I don’t know about you but my brain feels tired of sorting through all the information and at the same time working/learning/doing business.

I can safely assume we all had quite a challenging time in the past three months and it looks like we are not quite out of the woods yet. 

We need some support for our brain – now more than ever. 

FUN FACTS

Did you know that your brain uses more energy than any other organ in your body? It weighs about 2% of your total body weight and it uses more than 20% of your body’s total energy. 

It’s important to know that your brain uses all the nutrients it can get – from food and supplements. It is the main control center of your body and needs to be active 24/7. Also, you most certainly want your brain to perform at its highest potential.

In addition to its cognitive function, your brain controls your metabolism, hormones, and orchestration of all your body functions. 

I have studied lots about the brain for a long time (a fascinating subject!) and the good news is there are quite a lot of ways to keep it healthy and even enhance its function.

I love staying sharp and focused all the time. Having brain fog is one of the most unpleasant feelings one can have. So I will concentrate today on cognition and focus. 

Let’s see how we can support brain function from a cognitive standpoint.   

NUTRITION

I love B (aka “Brain”) vitamins. Especially B12, Folate, and B6. And being a “vitamin snob” I tried many on the market and choose bioavailable forms vs synthetic. 

Let me tell you a few fascinating facts about B vitamins. First of all, it comes as a combo, and your nervous system absolutely needs it. Your serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitter production depends on them. Some prescription medication doesn’t work properly if you are deficient in them. And your brain just has to have them all. 

Poor nutrition, synthetic vitamin sources, and genetic insufficiency can lower your functional levels of B vitamins – one or many of them.

High homocysteine (toxic byproduct) levels adversely affect your brain function and can lead to brain deterioration. B vitamins help lower homocysteine levels, therefore, lowering your toxic load. 

The B vitamins are also known to easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Your brain regulates how much it needs and will uptake all available, even at the expense of your other organs.

The same goes for Vitamin C and Vitamin E due to their antioxidant activity. It sort of cleanses your brain from free radicals. The food sources of C are usually not enough, especially at times of infectious diseases, high demand for mental activity, and other challenges you might be facing. I prefer liposomal form for many reasons I listed in this blog post. 

BIOHACK ALERT. How to rapidly enhance brain performance. 

Two of my favorite supplements are:

Alpha-GPC 

L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine is a natural choline compound found in the brain. It rapidly delivers choline to the brain across the blood-brain barrier and is a biosynthetic precursor of acetylcholine. You can find good research on it that recommends taking 1000mg/day for superior cognition.

Neuro-Mag® Magnesium L-Threonate 

It supports healthy memory and cognition by optimizing magnesium levels in the brain. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions and 600 enzymatic reactions in the body — from cardiovascular and bone health support to energy metabolism, mood, and most especially cognitive function. Unfortunately, it’s hard to maintain optimal levels of magnesium in the brain. And that’s a problem since magnesium deficiency increases with normal aging. But because of its superior absorption into the bloodstream and nervous system, Neuro-Mag® provides the ideal form of magnesium for enhanced memory and cognitive function. (by Life Extensions)

Benefits at a Glance

• Supports healthy memory and cognitive function
• Optimizes magnesium in the brain
• Maintains the quantity and quality of synaptic connections between brain cells
• Supports important brain cell signaling pathways essential to cognitive health

Magnesium L-threonate is a unique form of magnesium that is delivered into the brain where it maintains the quantity of synaptic connections between brain cells and supports important brain cell signaling pathways essential to cognitive health. One of the key benefits of increased brain magnesium levels is improved memory.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

are extremely important for the brain function, because it is processing every experience we have and creates new neuropathways with the new experiences. The brain is neuroplastic, you have control on your thought process, reactions, and thoughts. 

That awareness might not be automatic at first and it requires awareness. However, when you put some work in and gained that level of control over your mind, it will be so amazing to experience that elevated sense of happiness. 

Learning and movement are two key components for brain health. I recommend:

Exercise and Dancing

WASH YOUR BRAIN

While you sleep, the glymphatic system starts detoxifying the brain of neurotoxic waste proteins, sort of doing an internal wash. It prevents the accumulation of amyloid (responsible for dementia).  

JUST A TOUCH ON THE DIET

I always recommend to my patients’ diet based on their functional nutritional test results, and if we don’t have it yet, it always will contain a substitution of processed foods with whole foods, elimination of sweeteners, the addition of a variety of flavors, and healthy fats.

Lately, I started eating a plant-based diet and experiencing a high level of quality mental and physical energy. There must be a correlation!

Based on your goals, especially athletic goals, your diet will vary but one thing is certain, it will always be rich in brain-boosting potential.

You can read more in my this blog post

I have many other Biohacks for your mental peak performance and more, so stay tuned as I will keep updating you with the best practical and scientifically-based information.

Stay tuned and discover “The True Story About Your Health”.

Disclaimer: This is a general information only. Consult with Dr. Maya Sarkisyan before altering or discontinuing any current medications, treatment or care, or starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health condition that requires medical attention.