Sometimes it’s not which brain boosters you take but when you take them that really counts
Could you be smarter than you already are? Could you think faster, calculate quicker and remember more than you already do? Can brain boosters work for me? The answer is undeniably YES!
Modern science has identified dozens of “smart nutrients” that have powerful, positive effects on the human brain. And what’s even more exciting is the fact that they’ve identified the optimal time of day (or night) to take these brain booster nutrients so as to have maximum effect on cognition and brain function.
The daily human sleep/wake cycle is the result of our internal biorhythm. What these scientists have discovered is that certain nutrients have a more pronounced affect on the brain and body when they are ingested in accordance with the human biorhythm. Thus, biorhythm brain boosters are not some fanciful form of science fiction, but instead a proven fact that could allow you to rebuild and protect your brain while you sleep, and learn better and remember more while you are awake.
Of course, some “smart nutrients” are not bound by biorhythms and will promote and enhance cognitive function no matter what time of day they are ingested. But others have definitely shown to work better when taken in conjunction with the biorhythm cycle.
What follows is a list of 12 “smart nutrients” that have been divided into three categories:
1. Anytime Brain Boosters—These enhance cognitive function no matter what time of the day they are ingested.
2. Daytime Brain Boosters—These nutrients have shown to work best when taken in the morning, allowing them to work during your “awake biorhythm.”
3. Nighttime Brain Boosters—These nutrients should be taken a few hours prior to going to sleep, so that they can bolster your brain during your “asleep biorhythm.”
Biorhythm brain boosting really is the next step in cognitive enhancement. Read on to see which smart nutrients should be taken when and how they work with your body’s natural biorhythm to make your brain function at optimal speed.
BIORHYTHM BRAIN BOOSTERS!
ANYTIME
Brain Boosters
Ferulic Acid—Disrupts amyloid plaque formation; anti-inflammatory in brain tissue; antioxidant
Ginkgo biloba—Changes genetic programming for aging; protects mitochondria; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory
Huperzine-A—Stabilizes ACh-AChE activity; antioxidant
Vinpocetine—Improves cerebral circulation; improving brain cell ATP use; improves O2 / glucose use in brain
DAYTIME
Brain Boosters
Ashwaganda—Antioxidant, daytime stress reliever
Panax Ginseng—Energy booster, antioxidant; anti-stress
Peony—Protects neurons; improves memory; antioxidant
Schisandra—Protects against daytime neuron cell death
NIGHTTIME
Brain Boosters
Bacopa—Enhances neurotransmission; stabilizes ACh-AChE activity; antioxidant; rebuilds ATP
Centella asiatica—Increases density of dendrites while you sleep; anti-stress
Ginger—General anti-inflammatory by interrupting prostaglandin / lukotriene synthesis
Magnolia—Major nighttime stress reliever; very powerful antioxidant
Anytime Brain Booster #1: Ferulic Acid – Powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient
Derived from: brown rice, whole wheat and oats, as well as seeds of plants such as coffee, apple, artichoke, peanut, orange, pineapple, and other fruits and vegetables.
Ferulic acid is not a traditional Ayurvedic or Chinese remedy as such. It’s a natural extract of many plants, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. But it’s been isolated from a number of medications used in these ancient healing traditions. So these traditional medicines are undoubtedly deriving some of their effectiveness from ferulic acid.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Animal studies have proven that ferulic acid is an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This action accounts in part for its brain boosting and protective power.1
Researchers at Hallym University (South Korea) gave ferulic acid to mice for four weeks. After four weeks, they injected beta-amyloid—a peptide that causes oxidation and inflammation—directly into the mice’s brains.
The control mice—the ones who had not received ferulic acid—showed between 19% and 35% decrease in their ability to perform certain tests. The mice given ferulic acid not only showed no decrease in performance, they showed improvement!
While the exact mechanism of this action isn’t known yet, the researchers concluded that: “These results demonstrate that long-term administration of ferulic acid induces resistance to toxicity in the brain and suggest that ferulic acid may be a useful chemo-preventive agent against Alzheimer’s disease.”
Other physiological effects
Anecdotal evidence indicates that ferulic acid protects against cancer, bone degeneration, and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. Like many other antioxidants, ferulic acid reduces levels of cholesterol and triglyceride, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.2
Side effects and toxicity
Safety studies show that ferulic acid is non-toxic. Side effects have not been reported in animal studies using doses of up to 1,500 mg per day, which is about 7.5 times the amount normally taken by humans.3
Anytime Brain Booster #2: Ginkgo – A complex brain-boosting armory
Botanical name: Ginkgo biloba Common names: fossil tree, maidenhair tree, Japanese silver apricot, kew tree
Ginkgo is the most widely used nutritional supplement in the world. The reason for its popularity is its 5,000-year history of safe and effective use.
