Mental Focus

Before I started in the nutrition business, I had no idea how well certain nutrients could help people with mental focus.

Did you know how sophisticated supplements have become for brain function?

Years ago, the only nutrient I ever saw for focus was vitamin B12. It truly is a great vitamin, and taken in the right doses, it can help us think better and give us more energy. Later, supplements were created that added stimulants like caffeine and guarana. I have to say, I've never been a fan of these. They may provide an extra kick, but they can also cause the heart to race and blood pressure to rise. I don't think these are safe for the general population, especially older adults and people on medication.

But these days, we have more choices. In August of 2007, the Clinical Nutrition Journal published a new clinical trial showing that good multivitamin and mineral supplements help raise moods in elderly people, even if they had mild depression. In addition to these, I've been impressed with a supplement that comes from the periwinkle plant. It's called vinpocetine. It was discovered in the 1960's and became popular in clinical practice about 20 years ago. The idea behind using vinpocetine is because the brain needs plenty of oxygen and glucose to function properly. Clinical studies indicate that vinpocetine helps increase blood flow to the brain, increases oxygenation to the brain, and improves neurotransmitter function. There have been more than 100 clinical studies on vinpocetine performed on thousands of patients, and the main conclusion is that it helps increase concentration, attention, and memory in people of all ages.

I also like a supplement called procaine. Procaine creates a vitamin B cascade that helps generate choline and acetylcholine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain. Procaine has been used for decades in Europe for peak brain function. It's also been used for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disorders, moderate depression, and as an antioxidant.

Other supplements like Ginkgo and fish oil, as well as strategies like exercise and proper sleep can really keep your brain functioning well at any age.

Want more supplements and strategies for brain health? Give me a call or visit the Vinpocetine, Ginkgo Biloba, Fish Oil, Gerovital H3, and/or Vitamin B-Complex pages.

I'm Guy Evans, and now you know!