Your Brain – how to maximize that incredible muscle

Submitted by support on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 03:09

Your Brain – how to maximize that incredible muscle (for more information click here)

 This article presents on two levels. You can either read it for the more in-depth information or you can simply go to the end and find out what you want to eat or take to enhance your mental capacity.

 To begin with, we look at the difference between knowledge and intelligence. Then we will look at the molecules that enhance the capacity of neural functioning.

  • a) Intelligence is a broad spectrum of mental capacity. People, in general, develop their intelligence up till the ages of 15 – 20 years of age and then stop. From here on in, they accumulate knowledge at the level of intelligence that they obtained.
  • b) Knowledge, on the other, hand is data. You accumulate data at the level of intelligence you have acquired. Rote memory, the capacity to remember pieces of information, is predominantly what you are taught in school.
  • c) Intelligence involves developing capacities like : hypothetical reasoning; objective perspective, critical analysis, abstract reasoning, strategic reasoning; etc

 Each of these variables can be developed in an of themselves

Intelligence can be compared to working with numbers; do you function at the level of:

  • i. Arithmetic
  • ii. Mathematics
  • iii. Algebraic
  • iv. Calculus
  • v. Manovas
  • vi. Canonicals
  • vii. Non-decimal systems

Each level requires an increased intellectual capacity, ie., rote memory only requires arithmetic thinking

Now what can you do to increase your level of functioning:

  1. work with mental exercises that challenge your current capacity
  • a. your brain is similar to your body, ie., it requires movement and it requires nutrient
  • b. work with a healthy diet that supports your liver and your brain
  • c. note: your liver supports your brain

      2.  again your brain is like your body:

  • a. healthy foods; healthy nutrition; supports healthy function
  • b. and like your body, it is designed such that it will keep compensating for what it doesn’t have, until it crashes and you start having symptoms
  • c. see below for specific foods that enhance brain function

     3.  work with supplements that further support your brain functions

     4.  see below for specific herbs and supplements

Memory Boosters: Molecules, Herbs, Foods

Molecules:

a) Choline

  • a. Choline is an essential molecule required for:
  •     i. Structural integrity of a cell (structure of the membrane)
  •     ii. Signaling (communication) between cells
  •     iii. Acetycholine (neurotransmitter) synthesis (production) needed to produce     SAMe     natural anti-depressant) 
  • b. Wilson AD, Hart A, Brännström T, Wiberg M, Terenghi G (2007). "Delayed acetyl-L-carnitine administration and its effect on sensory neuronal rescue after peripheral nerve injury". Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 60 (2): 114–8. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2006.04.017. PMID 17223507.

b) Phosphatidylcholine

  • a. The basis of lecithin – used as a pharmaceutical in bipolar disorders
  • b. Important in cell communication
  • c. Important in the activation of many enzymes
  •     i. At birth – it is about 90% of the cell membrane
  •     ii. This deteriorates throughout life
  •     iii. Deficiency is involved in dementia
  • d) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidylcholine

 c) Glutathione

  • a. Protects the brain from oxidative stress and inflammation
  • b. Master Endogeneous, anti-oxidant, that eliminates oxidative stress; recycles itself and recycles other anti-oxidants
  • c. Also an anti-inflammatory, chelator, protects the DNA from becoming cancerous; protects the Mitochondria that produces the fuel for the cell; is a protein transport system; regulates hormones and nitric oxide;
  • d. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12717677

d) Acetyl – l – carnitine, carnitine (aka Vitamin B 20)

  • a. Acetyl – l – carnitine is made from Carnitine
  • b. Enhances the body’s capacity to use fats
  • c. Acts as an anti-oxidant in the brain
  • d. Might be useful in treating peripheral nerve injury

e) Inositol (some link it with B vitamins, but it is an important sugar molecule)

 f) B12 (a water soluble vitamin important in brain and central nervous system function)

  • a. Deficiencies cause manic reactions and psychosis
  • b. Involved in cellular metabolism
  • c. Effects DNA synthesis (production) and regulation
  • d. Involved in fatty acid production and energy production
  • e. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.12

 g) B5 (a water soluble vitamin)

 h) Omega 3s

Herbs: Note: with any herb, there are many different species, contact an informed health practitioner to understand the species required; the dosage; and the application

1) Ashwagandha

 2) Bacopa (also known as Brahmi)

3) Ginkgo biloba

 4) Ginseng : note three major types of ginseng are studied

5) Red Reishi : like other Chinese mushrooms – full of beta glucans

Foods: eggs, fish, legumes, nuts, meats, vegetables, whole grains, avocados, Greek yogurt

 

Additional References:

1. ^ Hamilton JW, Li BU, Shug AL, Olsen WA (July 1986). "Carnitine transport in human intestinal biopsy specimens. Demonstration of an active transport system". Gastroenterology 91 (1): 10–6. PMID 3710058.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetyl-L-carnitine

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidylcholine

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B-5

5. Brain Res. 2006; Wurtman RJ, Ulus IH, Cansev M, Watkins CJ, Marzloff G. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, Cambridge, MA

6. 26 June 2000 - Volume 11 - Issue 9 - p 1981-1985

7. Neuropharmacology: Dendrite extension by methanol extract of Ashwagandha (roots of Withania somnifera) in SK-N-SH cells

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