What came first? You stopped taking care of your brain because you forgot? OR, you forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain? You likely forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain, if you ever did in the first place! Since it sits up in our skull in pure blackness, the only time we ever think about our cerebellum is when we have a headache and that’s not good! Case in point, when was the last time you’ve ever heard someone talk about nutrition for your brain?! Why does your brain need vitamins? And…which vitamins are essential for your brain?
Well, we’re going to talk about brain health today as it is literally the main frame of our entire body. If our brain doesn’t function at optimal levels, every part of our body will suffer! Therefore, we’re going to lay out the most important vitamins you need to keep your brain sharp. Maintaining a healthy brain can improve memory, improve cognition, and mitigate any type of decline normally seen with age.
Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene
The reason why we always see vitamin A & beta-carotene together is because beta-carotene is the primary precursor to vitamin A; in other words, beta-carotene produces vitamin A. Regardless, these compounds have been found to act as neuroprotectors as we age and prevent cognitive decline. Further, long-term supplementation has been found to sustain brain function past the age of 65 in men. While studies aren’t conclusive about vitamin A improving brain function, if we are just as sharp as we are now when we are 70 years old, we’ll take that. However, the key to using vitamin A to maintain cognition levels is to make it a regular part of your diet for the long-term. Studies show that this can be done either through your diet or supplementation.
The 8 B Vitamins
While there are a total of 8 B vitamins, all of them play a role in improving brain health. In fact, some studies have even suggested that a B vitamin complex can be more beneficial than an isolated B vitamin. Regardless, these powerful vitamins are absolutely essential to optimize your health. One systematic review (the highest level of authority in scientific studies) found that taking B vitamins improved cognition, memory, and attention.
Vitamin C
Mmmmm….vitamin C. Maybe the tastiest vitamin there is! And that’s great because it’s essential to maintain brain health! Studies have shown that vitamin C can;
- Increase the formation of blood vessels
- Improve neurotransmitter function and neurodevelopment
- Support antioxidant function
- Improve cognition (individuals with higher levels of vitamin C have greater cognition)
