| The body, and the brain, needs a wide variety of | | | | messengers like dopamine, epinephrine and serotonin. |
| vitamins and mineral to grow and to thrive. Deficiencies | | | | The most important B Vitamins are: |
| in certain minerals can therefore be potentially | | | | * Vitamin B12 |
| disastrous in the sense that the body cannot properly | | | | The most important role that B12 plays is in the |
| fulfill a particular function. | | | | formation of myelin. This is the substance that is |
| Specific vitamins and minerals are necessary for best | | | | responsible for the sheath that protects most nerve |
| functioning of brain as a controller of our bodies. As | | | | cells. Damaged or insufficient myelin can lead to |
| these elements cannot be produced by your body you | | | | memory loss, mood swings and impaired reasoning. |
| must have them through choosing appropriate dietary | | | | B12 is commonly found in meat. This means that |
| schedule. Many a times it becomes tough to workout | | | | vegetarians should pay particular attention to taking it |
| diets which fulfill criteria with enough quantity of | | | | as a supplement. |
| vitamins and minerals. Many people go for vitamin | | | | * Folic Acid (Folate) |
| supplements to meet this requirement besides having | | | | Folic Acid is a Vitamin B complex that plays a critical |
| healthy diet. When you workout dietary schedule and | | | | role in early brain development and later on helps the |
| plan some supplement it becomes mandatory to | | | | adult brain to focus, remember and stay alert. It also |
| choose sufficient quantity of major vitamins and | | | | reduces the presence of harmful amino acids (notably |
| minerals rather than choosing some 'fad vitamin'. Your | | | | homocysteine) known to damage the brain. It is found |
| must be specific while dealing with vitamins and | | | | in many different foods including beans, fruits, leafy |
| minerals for improving impaired brain function and | | | | vegetables and lentils. |
| dealing with ADD/ADHD symptoms. It is evident that | | | | * Vitamin B6 |
| vitamin and mineral intake must be designed as per the | | | | B6 plays a very important role in the creation of the |
| requirement of brain which functions smoothly after | | | | all-important brain chemical serotonin and contributes to |
| proper planning. | | | | the creation of dopamine. The importance of these |
| As far as brain function is concerned the most | | | | chemicals for optimum brain function cannot be |
| important vitamins and minerals are the following:IThe | | | | overstated. Making sure that their building blocks |
| specific vitamins and minerals which help can prove | | | | (including B6) are readily available should therefore be |
| appropriate for brain functioning is mentioned | | | | a top nutritional priority. Sources of B6 include peppers, |
| below:IMost important vitamins and minerals which are | | | | cranberries, cauliflowers, garlic and tuna. |
| effective for brain functioning is mentioned below for | | | | Vitamin C: Antioxidant properties are most crucial |
| your reference: | | | | aspects of Vitamin C for proper functioning of human |
| Vitamin E: Various studies have investigated this fact | | | | brains. Our bodies use this vitamin for appropriate |
| that Vitamin E proves crucial and best preventive | | | | interception of some 'free radicals' which usually |
| measure in delaying or blocking dementia and | | | | damage oxidation in our bodies. Various research |
| Alzheimer's diseases. As Vitamin E is pivotal in | | | | findings have proved that this vitamin helps one in |
| reducing oxidative stress in your brain it becomes one | | | | fighting most common free radicals. It also plays crucial |
| of the best means for that purpose. This vitamin plays | | | | role in delaying or blocking Alzheimer's diseases. You |
| excellent role in keeping the diseases away. Its | | | | can have Vitamin C from various food items. Citrus |
| anti-oxidative effect combats the natural brain cell | | | | fruits, broccoli, beans, potatoes and strawberries are |
| 'damage' which may occur after certain age. Many | | | | some of the prominent sources of it from which you |
| food items including almonds, leafy vegetables, | | | | get this vitamin for healthy body and brain. |
| vegetable oils and whole-grain flours are rich in Vitamin | | | | Magnesium: Keeping our brains protected from toxic |
| E. In case you are going to have some Vitamin E | | | | substances are primary role of magnesium. It is major |
| supplement go for one which contains 'mixed | | | | 'brain benefit' mineral which safeguards nerve cells |
| topocherols'. This choice will be the best option as such | | | | from neurotoxins. Nuts, seeds, bananas and whole |
| supplements would offer you two most important | | | | grains are some of the major sources of it. |
| components of Vitamin E named Alpha topocherol | | | | Although there are numerous kinds of vitamins and |
| and gamma topecherol. | | | | minerals which keep our brain function well but the |
| B Vitamins | | | | ones discussed above and their supplements must be |
| B Vitamins are perhaps the most important set of | | | | included in sufficient quantity to keep your brain active. |
| 'brain vitamins' that there is. This is because they play | | | | This strategy becomes more important when you |
| such a vital role in assisting the formation of brain | | | | have the symptoms of ADD-ADHD and fighting with it. |