitine in various
muscle diseases as well as heart conditions.

Be good to your brain....You only get one of them.

Nick