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My Favorite Supplements: Brain Food Part II

Me not on brain food having lunch with a friend: "Uh, remember that movie, uh, it starred - oh, you know, that tall old guy who also directs. He did an award winning western and plays the piano. You know who I mean. Anyway, in this movie he plays an alcoholic reporter who discovers that a guy on death row is innocent. He's played by, uh the black guy from, uh, that ditsy medical drama on Thursday nights, uh. (Desperate, now) Oh, yeah, Grey's Anatomy! You know the one I mean? (Notice that friend's eyes are glazed over.) He was fired for dissing the gay actor on the show at the Emmys. Anyway, you really ought to see it." (Deflated and embarrassed)

Me on brain food having lunch with a friend: "Remember that movie True Crimes? It was really a good one. It starred Clint Eastwood as an alcoholic reporter trying to free an innocent death row inmate played by Isaiah Washington. You really ought to see it." (Smart, with it, happy, acting like a quantum computer)

Last time I talked about three of my favorite brain food supplements: Acetyl-L- Carnitine, Phosphadityl Serine and Phosphadityl Choline. Here are some more brain goodies, most of which I take on a daily basis so I can discuss movies without sounding like an imbecile.

Glycerophosphocholine or GPC: I started taking 3 per day in the morning a few months ago and felt an immediate lift in vitality and spirits. It felt like a magical body-mind infusion and I vowed to stay on it forever, selling my grandchildren, if need be, to Thai overlords so that I could buy my "drug." However, you will be happy to hear that they are safe. I took 900 mgs a day for 4 bottles worth (240 caps) then my body decided it had had enough of the high dose, so I cut back to 1 per day or 300 mgs, which is where I am now.

GPC goes far beyond just being a brain nutrient; rather it is a nutrient for vitality, improved quality of life and longevity. It helps the brain, though, by allowing an instant infusion of acetylcholine, our primary memory neurotransmitter. GPC not only assists you with feeling physically wonderful but it also allows you to have the mental energy to just maybe want to find out who or what a Leighton Meester is. (O.K. No.) I use Designs for Health GPC.

Carnosine: This amino acid, found in meat and seafood, is not only good for our brains, but for our muscles and for blood sugar regulation. You can increase your carnosine with exercise. But, no matter what we do, our endogenous levels of carnosine drop as we age, especially in our heart muscle. At Ohio University a study was published starring our friends the rats. They found that the carnosine levels in the heart and skeletal muscle of the rats fell over 40% as they aged which makes me think that supplemental carnosine could be an answer to the inexplicable fatigue that some older people feel. The brain also depends on carnosine for optimum function and it is now being researched as a preventive for Alzheimer's. It is suggested that for normal use i.e. no heart issues, that we take 500 mgs per day, long term, of this amino acid. I use Designs for Health Carnosine and take 500 mgs. per day.

Vinpocetine: This is a derivative of the periwinkle plant which helps you recall new information more easily and to feel more focused. This product has been tested extensively in Europe and it's been used there for over 20 years. One study showed that in elderly patients with serious memory impairment, 100% of the vinpocetine group scored better in memory tests after just 3 months compared to the placebo group. It enhances circulation and oxygen uptake to the brain and is especially indicated in the early dementias from arteriosclerosis. I don't take this one, but might some day just to see how sassy it makes me feel. Thorne has Vinpocetine straight or Vinpocetine in a wonderful ingredient combination called Memoractiv which in addition to the vinpocetine includes Acetyl-L-Carnitine, ginkgo Phytosome, bacopa and phos serine.

Gingko biloba: Everyone has heard of this one, and a goodie it is, too. It's wonderful for the immediate infusion of brain energy and is perfect for taking just before an exam. It, like Vinpocetine, is good for brain circulation, and floods your brain with energy and speeds up mental performance. However, GB is also a great antioxidant for the brain and protects your most favorite organ from free radical damage. This makes Gingko and Vinpocetine somewhat similar in action. I use a very powerful Gingko from Medi-Herb in Australia and I will take one or two every now and again, when I am working, just for that sparkly, fizzy feeling in my brain. Taking GB feels like someone blew cool, fresh air into my over-heated, laboring frontal lobe.

Bacopa: This is an ancient ayurvedic botanical which supports cognitive function, most specifically enhancing learning and memory. I have heard that while gingko is great for short term memory, bacopa is best for long-term memory, so you need to take this one for awhile to feel the good effects. Bacopa also boosts the neurotransmitter, GABA. Thorne has Bacopa straight or in a wonderful product called Nutri-ADD, which is designed to promote greater mental focus and learning. This is a great product for kids with learning and attention problems and for the distracted elderly.

I don't know why and no one seems to be able to tell me, but all brain food - at least the brain food that works - is expensive. I research it all and stock only the purist and best (mostly pharmaceutical grade) that I can find, not the cheapest. Be ready to spend a lot if you decide to develop a cognitive support program.

Here are more things to do to avoid being a breathing vegetable in a nursing home: Eliminate sugar, regulate your insulin and glucose, lose weight, reduce consumption of animal fat, regulate your hormones, eat less, exercise, take antioxidants and brain food, eliminate alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, take minerals, avoid aluminum, eliminate or control your mental and emotional stress.

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