3 Supplements That Increase Brain Power

By Dr. Jonny Bowden

Do you sometimes feel like you're losing your mind? Forgetting things? Having a senior moment? Age-related memory loss is not something you have to accept. Instead, try supplementing your diet with three memory-boosting powerhouses.

1. Acetyl-l-carnitine

Acetyl-l-carnitine just may be a fountain of youth for your brain. It seems to delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline and improve overall cognitive function in the elderly. It also protects the brain from damage due to poor circulation, and it helps repair injured nerve cells. Research shows that people using recommended doses of Acetyl-l-carnitine (500 mg to 1,500 mg daily) for three months had a marked improvement in general cognitive function.

2. Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a member of a class of biochemicals called phospholipids. Although this nutrient occurs naturally in cell membranes, it's most concentrated in the brain. In well-documented studies, PS helped restore brain function and improve learning, name recall, concentration, face recognition, the ability to remember phone numbers, and the ability to find misplaced objects.

Brain health depends on PS for a number of important metabolic effects, and it makes it possible for nutrients to move freely in and out of the brain cells. To get the full benefit of this supplement, take it with some fish oil or some fatty fish like salmon or sardines.

3. Ginkgo Biloba

The overwhelming majority of research on ginkgo biloba has shown that it has a positive effect on thinking. Numerous double-blind studies indicate that ginkgo extract is effective in reducing the progress of dementia or the severity of its symptoms. Research has also shown that ginkgo modestly improves both memory and the speed of cognitive functioning.

The leaves of the ginkgo plant contain compounds called glycosides and terpenoids, which are believed to have memory-enhancing properties. Most important, ginkgo improves circulation to the tissues, notably the brain, and its powerful antioxidant action protects against memory-robbing cell damage from free radicals.

Some experts - including Dr. Al Sears - recommend against taking ginkgo long-term because they believe the results are not sustainable. Nonetheless, a six-week cycle of ginkgo with a few weeks off every so often should give you plenty of benefits.

Many "memory" formulas incorporate acetyl-l-carnitine and phosphatidylserine into one elegant formula, often with synergistic nutrients for maximum power. Look for Brain Vibrance, Brain Vitale, or BrainWave Plus.

[Ed. Note: Dr. Jonny Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition, and health. He's a board certified nutritionist with a master's degree in psychology, and the author of the best-selling book, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. For more information, go to www.jonnybowden.com.]

Word to the Wise: Bungalow

A "bungalow" (BUNG-guh-loh) is a small one-story cottage. The word is derived from the Hindi for "a low thatched house in the Bengal style."

Example (as used by art historian Russell Lynes): "The bungalow had more to do with how Americans live today [in the 20th century] than any other building that has gone remotely by the name of architecture in our history."
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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2208, 11-24-07], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.