The Right Supplements for a Healthy Brain and Cognitive Performance

Over the past two decades there has been a substantial increase in the consumption of natural brain supplements and their availability to customers in the marketplace. Occasionally though, the claims made by the suppliers do not match the quality of the ingredients or product itself. 

It is certain however that a healthy cognitive performance and brain nutrition develops to almost a necessity among groups of individuals that constantly strive to excel and perform at optimum levels. That being said, the number of brainsupplements available to the consumer will only increase, making it quite challenging to choose the right and most effective one.

This post aims to outline some of the most important and efficient ingredients that we need to search for when considering to buy or take a natural supplement for your cognitive performance. Our recommendation is that if a brain supplement does not contain at least some of the following ingredients, then search for something that does contain them.

The Right Supplements for a Healthy Brain and Cognitive Performance

1. Ginkgo biloba

One of the most efficient and effective natural supplements for brain health supporting healthy brainperformance. Always included in the best brain supplementsof the market, Ginkgo biloba has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.

Over the passage of time, Ginkgo biloba has been provedto successfully relieve various common conditions that affect cognitive performance such as dementia, memory loss, lack of concentration and focus, depression and anxiety.

In specific, the last couple of decades the scientific community has been employing Gingko biloba as a credible alternative solution to various common prescribed medications. Recent research studies even argued that the Ginkgo biloba extract could be taken not only for memory and concentration improvement but also for reducing altitude sickness, eye disorders due to ageing and damage done to internal organs caused by chemotherapy.

2. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)

If we could rank ALCAR, we would give it the first place along with Gingko Biloba. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (or ALCAR)is a brain booster amino acid that is naturally produced in the body and is an essential building block for proteins. The use of ALCAR over the years mainly covered age-associated mental disorders like Alzheimer’s and depression, while supporting reverse the brain damage caused byalcoholism and Lyme disease.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is key in assisting the body produce energy that is vital for brain performance, processing speed and efficient heart and muscle function. ALCAR is even used to improve men’s low testosterone levels that can result to libido loss or erectile dysfunction.

3. L- Theanine

Similarly to Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR), L-Theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has been evidencedto produce a large number of health benefits to body and mind over the years.

L-Theanine is considered to significantly improve cognitive and brain performance by neutralising the effects of anxiety and stress on the central nervous system. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that L-Theanine enhances immunity and resistance to multiple minor ailments while assisting the withdrawal of depression and prevention of obesity, as well as improving overall brain performance.

It should be taken into consideration that L-Theanine is most commonly found in the best brainsupplements seen in the market as well as in green tea. A few small research studies completed in the Far East support the overall health benefits to drinkers of green tea. However, the excessive amounts of green tea, e.g. more than 5 cups a day, may result to insomnia, headaches and mild bad temper. These effects are caused by the consumption of large amounts caffeine content found in green tea where this is not the case when it comes to L-Theanine.

4. Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B12 is an essential brain nutrient seen in almost all brain supplements and is responsible for maintaining the health of the central nervous system as well as theblood cells that deliver essential oxygen to the brain. Research has concluded that individuals lacking the sufficient amounts of Vitamin B12 in their diet, may develop memory loss and inability to recall properly, body fatigue and mild forms of psychosis.

Vitamin B12 can be found in foods such as dairy, eggs, fish, liver, chicken and other poultry; so make sure to eat healthy and support your diet with a natural brain supplement.

5. Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B6 is a key nerve assisting nutrient that can be found in a wide variety of foods. It helpsdefend the immune system of our body while producing both serotonin and dopamine; essential neurotransmitters that regulate our mood. Research studies have shown that Vitamin B6 supplementscan help prevent depression and anxiety as well as other types of mood dysfunctions or even Parkinson’s disease.

Vitamin B6 can also be found in vegetables that contain starch like potatoes or non-citrus fruit like bananas, fish and red meat.

6. Other key ingredients

Otheramino acids or vitamins to look for either in foods that are part of your diet or in nutrition supplements are: L-Tyrosine, L-Methionine, Choline, Omega-3 (Fish Oil),Vitamin B-5 and Vitamin B9.

 

Choosing the Right Brain Supplement

The list of ingredients provided above is the most extensively researched and easily available but by no means absolute or definite, which means that there are many more brain boosting amino acids and vitamins that can increase cognitive performance.

When it comes to brain boosting supplements containing either amino acids or vitamins (or both), our recommendation is to research as much as you can. We all have different metabolism thus responding differently to certain vitamins or amino acids based on our physical or mental complexity. As a results, when research for and buying brain or nutrition supplements try to make certain that most of ingredients listed above are contained in your final product choice.