Dr. Mercola 5 17 2012
Nine Ways to Make Yourself Smarter
Floor exercise helps brain function
Looking for ways to boost your intellect, stave off mental aging, and maybe even live a longer life? You might be surprised to learn that not only do such strategies exist, but many are easily attainable by making simple tweaks here and there to your daily routine. Embracing the strategies that follow may give a hearty boost to your brainpower, help you keep mentally healthy and ultimately even make yourself smarter.
You can impact your brain function and cognitive abilities by making simple tweaks here and there to your daily routine
Exercise and sound sleep are vital for your brain health, as are certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fats, coconut oil, vitamin B12, vitamin D, probiotics and more
Listening to music, challenging your mind, and even surfing the Internet can also give your brain a boost.
Dr. Wilson comments:
Thanks Dr. Mercola for another great article on how to keep our minds sharp as we age. Sometimes the key to maintaining optimal brain function is to change what we are doing and change is sometimes more difficult as we get older. I recently read Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit”. It’s an excellent book that outlines the neuroscience behind habits and it also provides a sensible roadmap for changing habits—something we all need to do at times.
In addition to vitamin B12 I recommend to my patients that they take l-methylfolate if their blood homocysteine is above 10. L-methylfolate is the only form of folic acid to cross the blood brain barrier and you need folic acid in your brain to make neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Blood homocysteine is a good marker for brain folic acid. If the level is high you don’t have enough folic acid in your brain.
I would also add the importance of avoiding excessive fructose mainly from sugar and HFCS and high glycemic carbohydrates mainly from grains. Over time this combination of food elements can be harmful to brain function triggering a condition called “Sugar-Brain”. The medical term for this condition is Carbohydrate Associated Reversible Brain syndrome or CARB syndrome. Learn more at: https://carbsyndrome.com.
I’m glad you mentioned coconut oil as an alternative energy source for the brain. I have used it for this purpose for years with excellent results. The amino acid l-glutamine is another safe supplement that can serve as an alternative source of energy for the brain. That’s one reason why it’s an effective way to suppress pesky carbohydrate cravings. Take l-glutamine powder or pills on an empty stomach between meals and watch your cravings melt away.
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