What differentiates a human being from animals? You guessed that right, our highly equipped brain. The human brain is no less than a miracle. It surpasses the capabilities of all machines made to date.
The brain matures with age, making life easier and easier along the way. But then comes a time when this uphill motion stops. The brain starts to slowly experience a cognitive decline along with a deterioration of its capabilities.
The maintenance of the brain becomes a task as and when it refuses to comply. It becomes slow in conveying bodily processes and loses out on efficiency. This is the fright and plight of many adults.
Although is a fair share of individuals who have perfectly functioning brains for their age, but yet find the need to increase their brainpower. Common reasons for this could be workload, career ambitions, catching up with deadlines, multitasking, etc.
Due to medical advances, we are now aware of several ways to stop this cognitive decline. In fact, if you want to access the hidden potential of your brain, there are ways to do that too. The most prevalent ones include foods that positively impact brain health, and brain supplements. In this article, we will cover some of the best brain supplements for adults.
Brain supplements are either natural or have to be taken separately. The second type is called Brain Boosters. These enhance mental clarity and help gain better control over one’s brain. Hence, the overall functioning of the brain is catalyzed to increase concentration, focus, memory retention, and mental capacity.
The process of choosing good brain supplements can be tedious for a layman. A lot of factors have to be taken into account. To reduce the burden on our Best readers, we have curated a list of some of the best brain supplements available in the market:
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid compound. It is a major component of cell membranes in the body and is also found abundantly in the brain. As a result, it is beneficial in preserving brain health.
The benefits of consuming PS supplements include:
It finds an avid use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as it is a mental performance-enhancing drug. Although it does not generally cause side effects, rare cases of insomnia or an upset stomach could occur.
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a type of omega 3 fatty acid and is vital to improving one’s brain health. It forms a major component of the fat in brain cells.
The health benefits of DHA supplements include:
DHA supplements are helpful for people having who are experiencing fogginess in their minds. Although consumption of these is generally safe, side effects like heartburn or nausea may occur.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is often abbreviated as ALCAR. It is a naturally produced amino acid in the body, responsible for metabolism. When taken in calculated amounts and in the form of brain medicine, it plays the role of a therapeutic agent.
ALCAR can:
ALCAR finds its use in treatments for mild dementia and Alzheimer’s, while also being beneficial for people recovering from traumatic brain injury. Although it is mostly safe for use, side effects like nausea and headache may prevail.
Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol compound. It is an antioxidant that is naturally present in the red/purple skin of fruits like grapes.
The effects of resveratrol supplements include:
Resveratrol prevents deterioration of the hippocampus (part of the brain). It also lowers the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Additionally, it can restrict obesity from worsening. No harmful side effects of resveratrol are known as yet.
It is a natural substance found in meat that turns into creatine phosphate in the body. Creatine supplements are perfect for vegetarians as this could be an easy channel to achieve the recommended amounts of creatine.
The benefits of Creatine are:
Creatine supplements are easily accessible and do not require a prescription. They come in various forms and are available at most drugstores, even online. However, it may cause side effects like anxiety and fatigue.
Ginkgo Biloba is an herbal substance that increases blood flow to the brain and acts as an antioxidant. The greater the blood flow to the brain, the quicker the brain can give/receive signals and perform mental and physical actions. It is available as pills, liquid extracts, and even as a dried leaf for teas.
Benefits of its use are:
It is also used for the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s, but it shouldn’t be used with antidepressants. Consume these supplements only after professional advice as the drug interactions with your existing medicinal palette could be several.
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is a type of omega 3 fatty acid that plays a great role in improving brain health. Although it requires a prescription for use as supplements, there are OTC versions. You can even consume EPA by including fish/fish oil in your diet.
The benefits of EPA are:
It also finds use in a variety of treatments, including in the suppression of chemotherapy-related side effects. Patients struggling with depression and post-surgery recovery also benefit from EPA.
Are you facing the stress of meeting stringent college or office deadlines? Are you working on a venture that requires utter focus for prolonged durations? Well, the diversity in brain supplements leaves you with hundreds of options. Depending on whether you’re looking for heightened awareness, faster memory retention, sharper concentration, or greater mental capacity, there are brain supplements for all such purposes.
Make a choice considering your precise needs. Also, ensure that none of the brain supplements you choose can interact with existing medications.
