A Memory-Boosting Pill for students:
Some Dietary Supplements may help young and older brains
Food for Thought
A memory-boosting pill for students seems a great idea. It would be nice to swallow a Memory Pill, and have an instantaneous memory, without the effort of study; but it’s not quite that simple.
Nevertheless, there are dietary supplements you can buy from the local health food shop that have been shown to help memory.
One of these is Gingko Biloba. It is extracted from the leaves of the oldest tree known to man, the Maidenhair tree. It improves the circulation, and increases the oxygen fed to the brain. It is credited with improving memory, and sharpening mental focus and clarity. Although, if you are young, and already have a good circulation, you may not notice any improvement. Older people, to help offset the effects of aging on memory, or a sedentary lifestyle, can beneficially use Gingko. You’ll find the amount to take on the bottle. The only warning, Gingko should not be taken in conjunction with Aspirin without getting your doctor's OK – it does a similar job by making the blood thinner. It is also a strong antioxidant, which is additional good news.
One of my GP's has just advised me that new research has found that Gingko should not be taken in conjunction with blood pressure medication, it might cause strokes - so take note (18/04/08) There are indications that Gingko may have an adverse reaction with many pharmaceutical drugs so it is advisable to be cautious with its use, and obtain medical advice
It has also been suggested that the amino acid, L-Carnitine does a similar job as Gingko Biloba, feeding and increasing the blood supply to the brain - as well as other parts of the body. It is claimed that it powers brain cell activity even in healthy young adults, and improves attention and memory. The recommended dosage is 1 to 3 grams a day.
Warning: If you happen to be taking prescription drugs, check with your doctor to make sure that these products are safe to use - they can sometimes influence the efficacy of certain drugs. Recent research, according to my GP, rules out the use of Gingko with blood pressure medication
Another dietary supplement is Creatine. It is normally used to increase muscle bulk and strength, but has been shown to boost memory recall and brain function by up to 20%. It appears to provide more energy for the brain, and you find you can concentrate for longer. A research fellow at the University of Sydney, Dr Caroline Rae, says, ‘If you were trying to remember things for an exam, it would certainly be very useful. You could take it a few weeks before an exam, because it would theoretically improve your memory when preparing for the exam, plus your recall during the exam, and maybe even your general ability to do the exam’
There are warnings. Further research needs to be done to confirm the findings, although the study is ‘scientifically sound’. Diabetics should avoid Creatine, except under medical supervision. The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises limiting the dose to 3mg a day (about half a teaspoon of the powder). Long-term use should probably be avoided – which means, stick to Dr Rae’s suggestion of a few weeks before your exams, then stop taking it until your next exams are looming.
You should read the full story by clicking on the following website:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s922718.htm
Scroll to the bottom of this page for the index and link to all the other pages in this web.
Discovery could play key role in fighting memory loss
Scientists searching for a cure for Alzheimer's have discovered that Sage Oil Extract improves memory, without any side effects. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/health/082903_hs_alzheimer_sage.html
IRON TABLETS CAN IMPROVE WOMEN'S BRAIN POWER
The brainpower of young women who are lacking in iron can be markedly boosted by taking iron supplements. Even women who were just modestly iron deficient did much worse in attention, memory and learning tests - they took longer to do tasks and were less successful.
<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994898>
FOOD FOR BUDDING EINSTEINS
Diet has a significant influence on brain and intelligence according to an article in the Scotsman:
The proper diet influences the brain's chemical processes, improving memory, concentration and mental energy. It recommends plenty of complex carbohydrates (slow & sustained energy release). It also extols the benefits of omega-3. A 6 month study by a senior research fellow at Oxford University, working with students who had learning and behavioural problems, found a 40% improvement in concentration, reading, writing, and general behaviour.
Dr Madeleine Portwood, an education psychologist from Durham (BBC News 4/5/05) reported that that over a 3 month period omega 3 and omega 6 oils (fish oil and evening primrose oil) made a dramatic improvement in concentration, short term memory, attention, hyperactivity, and ADHD. The students were between 6 and 12 years of age. Some improved by as much as 4 years in their reading scores.
Roger Dobson - 'We're all Einsteins Now' - The Independent News: Average IQ has increased by about 20% for every generation, in most countries. Research has shown that this is due to diet - not the quantity of food, but the quality, boosting the physical growth of the brain. Proper Iron and zinc levels and omega-3 oils were linked with better performance. Removing preservatives, dyes, colourings and artificial flavours from meals improved IQ scores by 14 points (Psychology Today).
Further studies in the UK have confirmed the benefit of omega 3 fish oil in helping with classroom concentration, and other problems. Parents reported very favourably on the benefits after a period of some weeks of taking fish oil supplement.
ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
The Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (release date 4 - April 2005) reported that 7th graders given 20mg zinc 5 days a week showed improvement in mental performance. They were quicker and more accurate and had more sustained attention than those students not receiving zinc. It was felt by Dr Penland, and his co-investigators, that rapid growth during adolescence, and maybe poor eating habits, may deplete the amount of zinc naturally available. Zinc is necessary for growth and immune function, eye-hand coordination, reasoning; and memory, muscle strength and endurance in adults. Zinc is found in red meats, fish, and grains.
Folic Acid
A recent study in the Netherlands (published Aug 2005) found that folate protected the brain against decline. It was of particular value to older persons and possibly mature-aged students.
Updated Feb 2010
How to Learn Faster, and Remember More. Energy, Pattern, and Resonance are the Keys to Memory, and Accelerated Learning.
The the Accelerated Learning Study Guide.
Find out about the author of this program of Accelerated Learning.
Order your copy of the Guide to Accelerated Learning.
Page Six: Should you listen to music while you study?
Page Seven: The sleep you get each night is important for your brain development, and memory – see what medical experts have to say.
Page Eight: Making use of the knowledge you memorize is part of the learning and understanding process. See what the Nobel Prize winning Physicist, Professor Richard Feynman, has to say about his experience.
Page Nine: Some students have trouble working with numbers, which are the basis of mathematics. The numbers game, NUMERO, has proved a winner worldwide in helping people think faster with numbers.
Page Ten: Want a photographic memory?. This page explains how you can improve yours.
Page Eleven: A Memory Pill? Food for Thought - dietary supplements that can boost brain power and memory.
Page Twelve: READING - Fluent reading is essential for Accelerated Learning Education - Poor Reading explained with exercises to overcome the Problem.
Page Thirteen: STRESS - Its affect on Memory: How stress helps or hinders memory and examinations.
Page Fourteen: JOB SEARCH - CAREER PLANNING - What to consider when planning a career and its future prospects.
A Look inside the Study Guide:
Pages – 15 to 20 – are six ‘windows’ into the Study Guide, how and why it works.
: Window One: Memory driven by Energy & Resonance
Page Sixteen: Window Two: Brain, Mind & Memory – a ‘Learning Machine’
: Window Three: Mind Maps & Memory Patterns
Page Eighteen: Window Four: Parents – Family Learning
: Window Five: Intuition – a hidden source of learning.
: Window Six: Aging Memory? – You can retrain your memory.
Twenty One: News Archive
Page Twenty Two: Training within Industry – Workplace Training – Vocational Training
Page Twenty Three: Truth & Memory - treat everything you see and hear with a healthy scepticism.
Page Twenty Four: Drugs & Memory - Prescription & recreational drugs.
Page Twenty Five: Violence: A growing problem in schools. Violence is Learned Behaviour. Video games and TV can teach violence.
Page Twenty Six: The Evolution of Scientific Thought:
Page Twenty Seven: An e-book on Understanding & Managing Stress
Links Page: Shared links between websites that have common goals and