This vitamin also has another important effect: it protects the aging brain against vascular problems and can thus prevent strokes, cognitive decline and even make memory loss irreversible! How? By preventing homocysteine * - a harmful substance that narrows blood vessels and damages nerve cells - from building up in the blood. This guarantees the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Lipoic acid Alpha-lipoic acid is a kind of super anti-oxidant that is the only one that can regenerate itself and also helps other anti-oxidants (glutathione, vitamins E and C, con-enzyme Q10) to do this! Like vitamin C, it can cross the blood-brain barrier. The advantage of this is that it is quickly absorbed by the brain tissue and the brain can come to the aid of free radical attacks immediately. Lipoic acid also ensures that the energy production in the cells runs smoothly, so that fewer radicals are formed. It also protects the brain by regulating blood sugar. For example, lipoic acid can increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels; which also reduces the accumulation of harmful AGEs * in the blood vessels. Lipoic acid can even prevent memory loss by rejuvenating the receptors of nerve cells! Our body can produce lipoic acid itself, but its production decreases with age. Moreover, taking lipoic acid - which is rare in our diet - is also the only way to increase the level of that other super anti-oxidant, glutathione, in the brain. Coenzyme Q10 Coenzyme Q 10 is a substance that can protect us from the effects of normal aging. With a lack of Q10, the production of energy (ATP) in mitochondria * of the brain cells slows down, causing them to go into an energy crisis and start working less well. Q10 also works as an anti-oxidant and thus prevents fat in the cell walls from oxidizing. As we get older, our brains actually deprive of Q10 and, moreover, less is produced internally. Q10 is effective in combating various degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's due to its antioxidant activity and its ability to help produce dopamine *. Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo biloba, the extract of the leaves of the Ginkgo tree, is a successful remedy for age-related mental problems including memory and concentration loss, distraction, confusion, dizziness, ringing in the ears and Alzheimer's. This substance can trigger the growth of new receptors and promote the activity of the neurotransmitters. In addition, it increases the circulation of blood and therefore of oxygen and glucose in the brain, giving it a big boost. Ginkgo biloba, like all the aforementioned substances, also has a strong antioxidant capacity; it makes a number of very dangerous, inflammation-promoting free radicals harmless. Phosphatidylserine (PS) This fatty nutrient is found in the membranes of all our cells, but it is most concentrated in brain cells. Phosphatidylserine is a master at retrieving malfunctioning memories and can delay, halt or reverse memory loss due to normal aging. How does this work? PS activates and stimulates brain activity by improving glucose metabolism, giving cells more energy. The increased activity is also a result of PS's ability to improve message transmission (by affecting the composition of cell membranes) and to increase levels of the neurotransmitters acethylcholine * and dopamine * (needed for memory). Choline Choline is an amino acid that ensures development of the brain of the fetus in the womb and is also an important substance for infants. When there is a shortage of choline, cell division is delayed, so that the structure of the brain remains weak. Choline improves memory capacity because with sufficient choline the neurons in the hippocampus * (the memory center) work better. Choline helps build brains so well that age-related wear and tear doesn't lead to serious damage! In addition, choline is a precursor to acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter needed for encoding memories), so less acetylcholine weakens memory. Choline also plays a role in the structure of cell membranes and in the metabolism of the harmful homocysteine *. In short: choline is necessary for optimal brain function. St. John's wort St. John's wort is used against depression, including depression and sleeping problems and also for a winter dip. The herb probably works in the same way as antidepressants like Prozac, namely by regulating serotonin levels *. Too high a dose or overuse can be harmful! SAM-e SAM-e is the abbreviation for S-adenosyl methionine, a relatively new agent that is used against depression. It is a natural component of cells that our body produces from the amino acid L-methionine and ATP. SAM-e must be activated by folic acid and vitamin B12 to initiate reactions that promote the fluidity of cell membranes and the production of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin * and dopamine *. The nerve cells of our brain also need SAM-e as a raw material for glutathione, which has anti-inflammatory and brain-protective properties. As we age, the levels of both glutathione and SAM-e go down. By taking SAM-e, those levels will rise again. The big advantage of SAM-e is that, unlike other antidepressants, this substance works quickly and has no side effects.
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