According to records dating back to 2800 B.C., Chinese medical practitioners used ginkgo to treat symptoms of aging including memory loss, poor circulation, and general mental deterioration. The Chinese have also used it to bolster memory and improve overall intelligence.
This long history is convincing proof in itself that anyone wanting to boost their cognitive skills and protect themselves against age-related mental deterioration should be using ginkgo as part of their daily supplementation plan.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Ginkgo extract is a very complex substance and counteracts aging along many varied biochemical pathways. Cooperative research was performed by Scripps Research Institute, University of Southern California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and three other research institutions. Researchers discovered with an amazing picture of how ginkgo works right at the DNA/RNA level by changing the way genes are programmed to cause aging.4
Ginkgo upregulates (increases) the expression of genes for the synthesis of transthyretin—a natural chemical that protects neurons by keeping oxidizing beta-amyloid away from them.
They also found that gingko’s upregulation of genes had significant positive impact in the cortex of the brain. The cortex controls speech, memory, logical and emotional response, consciousness, interpretation of sensation, and voluntary movement. It also had a similar genetic upregulating effect in the hippocampus where learning is centered.
But ginkgo’s protective action is not only due to genetic regulation. It’s also a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory … both of which are major factors in mental (and physical) deterioration as we age.
Ginkgo has also been shown to preserve mitochondria structure and function in aging animals. (Mitochondria are subcellular organelles that are the cells’ powerhouses.) And it also significantly extends mitochondrial life span! One of the hottest areas in medical research today explores the relationship between these subcellular powerhouses and human longevity.
Research conducted at Harvard Medical School published in 2005 5 found that human mitochondria have evolved over time to allow us humans to lead longer, healthier lives without the scourge of neurodegenerative diseases.
There is far too much research on ginkgo to describe it all here. But if you want some fascinating (and exciting) reading about how ginkgo counteracts the effects of aging, go to the Smart Publications website and read “Is Ginkgo the Smart Nutrient It Claims to Be?”
Other physiological effects
Ginkgo’s positive contributions to your health are so numerous, that we’ll just list them for you here. Gingko extract (containing active fractions called bilobalides and ginkgolides) are able to improve your life because they …
- Slow down the aging processProtect against Alzheimer’s—neurodegenerative disorders
- Protect against cataracts and macular degeneration, and retard their progressionSharpen mental performance
- Increase concentration and short-term memoryBoost energy levels and protect against stroke
- Protect mitochondria, the tiny “spark of life” energy factories inside cellsImprove circulation to your feet, legs, and hands
- Reduce blood pressure increases due to stress and exerciseEnhance sex life as a result of increased blood circulation
- Increase blood circulation throughout your entire bodyBuild capillary strength and reduce blood loss from capillary vessels
- Decrease the clumping of blood in the circulatory systemIncrease cellular glucose uptake to energize cells
- Exert an anti-inflammatory effect
Side effects and toxicity
According to the Mayo Clinic listing, pharmaceutical grade ginkgo extract is safe and well tolerated with the following warning.6
WARNING: Ginkgo leaves contain a neurotoxic compound called ginkgolic acid. Pharmaceutical-grade ginkgo extract must contain less than 5 parts per million of ginkgolic acid. In the United States, many nutritional supplement companies do not sell pharmaceutical grade supplements. They do not tell you if their ginkgo contains the acceptable limit of toxic ginkgolic acid, so you have no way of knowing.
Anytime Brain Booster #3: Huperzine-A
Protecting memory by protecting nerve impulses
Botanical name: Huperzia serrata
Common names: Chinese moss
Chinese moss has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treatment of dementia and age-related mental deterioration. The active factor is the alkaloid huperzine-A, which has been approved in China to treat Alzheimer’s disease and memory impairments.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Chinese researchers showed that huperzine-A improves memory and learning. They tested huperzine-A on middle school students whose only complaints were poor memory and difficulty in learning.
At the end of the study, the huperzine-A group scored significantly higher than the control group on standard memory tests. They also did dramatically better in their Chinese and English lessons. No side effects of any kind were noted.
