Do you pop vitamins for memory improvement?
For many people around the world, dumping hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per year on the hope that pills in a pretty package will lead to a boost in memory is a common habit.
Sadly, many seniors believe that it is essential to take nutritional supplements to combat against age related memory loss, brain fog, everyday forgetfulness or to deter the onset of Alzheimer's or dementia.
But falling for that ruse isn't just for the older generations.
Even for the young and healthy amongst us, it is not uncommon to take vitamin pills in an attempt to improve retention or recall of information, learn a new language or excel in studies.
The question is…
How vital are memory enhancing pills?
Before we look at the answer, take a quick peek at the truth about the best supplement for memory and concentration:
It has long been argued that regularly eating foods rich in vitamins and daily exercise is the best way to maintain a healthy body and mind.
Can vitamin supplement pills that help with memory be an easier option to provide the same nutrients to your body and mind?
Let's find out.
What The Heck Are 'Vitamins' Anyway? An Astonishing History
Vitamins are a group of organic compounds – different from fats, carbohydrates and proteins – that nourish our body and are essential for our growth and functioning. We usually get them through the food we eat.
More importantly, research shows that vitamins are important to maintain brain health.
Check this out:
"In particular, research over the past 5 years has provided exciting evidence for the influence of dietary factors on specific molecular systems and mechanisms that maintain mental function." That's from Dr. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a leading authority on nutrition and the brain at the University of California, Los Angeles in his research paper, Brain Foods: The Effects of Nutrients on Brain Function.
Here's Something Even More Important:
While we need vitamins only in small quantities, if any vitamin is absent from our diet, a deficiency disease may occur – a fact first noted by William Fletcher in 1905.
In 1912, the Polish-born biochemist Casimir Funk discovered a mysterious compound that he termed 'vital amine,' which later came to be known as 'vitamin'.
A year later, in 1913 that a biochemist named Frederick Gowland Hopkins discovered Vitamin A – the first vitamin to be discovered.
By early 20th century researchers had identified the 13 compounds or vitamins crucial to maintaining a healthy life.
They had also found that the underlying trigger for obscure illnesses such as scurvy, beriberi and pellagra was vitamin deficiency.
That's not all…
It was around the same time that deficiency in certain vitamins was linked to loss of memory, focus and concentration.
Today, dietary supplements like B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12), antioxidants (vitamins C and E), herbal supplements (ginkgo biloba), and nutraceuticals (fish oil, coconut oil) are very much in-demand as pills that help with memory.
The Most Important Fact About Vitamins For Memory In The World
Remember this:
Deficiency in Vitamin B12 can cause memory loss. This means that Vitamin B12 probably presents the most critical case in which supplements can help improve your brain's ability to remember things.
But here's the kicker:
If you are already getting adequate B vitamins though your diet, getting extra through supplemental pills will not give
Published on 8 years ago
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