Certain vitamins and minerals are an important part of maintaining brain health.

Most people don’t really think about brain health until they start to notice a decline in cognitive function, whether it’s forgetting an appointment or feeling brain fog after a busy day.  But there are many things you can start doing now to improve cognitive function from daily exercise to taking the right brain boosting supplement. Medical experts agree that certain vitamins and minerals are an important part of maintaining brain health.

Krill Oil

Krill oil comes from a small, shrimp-like animal called krill. Krill oil supplements contain two types of omega-3 fatty acids which has been linked to many health benefits and has been shown to help reduce the decline of brain function. It has a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA). DHA helps with the structure of the brain and taking DHA supplements has been linked with improving thinking skills. EHA supplements have been found helpful for those suffering from depression.  One study published found that after 4 weeks of taking only one of the supplements, krill oil led to higher levels of EPA and DHA in the blood compared with fish oil.

B Vitamins

In another study, B vitamins were given to people aged over 70 for a two-year period. The patients had previously suffered from mild cognitive impairment and researchers found that those who had taken a combination of B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin B12 had a slower cognitive decline compared to those who had taken a placebo.

It is difficult to get enough B vitamins from the food you eat, so you should look for a vitamin B supplement that contains folic acid and vitamin B12.

Vitamin D

D vitamins provide many health benefits, one of which is protecting the brain. Vitamin D helps support the growth of new brain cells and encourages the removal of amyloid which may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. 

Vitamin D deficiency can increase memory loss and the risk of developing dementia. Researchers have discovered certain cells in the brain have receptors for vitamin D that keep the brain healthy and functioning at its best.

It’s never too late to think about brain health.  Start by getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet.  Be sure to make sleep a priority, too.  And consider adding a brain boosting supplement to your daily routine.