Huperzine-A’s exact mode of action is not yet completely understood. But researchers suggest it works by regulating a complex chemical system that controls nerve impulse transmissions. This system involves the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that breaks down ACh.
A shortage of ACh is considered the most common cause of memory loss, decreased learning ability, and diminished intelligence. Huperzine-A slows the breakdown of ACh by AChE, making ACh more available. As a result, the strength and duration of nerve impulses are improved. Consequently, both learning and memory are improved.7
In addition to regulating ACh-AChE, huperzine-A also dramatically decreases free radical activity.8
Huperzine-A has also been shown to help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. In a double blind, placebo controlled study reported in 2002, huperzine-A was tested on 202 mild to moderate Alzheimer’s patients at the Peking Medical College Hospital in Beijing.
The group treated with huperzine-A showed remarkable improvement in cognition, behavior, and mood, in comparison to the placebo group.9
Side effects and toxicity
Huperzine-A is safe to take with no side effects in low dosages. With increasing dosages, temporary side effects may include mild nausea, dizziness, and headache.
Anytime Brain Booster #4: Vinpocetine
A powerful memory enhancer
Botanical name: Vinca minor
Other common names: vinca, periwinkle
Vinpocetine is made from vincamine, an alkaloid extracted from the periwinkle plant. Research has shown that vinpocetine is superior to vincamine because it has a greater range of clinical and metabolic benefits than vincamine without vincamine’s minor side effects.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Vinpocetine is a powerful memory enhancer. It does this by improving blood flow in your brain (cerebral microcirculation), stepping up brain cell ATP production (ATP is the cellular energy molecule), and increasing your brain’s use of glucose and oxygen.10
One double-blind study of healthy volunteers without any signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease showed incredible short-term memory improvement only one hour after taking 40 mg of vinpocetine.
Volunteers took a computer-administered short-term memory test before and after being given vinpocetine. When given vinpocetine, they showed better than 35% improvement over their scores before taking vinpocetine.11
The reason for this huge improvement in such a short amount of time relates to the way vinpocetine works in the brain. Vinpocetine improves circulation in your brain, feeding all the cells including neurons. It ensures brain cells get the right amount of food in the form of glucose and enough oxygen to metabolize it properly. And finally, it assures that ATP (the molecule that converts glucose into energy) is functioning at peak performance.
When your brain’s energy mechanism is functioning at peak performance levels, so will your brain … and so will you. Peak brain performance translates into improved memory and improved overall cognitive functioning. This is how vinpocetine makes you smarter!
Other physiological effects
Vinpocetine is used to treat acute or chronic eye diseases of various origins and sensori-neural hearing impairment.
Side effects and toxicity
The Gedeon Richter company has funded more than 100 hundred studies on vinpocetine. The incidence of side effects in humans using vinpocetine orally is less than 1% of a study’s participants, with the unwanted effects usually disappearing with continued use.
Day Time Brain Booster # 1: Ashwagandha
3,000 years of brain boosting power
Botanical name: Withania somnifera
Common names: Indian Ginseng, Winter Cherry, Withania
Ashwagandha has been used in traditional Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine for over 3,000 years. It comes from a woody shrub and is used as a tonic to rejuvenate the body and counter the ravages of aging. It boasts a 3,000-year history of effectiveness and safety.
Recent research confirms the effectiveness of ashwagandha in improving brain function, increasing learning ability, and prolonging memory retention. It also has a positive effect on reducing the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Ashwagandha is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals, providing a protective and restorative effect on all tissues including the brain.
Research in India demonstrated that ashwagandha increases antioxidant activity in the brain, protecting neuronal tissue from free radical damage.12 Ashwagandha’s ability to scavenge free radicals from brain tissue makes it a valuable component in your smart nutrient arsenal to bolster brainpower. And as a welcome side effect, it helps protect you from free radical induced dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Regenerating damaged neurons naturally
While ashwagandha’s free radical scavenging properties have long been thought to be the mechanism behind its memory enhancing properties, recent research has dramatically expanded its powerful properties. Not only has ashwagandha been shown to protect brain cells from the damaging effects of beta-amyloid, but it also can actually regenerate neural networks already damaged or destroyed by beta-amyloid. This amazing property is now the subject of intensive scientific investigation, since a true “cure” for Alzheimer’s disease will require not only stopping the progressive deterioration of the disease, but also reversing the damage that has already occurred.
