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“Keep Your Mind Sharp”

By Karen Stauffer
Nutritionist

          What happens to Musicians who aren’t paying attention? Sometimes they don’t get paid! It’s to your advantage to be mentally alert, and here’s how you can do it.

          First (need we say it?) drug and alcohol consumption must be eliminated or severely limited. You can’t work with what you haven’t got!

          Next, take a look at your older relatives and see if there are any weaknesses you have inherited. History of Alzheimer’s in grandparents? Senile dementia early on in an aunt? This could be an indication you need some extra help now to prevent trouble in the future. Impairment is usually a gradual process and may begin early. By your thirties you should be concerned what your brain will be like in your sixties.

          Exercise both physical and mental, is important. It increases blood flow and gets oxygen to your brain. And the brain, like a muscle, gets stronger with use. Intellectual challenge will help you keep sharp. Turn off the TV, go for a walk, then do that crossword puzzle!

          There are some herbs and nutrients you may have heard of already. Ginkgo Biloba, a 24% concentrate of the leaves of the ginkgo tree, has been promoted as increasing circulation in the head and of help to the mental process. The normal dose is 60 mg. twice a day.

          Some herbs you may not be familiar with - new ones include: Huperzine (Chinese moss derivative), and Vinpocetine (periwinkle extract). Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid particularly beneficial for the brain.

          From Lecithin come phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl serine, available in capsule form and important in the formation of brain chemicals critical for memory and cognition.

          Fish or algae can be the source of DHA, an important fatty acid critical for brain development particularly in infants. There is some speculation it may also help adult brains repair themselves. The algae source product is the better choice, quality-wise. Check the label. Source Naturals has good 100 and 200 mg. DHA from algae.

          If you’d like a combination product, either because you can’t choose or because you want the insurance of a variety of ingredients, Source Naturals makes three, of increasing price and strength: Mental Edge, Mega Mind and Higher Mind.

          Country Life also makes a formula called 4-Thought, and if you’d like to stick with just herbs, Herbs Etc. Has a liquid extract called Remember Now.

          Required reading on the subject: Smart Drugs and Nutrients and Smart Drugs 2, by Dean Morgan Thaler. These books cover both over the counter items and prescription drugs. There all also small, inexpensive books available on each of the substances I've mentioned.

          Remember none of these can make you a genius if you weren’t already. They can help you keep what brainpower you’ve got, longer. And if you’ve abused your brain in the past, you might be able to repair some of the damage. We have found out that, contrary to what was believed, you can produce new brain cells, to a certain extent. Certainly you can make the ones you’ve got more effective. And the world these days belong more and more to those mentally alert rather than merely strong.

Karen Stauffer

"River of Life Natural Foods"

1-800-651-3820

KarenStauffer@professorpooch.com

[Karen's advice is not meant to replace the advice of a physician. 
If you think you have a medical problem, see your doctor]