Boost Brain Health through the Benefits of Brain Supplements

Generally the benefits of brain supplements include the overall improvement of brain function. For 24 hours a day and seven days a week our brain doesn't stop working. Because of this the brain can suffer from significant damage or deterioration. Brain supplements can help prevent these damages and help improve brain function.

What Brain Supplements Do
What brain supplements primarily do is to improve brain function by maximizing certain processes within the brain. These supplements assist, boost, and improve the physiologic function of the brain to give optimum performance. Supplements do not treat or remove any disease in the brain, nor do they dramatically change a person's intelligence quotient or emotional intelligence.

The Benefits of Brain Supplements

Now that we know what brain supplements do and not do, we can now better understand what benefits it has on brain function.
• Brain supplements as a Source of Energy
In order to function, our brain requires a source of energy. In fact, our brain is one of the major organs that require energy. This is quite understandable since the brain is the central processing unit of the body. Almost all bodily functions are regulated by the brain. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the brain, and this glucose is regulated by insulin. Brain supplements that promote glucose metabolism (such as B vitamins) help the brain acquire more energy. When the brain has a steady source of energy, it can execute its function of solving problems, retaining and retrieving memory, and staying focused. In fact, certain studies show that when the brain is deprived of energy sources (calories), brain aging can happen rapidly.

• Brain Supplements Affect Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemicals found within the brain that regulate functions such as mood, behavior, eating patterns, sleep and energy levels. Dopamine for example is a neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of pleasure; serotonin is the neurotransmitter that enhances one's mood. Brain supplements with B vitamins and folic acids coupled with dietary sources can increase the levels of these neurotransmitters and in turn enhance one's mood or feeling of well-being. Furthermore these supplements can also increase the re-uptake of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Re-uptake is the phenomenon where the neurons in the brain are able to receive more neurotransmitters, thereby increasing their effect in functions such as mood, eating pattern, and emotion.

As a summary, the benefits of brain supplements target memory, learning, cognition, emotion and even a sense of well-being.

• Brain Protectors and Enhancers of Cognitive Function
Our brain cells are protected by myelin, a sheath that covers the neurons and protects it from potential damage. This protective feature is made up of fats or lipids; in fact almost 60% of the brain is made up of fats and this protective covering. Lipids play an important role in the structure of the brain and are also providers of chemical energy. Essential fatty acids, from where ALA and DHA are derived are important brain supplements that help protect the brain and boost brain function. Certain studies show that these fatty acids (DHA) enhance electrical signals between neurons, an activity that is said to be the basis for memory and learning.

Role Of Brain supplements In The proper Functioning Of The Brain

The remarkable ability of human brain to remember things increases as long as it receives the necessary oxygen supply and nutrients to function properly. But majority of the people are deficient of the required nutrients needed for a healthy brain. So, it has become a necessity that these nutrients should be obtained from supplements. Brain supplements are intended to create increased cell function in the brain to enhance memory, mental clarity and other brain functions.

Brain supplements can be used for a number of different mental issues. They protect the brain from potential toxicity, slow down or reverse aging process, improves concentration, memory retention, and increased brain functions. But these supplements are not intended to treat any brain disease or change the person IQ or emotional intelligence.

Importance of brain supplements:
Just like any other part of the body, aging causes brain to lose its functions and create problems including loss of memory, lower level of concentration, anxiety, stress, depression, bipolar disorders, or any other brain diseases.

Human bodies do not have the ability to regenerate neurons in the brain. So, to protect the brain from deteriorating, it is important that one should protect, nourish and exercise their brain regularly. Brain supplements play a crucial role in protecting and nourishing the brain. It contain certain substances that can help lower brain inflammation, improves blood circulation in the brain and encourage dendritic growth.

Brain supplements- what they do:
1. Source of energy:
Brain regulates almost all functions in the body, for which it requires an energy source in order to work properly. The primary source of energy for the brain cells is glucose which is regulated by a hormone called insulin. Certain supplements for brain promote glucose metabolism in the body which helps brain acquire more energy and function properly.