Stress, anxiety, depression, and free radical damage
Stress, anxiety, and depression are key factors in impaired brain function because they increase your body’s production of free radicals.13 Ashwagandha counters the brain diminishing effects of stress two ways. First, as a powerful antioxidant, it helps remove free radicals from brain tissue.
Second, ashwagandha has been proven in research studies to be as effective as commonly prescribed drugs in reducing anxiety and depression. But it does not have any of the side effects associated with these prescription drugs.14 When you reduce stress and anxiety, you reduce the production of free radicals, which are mostly produced while you are awake. Thus, you can improve brain function by taking ashwagandha or a brain boosting formula that contains ashwaganda in the morning to counteract harmful free radicals.
Other physiological effects
Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to boost physical performance and stimulate sexual capacity. As an anti-inflammatory, it has been reported to be very useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Side effects and toxicity
Ashwagandha is well tolerated with no side effects when taken in normal clinical amounts.15
Daytime Brain Booster #2: Panax Ginseng
Broad protection for many areas of your health
Botanical name: Panax ginseng
Common names: Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng
At the outset, it’s important to distinguish between true ginseng—Panax ginseng—and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) or American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).
Siberian and American ginseng are not true ginsengs. And while they have positive physiological effects, they do not have the same mode of action as Panax ginseng, which is true ginseng. Panax ginseng has higher levels of important brain-protective components called ginsenosides than either American or Siberian ginsengs.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
A number of clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Panax ginseng in improving different aspects of mental functioning. In one study, 112 healthy volunteers older than 40 years were given 400 mg per day of Panax ginseng for eight weeks. They showed better and faster reactions to psychometric tests and improved abstract thinking.16
Two other studies—each involving healthy volunteers who received 200 mg daily of Panax ginseng for eight weeks—demonstrated improvement in attention, processing, and auditory reaction time, social functioning, and mental health.17
In another study, 20 healthy young volunteers received a single 400 mg dose of ginseng. They showed improvement in cognitive performance, memory performance, speed of memory tasks, and accuracy of attention-related tasks.18
The ginsenosides in Panax ginseng have a variety of beneficial actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects.19 The importance of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in preventing mental deterioration and improving overall mental acuity cannot be emphasized enough in this discussion.
Other physiological effects
In traditional medicinal uses, ginseng is used to enhance physical, sexual, and mental performance and to increase energy and resistance to the harmful effects of stress and aging. Since panax ginseng possesses all these benefits, it’s best to consumer it in the morning for maximum effect. Ginseng also appears to reduce blood sugar levels and increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol—the “good” cholesterol, which is an added health bonus.
Side effects and toxicity
Merck Manuals Online Medical Library states that ginseng has a good safety record. Because Panax ginseng is a stimulant, the most common side effects are nervousness and excitability, which usually decrease after the first few days.
Daytime Brain Booster #3: Peony
Proven learning enhancer
Botanical names: Peonia suffruticosa, P.
lactiflora, P. veitchii, and P. obovata
Common names: moutan (mu dan), red peony(chi shao), white peony (bai shao)
The roots of peony plants have been used in traditional medicines in China and Japan for a wide range of physical problems.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Paeoniflorin is one of the major constituents of peony root. Paeoniflorin has various biological actions including improving of memory 20 and antioxidant activity. 21 The importance of antioxidants in protecting against mental deterioration has already been discussed.
The exact action of peony in improving memory has yet to be determined. But research reported within the last two years has determined that peony protects neurons from damage. Since neurons fire in your brain almost twice as much when you are awake compared to when you are asleep, it stands to reason that the protective powers of peony are best put to use during the day. This allows for improved learning and memory and reduces the opportunity for mental deterioration to take hold.22
Other physiological effects
Peony is traditionally used in Asia to treat muscle cramps, cardiovascular disorders, chronic viral hepatitis, and menstruation difficulties.
Side effects and toxicity
Peony has no appreciable toxicity or side effects when taken at dosages below 4 grams per day. 23
Daytime Brain Booster #4 :
Schisandra Berry. Protecting memory by protecting nerve impulses
Botanical name: Schisandra chinensis
Common names: Wu wei zi, schizandra, five flavor berry, magnolia vine
Schisandra is a climbing vine grown not only for its ornamental and medicinal properties but also for consumption. Fruits, leaves, and bark contain the active components (called schisandrins).
