Chances are, if you are worried about your memory and if you wake up most mornings lacking motivation, feeling moody and fatigued, then you may not be feeding your brain what it needs to fight back against decline!
The chemical signals in our brain feed off what we eat and are essential for quality of life, mental health, and our ability to store and recall memories. The right food helps us be more focused and more productive. The right nutrients, found in food and in supplements, helps us to live our best life, stay active and keep decline at bay. But, when our diet is rich in foods that are not good for our body or brain, we are susceptible to declines in social, physical, mental, and brain health. In fact, dietary deficiencies have been linked to mental health and neuropsychological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia, Parkinson’s, and other chronic medical disorders.
The brain’s chemical balance provides the focus and drive that we need to be motivated and to stay active. The right nutrition can help our brain’s decision-making systems, mental health, and plays a remarkable role in our ability to concentrate, learn, store, and recall memories. The right nutrients can keep up mentally sharp.
But what does nutrition have to do with the chemical balance in our brains? Without the right balance of the right brain chemicals and nutrients, the brain suffers and cannot optimally perform (i.e., store and recall memories and make good decisions).
Add Magnesium To Your Diet For a Healthier Brain
According to multiple studies, it is now known that people of all ages should be paying closer attention to their magnesium intake. Foods that are rich in magnesium have been found to reduce the risk of cerebral atrophy (brain shrinkage). Magnesium-rich foods include—dark leafy greens, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains, nuts, dark chocolate, yogurt, avocados, bananas, and more.
Adding more magnesium into your daily diet will lead to improved brain health as you age. Researchers from the Neuroimaging and Brain Lab at The Australian National University have stated that increased intake of magnesium can also help to reduce the risk of developing the mind-robbing disease of dementia. Their extensive studies have shown that an increased intake in cognitively healthy participants ages 40-73 showed their brain age to be up to one year younger as compared to a person who consumes normal levels.
In addition to magnesium-rich foods, magnesium supplements are available and essential for healthy brain activity, improved learning and memory, and reduction of chronic stress. Magnesium supplements can help to replenish the levels your body and brain needs to flourish. Keep in mind that not all magnesium supplements are created equally and finding the one that is most effective can be taxing. Here are some tips to help you find the right supplement to add into your daily routine.
- Look for a magnesium supplement that contains between 5 to 10 mg. of zinc.
- Avoid magnesium oxide.
- Avoid calcium.
- Avoid fillers and additives.
Here are three more important supplements to start taking on your journey towards preventing decline:
CoQ10:
Not only is CoQ10 the #1 recommended heart healthy supplement, CoQ10 may also offer benefits to the brain that include improved memory, overall cognitive function, and mood.
CoQ10 by Preventing Decline provides the antioxidant support your heart and brain need to function at its best. One (1) CoQ10 supplement per day with food and water is all you need to help support heart function, energy metabolism, and protect you from the oxidative stress that damages heart and brain cells.
CoQ10 is a natural antioxidant found in organs with the highest energy needs, including your heart and brain. This supplement helps fight the damaging effects of free radicals throughout the body, heart, and brain.
Any adult who is looking to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and improve memory and cognitive function should consider taking CoQ10 supplement on a daily basis.
Omega-3:
Regular intake of Omega-3 fatty acids may increase learning, memory, cognitive well-being, and blood flow to the brain. Omega-3 supplements are advantageous and often well-tolerated.
Preventing Decline’s Omega-3 fish oil is designed to support brain function, including memory and mood. Less than 1/3 of older adults consume enough omega-3 fish oil to meet the IS Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Omega-3 fish oil supports key functions throughout the body, including your brain and in your eyes. When you take omega-3 fish oil to prevent decline, it is incorporated into all of your cell membranes and provides the structural support and integrity your cells need to properly function and communicate across the lifespan.
Vitamin B Complex
Depression, dementia, and mental impairment are often associated with vitamin B deficiencies. Vitamin B complex supplements can significantly reduce the rate of declining memory in older adults.
Vitamin B complex provides the foundational support for your whole body health by supporting energy metabolism and brain cell function. Vitamin B complex helps the brain and body cells produce the energy it needs to function properly. These essential nutrients are vital for onerous system function, including the systems that support memory, processing, and attention. Proper intake of vitamin B complex is vital for those who experience low-energy, eat plant-based diets, and have concerns of decline in memory and can help provide the essential B vitamins you need and may be lacking in your diet. Let’s all do our part to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this heart wrenching diagnosis. Be vigilant. Be educated. Be thoughtful. Be healthy. Do this by continuing to monitor your hearing and brain health and help your loved ones to do the same.
