Nutrition plays an important part in how fast you can retrieve answers from your brain and how well you store them. In other words, food and vitamins do make you smarter. Certain foods increase blood flow to the brain and help make neurotransmitters. As people age, the body doesn't use the vitamins and nutrients as efficiently, so in many cases, what seems to be dementia, senility or Alzheimer's might be just vitamin deficiency.
Vitamin B12
Studies on individuals with low vitamin B12 levels show that they had more shrinkage in their brains than those with adequate B12 levels. B12 also reduces homocysteine levels; elevated levels of homocysteine show up in dementia and depression.
Vitamins A, C and E
These vitamins provide strong antioxidants to fight free radicals in the brain. The free radicals are one cause of early cell death, which might lead to premature senility.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is important in the production of neurotransmitters.
Essential Fatty Acids
Krill oil and flax seed oil are just two oils that contain omega essential fatty acids. These help improve the circulation of blood and prevent strokes and depression.
Folic Acid
Folic acid improves cognitive functioning as long as you have adequate levels of B12, too.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps build and repair nerves. A deficiency of this mineral shows up as muscle tremors, anxiety, confusion, depression and insomnia.
Tags: adequate levels, free radicals