Schisandra has traditionally been used to treat viral and chemical hepatitis, but recent animal experiments and human studies have shown that it improves mental clarity, concentration, and coordination.24 So if you want to clear your mind and truly concentrate, a dose of schisandra upon wakening is a great place to start.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
In one set of experiments, mice were given the chemical scopolamine, which induces amnesia. One group was then given an herbal treatment containing schisandra. The researchers stated that the treatment “significantly reduced scopolamine-induced memory deficits.” 25
Schisandra’s exact mode of action is not well understood at this time. However, in vitro (test tube) experiments found that schisandra limits neurotoxicity induced by amyloid-beta peptide (which causes oxidation) in cultured cortical rat neurons. These results suggest that schisandra has “protective characteristics against neuronal cell death and cognitive impairments often observed in Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, ischemic injury, and other neurodegenerative diseases.”
Other physiological effects
Schisandra is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat poor circulation and heart function, diarrhea and dysentery, fatigue, liver disease, mental and emotional illness, respiratory disease, sexual function, skin rash, and sleep disorders.
Side effects and toxicity
Schisandra is a natural food substance and is safe for long-term use. It is uncommon for schisandra to cause side effects. However, it may cause upset stomach, heartburn, decreased appetite, and skin rash if taken in very large quantities.
Night Time Brain Booster 1: Bacopa
Improving nerve impulse transmission
Botanical name: Bacopa monniera
Common names: Herpestis monniera, water hyssop, Brahmi
Bacopa monniera is a small, creeping herb with numerous branches, small oblong leaves, and light purple flowers. It has also been used in Ayurvedic medicine for many centuries as a brain tonic to enhance memory development, learning, and concentration.26
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Australian researchers conducted a double blind, placebo-controlled trial reported in the journal Pharmacology in 2001. They found significant improvement in verbal learning, memory consolidation, and speed of early information processing in subjects after just 12 weeks of treatment with bacopa compared to the placebo group. These effects were not observed at the beginning of the trial or after the first five weeks.
These delayed results can be attributed either to bacopa’s antioxidant properties or to its effect on the neurotransmitter system. Bacopa has this remarkable effect on the brain thanks to many active components. Two of the most important types are triterpenoid saponins and bacosides.27
The active compounds enhance nerve impulse transmission and aid in repair of damaged neurons. Your brain spends the time while you are sleeping rebuilding and repairing itself. So taking bacopa a few hours before you go to sleep allows it to enhance enzymes called kinases that are responsible for rebuilding ATP (the cell’s powerhouse molecule). Kinases also stimulate neuronal synthesis, restoring lost synaptic activity.
These multiple effects ultimately lead to improved nerve impulse transmission, 28 leading to faster learning and better memory retention.
Like ashwagandha, bacopa also acts as an antioxidant. But in bacopa’s case, it does this by protecting and assisting the enzymes involved in scavenging reactive oxygen compounds in the brain.29 In addition, test tube studies have shown bacopa exerts a protective effect against DNA damage.30
Stress, anxiety, and depression
Bacopa is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-anxiety remedy … traditional use that’s well supported by both animal and clinical research. Researchers using a rat model of clinical anxiety demonstrated bacopa’s considerable anti-anxiety activity that was comparable to lorazepam, a common anti-anxiety prescription drug. However, bacopa did not cause forgetfulness like lorazepam but instead had a memory-enhancing effect.31
This is fine for rats, but what about humans? In a one-month trial, 35 patients diagnosed with anxiety were given bacopa extract. The subjects showed a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms, level of anxiety, level of disability, and mental fatigue. They also showed an increase in immediate memory span.32
Other physiological effects
Animal and test tube studies have shown bacopa relieves bronchitis and asthma, eases gastrointestinal problems, and stimulates thyroid activity. In vitro research (“test tube” studies) demonstrated that bacopa fractions kill sarcoma-180 (cancer) cells.33
Side effects and toxicity
Therapeutic doses of bacopa are not associated with any known side effects.34
Night Time Brain Booster 2: Centella
Improving neurotransmitter function
Botanical name: Centella asiatica
Common names: pennywort, gotu kola
Centella is another nutrient that’s been used in India and China for thousands of years for a wide range of effects. Undoubtedly, you have heard of Centella asiatica by its more common name, gotu kola.