2. Affects neurotransmitters:
Neurotransmitters within the brain cells regulate human behavior, mood, sleep, energy levels and eating habits. Vitamin B and folic acid enriched brain supplements can increase neurotransmitter levels in the brain which in turn enhances mood or the feeling of well-being. In addition, these supplements can also enhance the re-uptake of neurotransmitters, thereby increasing brain functions.

3. Protects and enhance cognitive functions:
Around 60 percentage of the brain is made up of lipids. Lipids play a major role in the structure of the brain, provide chemical energy to the brain, and also protect the brain cells from potential damages. Brain supplements containing ALA and DHA derived from essential fatty acids helps protect the brain against deterioration and enhance brain functions. Research studies indicate that DHA enhance electrical signals between the neurons which is an activity known to be the basis for memory and learning.

Different brain supplements:
Different brain supplements may include chemical substances, vitamins, herbal extracts, and essential fatty acids as its main ingredient. These supplements are available for several different mental measures of the brain.

1. Chemical substances:

Certain chemical substances like coenzyme Q10, acetyl-L-carnitine, phosphatidylserine or aspirin are present in certain supplements which are used for proper functioning of the brain and brain health.

Coenzyme Q10 is very effective in the protection of brain against oxidative damages that is often linked to a number of brain diseases. Research studies indicate that coq 10 brain supplements are beneficial for patients suffering from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. Although Coq 10 is available in milk, cheese and beef, the amount of Coq 10 required by the brain is more than one may get from food sources. So, supplementation of Coq 10 is ideal in such conditions.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is found in the brain cells and is known to be a neuro- protective agent. It helps to repair damages in the mitochondria of the brain cells and protects the neurons, thereby resulting in improved brain function. Brain supplements having Acetyl-L-Carnitine also proves to be beneficial for people suffering from stroke or Alzheimer's disease.

Phosphatidylserine is a naturally occurring compound in the body and is responsible for construction and reconstruction of the brain cells. Brain supplements having phosphatidylserine improves concentration and memory.

Aspirin in brain supplements helps to improve blood circulation thus slowing down memory loss as well the risk of stroke.

2. Vitamins: The effect of vitamins on brain health and function is studied extensively which include:

Vitamin B: Vitamin B is beneficial to the body as it helps to keep the brain healthy. It helps increase the RBC's carrying oxygen to the grey matter of the brain resulting in increased memory. In general brain supplements should contain some form of Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12 to help improve proper functioning of the brain. Vitamin B1 is known to minimize the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin B6 is known to improve the conditions of people suffering from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or depression. Vitamin B12 is necessary for proper nerve functioning as its deficiency has been linked to variety of brain disorders including normal cognitive decline related to aging.

Vitamin C supplements can enhance memory, IQ and other mental functions in the body as it is involved in making neurotransmitters which affects mood.

Vitamin E is known to keep the brain healthy and prevents conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

3. Herbal extracts:
Various herbal extracts are also used in brain supplements which include ginko biloba, huperzine A, or bacopa. These herbal extracts helps to improve brain function and reduce problems associated with conditions of brain aging.
Herbal extracts like valerian, kava and chamomile are calming agents which reduce stress and anxiety, and enhances restorative sleep for a good mental functioning of the body.

4. Essential fatty acids:
An essential fatty acid, DHA present in fish oil and flax seed is related to a number of psychological problems. Brain supplements having DHA protects the brain cells from developing conditions like dementia, stroke, epilepsy, schizophrenia and other illnesses.

Almost all the supplements mentioned above can be easily obtained from food sources, but the amount of these ingredients needed for the brain to function normally is more than what they get from food sources. So, brain supplements are ideal in such cases.

Most of the brain supplements mentioned above work by oxygenating the brain cells, through integrating brains circuits more effectively or increasing metabolism. Antioxidant supplements protect the brain cells against oxidative damages due to free radicals just like they would in other parts of the body.