Sugar May Provide Sweet Memories
As you get older, your brain’s ability to retain new information slows down. So, you may have a hard time remembering the sermon you just heard or the article you read yesterday. But help may be as close as your kitchen in a surprising form – ordinary sugar.
A recent study examined the effects of glucose, or sugar, on elderly people’s memory. The test was done early in the morning before anyone had eaten breakfast. One group drank lemonade with sugar before taking the test, and another drank lemonade with saccharin. Researchers found that those who drank the sugar-sweetened drink performed better on memory tests a short time later.
In a related study, people who ate sugar just after reading something remembered it better a day later than those taking saccharin. Researchers aren’t sure exactly how sugar works in the brain to enhance memory but hope to find out more in the future.
This doesn’t mean you can eat all the sugar you want. Too much is still harmful. The important thing is to keep your blood sugar on an even keel. Don’t skip meals or wait too long between meals to eat. If you’re tired and cranky and have trouble remembering things, your blood sugar is probably low. Try the sweet approach tin the form of fresh fruit, a glass of orange juice or lemonade, or even a piece of hard candy. You might find the sweet success of remembering everything you want to.
Gear Up Your Memory With Gingko
Gingko is a popular herb in Europe and China, where it has been used for centuries to treat elderly people for problems of memory and thinking. Now, medical researchers in the United States are beginning to sing the praises of gingko to treat cerebral insufficiency, also known as dementia.
Confusion, absentmindedness, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss are some of the symptoms of this condition. It stems from a lack of blood flow to your brain. Medical studies show that gingko helps open up your blood vessels and get more blood flowing to your brain. As you age, that’s the kind of help your brain needs to work better. And there seem to be few, if any, side effects.
To give your brain a steady supply of gingko, experts recommend dividing your doses throughout the day. A dosage of 40 milligrams three times daily is a standard amount. Make sure to look for pure ginkgo biloba extract, also called GBE or GBX, instead of a formula with just a little ginkgo in it. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see improvement in your memory power right away. It takes several weeks for the gingko to show its effects.
Nutrients to Boost Your Brain Power
It can be annoying and frustrating when you can’t remember your best friend’s phone number or your car’s last oil change. But don’t automatically assume a memory lapse is a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Depression or other illness, stress, or even certain medications can all affect your memory. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can also cause memory problems.
If a vitamin deficiency is sabotaging your brain power, then simply getting more of the vitamin may solve the problem. Taking extra doses, however, probably won’t give you a super-charged memory if you didn’t have one before. These are some of the nutrients that will help boost your brain power and avoid memory problems:
Vitamin B12 and folic acid. If you don’t have enough of these two B vitamins in your body, your mind probably isn’t working at peak performance. A recent psychological study tested people between the ages of 75 and 96 for their ability to recall words. The people with the least vitamin B12 and folic acid in their blood had more trouble remembering than those with higher levels.
Another study showed that people with vitamin B12 deficiency may permanently lose brain power unless the deficiency is caught early. Those most vulnerable include people over age 65, alcoholics, vegetarians, people with digestive problems, or those who have recently had surgery or are under severe stress.
To make sure you get enough vitamin B12 in your diet, eat chicken liver or sardines, sirloin stead, tuna packed in water and cottage cheese. The best sources of folic acid are raw spinach, broccoli, and romaine lettuce. You can also get folic acid from oranges, calves’ liver, brewer’s yeast, whole grains, and beans and peas.
Vitamin B1 (thiamin). A lack of thiamin can make you tired, irritable, and nauseated. It can also affect your appetite, sleep, concentration, and memory.
Most people get enough thiamin from a healthy diet; young children and the elderly are more likely to be deficient. You may need extra thiamin if you take antibiotics, birth control pills, or sulfa drugs. This vitamin is also important if you are under unusual stress; have recently had surgery; or have kidney, liver, or thyroid disease. If you drink large amounts of alcohol, coffee, or tea or eat a diet high in carbohydrates or low in calories and nutrients, you should also make sure you get enough thiamin.
Brewer’s yeast and wheat germ are excellent sources of natural thiamin. Other good food sources are whole grains, seeds and nuts, peas and beans, lean pork, and salmon. If you prefer supplements, a B-complex vitamin can meet your need for thiamin as well as B12, folic acid, and the other B vitamins.
Vitamin C. A 20-year British medical study showed that people over 65 who lost some mental ability had a higher risk of death, especially from stroke. They also turned out to be the ones with the lowest Vitamin C intake.
Researcher speculated that the key was in the blood vessels of the brain. A high intake of vitamin C helps keep your blood vessels strong so your blood can circulate properly and nourish your brain. The result is healthier blood vessels, a lower incidence of stroke, and improved ability to think and remember.
To get more vitamin C naturally, you can eat more citrus fruits, broccoli, cantaloupe, strawberries, and sweet red peppers. If you want to take a supplement, a dose of 200 to 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily seems to be a safe amount.
Vitamin A (beta carotene). Beta carotene is a substance that is turned into Vitamin A in your body. Along with vitamin C, it’s an important antioxidant that affects your long-term mental ability.
A 22-year Swiss study measured the effect of certain nutrients on memory. Beta carotene proved to be a real asset in helping people retain their ability to think, reason, and remember.
It’s safest to get your beta carotene from foods, rather than supplements, since it can be toxic if you take too much. Spinach, turnip greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and cantaloupe are good natural sources.
© FCA Publishing
