Brain vitamins are more important than you think. Most of us are aware that vitamins and nutrients are important for our bodies, but when is the last time you considered what vitamins your brain needs to function at its highest level possible? Many vitamins have a proven effect on brain function, and neglecting to address this issue may limit our brain’s potential, and even increase our risk of cognitive decline as we age.

There are many vitamins for overall brain health, but we are going to look at some of the most powerful vitamins today.

Antioxidants are a great place to start our journey. Antioxidants help our bodies (and brains) by protecting our cells from damage caused by free radicals that build up as we age. Our brains are over 50% fat tissue, which makes our brain even more prone to damage from free radicals than the rest of our bodies. Consuming high amounts of antioxidants can help slow the oxidation process down and reduce our risk for negative mental side effects associated with aging.

Two of the best antioxidant brain vitamins are Vitamin E and Vitamin C. A study from the University of Copenhagen found a link to Vitamin C and the development of spatial memory in Guinea Pigs (chosen because they rely on outside sources of Vitamin C and can’t make it in their own bodies- just like humans). Without enough Vitamin C, their memory skills were lacking. So not only is Vitamin C a powerful antioxidant, it also has other proven effects on the brain. Read the rest of this entry »