Despite the similarity in names, gotu kola is not related to the caffeine containing kola nut. Centella asiatica is, in fact, a mild sedative. And because of this fact, Centella asiatica should be consumed prior to sleep.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Centella strengthens brain function differently than the two previous smart nutrients. Animal experiments have shown that it improves nerve transmission (and brainpower) by increasing the complexity of dendrites. Structural reorganization of dendrites is the key feature in learning and memory.35
Such changes in neuron structure result in more rapid and effective conduction of nerve impulses. This is one of the reasons for the enhanced learning and memory demonstrated in experiments with Centella.36
In addition to its positive impact on learning, active components of Centella demonstrate a strong inhibition of nerve cell death caused by free radicals and beta-amyloid (a key cause of Alzheimer’s disease).37
Other physiological effects
Centella has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to combat stress, anxiety, and depression; energize flagging mental powers; fight sterility; improve reflexes; rebuild energy reserves; and relieve high blood pressure. It has also been used to treat rheumatism, blood diseases, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infections, and hepatitis.
Side effects and toxicity
Centella asiatica is non-toxic and seldom causes any side effects other than an occasional allergic skin rash if taken in extremely large amounts.38
Night Time Brain Booster #3: Ginger
Uncommon brainpower from a common spice
Botanical name: Zingiber officinale
Used for thousands of years to add zest and excitement to food, ginger is also one of the oldest natural remedies around. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties have been used effectively for thousands of years.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Ginger reduces inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. (Prostaglandins and leukotrienes occur naturally in your brain and other tissues. They are major causes of inflammation).39
Reducing inflammation in brain tissues improves brain function by protecting against damage to neuronal structures. Like bacopa, ginger should be consumed prior to sleep in order for it to work while your brain is focused on repairing neuronal damage. Ginger has been proven to be as effective as NSAIDs in reducing brain inflammation but without their side effects and toxicity that include liver problems, stomach problems, and other debilitating side effects.
Other physiological effects
In addition to reducing inflammation in brain tissues, ginger also reduces it system-wide. This includes reducing inflammation in cases of both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
A 1992 Danish study found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or musculoskeletal pain who took powdered ginger reported varying degrees of pain relief and no side effects, even among those who took the ginger for more than two years.40
Ginger is also recommended in Ayurvedic medicine for atherosclerosis, bronchitis, diarrhea, hypercholesterolemia, motion sickness, and ulcerative colitis.
Side effects and toxicity
There are no serious side effects attributed to taking ginger. A few individuals may experience heartburn, usually from taking too much.41
Night Time Brain Booster #4: Magnolia
1,000 times vitamin E’s antioxidant power
Botanical name: Magnolia officinalis
Common names: Magnolia, tulip tree
Magnolia has been used for over 2,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine and for at least 500 years in Japanese medicine to aid relaxation, increase energy levels, relieve anxiety, and counteract the effects of stress.
Brain-related clinical and research findings
Magnolia has been proven in clinical trials to be as effective as Valium® in relieving stress without making you sleepy and without any of the severe side effects commonly associated with the drug.42
Magnolia’s active components (magnolol, honokiol, and syringin) help regulate levels of cortisol—a major cause of stress-related problems in your body when it remains at consistently high levels.43
Magnolia extract’s powerful anti-stress and anti-anxiety powers make it a powerful ally in fighting stressed-induced mental deterioration. Taking magnolia prior to sleep helps your body, and brain, relax.
Both honokiol and magnolol help relax you by adjusting the activity of neurotransmitters and enzymes in your brain. Your brain functions more efficiently and communication improves throughout your entire nervous system.44
The syringin component of magnolia extract is a powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relief component. Recent research shows that syringin works synergistically with magnolol 45 and honokiol 46 to minimize the damage done by inflammation in brain tissue (as well as throughout your entire body).
Magnolia extract is also a potent antioxidant—1,000 times more powerful than vitamin E. 47 Consequently, magnolia fights mental deterioration at the subcellular level by protecting your cell membrane and your mitochondria from oxidation. 48
Side effects and toxicity
No significant toxicity or adverse effects have been reported to date when magnolia extract is taken as directed. You only need extremely small amounts of the extract to see its stress-reducing and calming effects.49
Biorhythm Brain Boosters
So there you have it. Twelve brain boosting nutrients explained and categorized for consumption based on human biorhythms. And while this may be a lot to absorb, the chart in the side bar makes it easy to understand which nutrients work best anytime, which work best during the day, and which work best taken prior to sleep all in conjunction with the natural state of human biorhythms.
You really can be smarter then you are right now, and you can protect your brain from dreaded memory-robbing diseases like Alzheimer’s if you understand and consume biorhythm brain boosting nutrients. It’s never too late to start, and you’ll be better off for it, now and well into the future.
Related Articles
References
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