We don’t even question when sportsmen rely on nutrients and supplements to support their ability to perform, or when body-builders take supplements to promote healthy muscle development, and yet we seldom think of supporting brain health unless we are facing some loss of function. Your brain is an organ. Memory, reason, and cognitive function are functions of your brain, in the same way that muscle strength, flexibility, and performance are functions of the muscles of a sportsman. Like muscles, you can train your brain to function more efficiently. Intelligence is learned, not an innate characteristic. You can develop creativity, decision-making skills, and all of the other skills it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Developing these skills takes training, just like top athletes train to improve their performance. There are nutrients and herbal extracts that can improve your training, improve your memory muscles, and promote optimal cognitive function. Here are some of the top brain boosting herbal extracts that promote cognitive function:

• Acetylcholine
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Ginseng

Acetylcholine

Speed and accuracy are two vital components of every performance. Cognitive processing speed and accuracy depend on the brain’s ability to produce neurotransmitters and to facilitate healthy neurotransmitter function. Neurotransmitters are chemical compounds that relay messages around the brain, and that convey messages from the brain to the rest of the body. When you move a muscle, for example, a neurotransmitter is sent from the brain to the muscle to tell the muscle to contract or relax. Every thought you think relies on the transmission of signals within the brain. When you learn something new, remember something, or make a decision, you rely on the production and transmission of brain signals that use neurotransmitters. The brain must produce hundreds of thousands of these neuro-transmitting compounds on a daily basis. Acetylcholine is one of the neurotransmitters that facilitate cognitive function, so a brain support supplement that contains acetylcholine provides you with the neurotransmitters that make cognitive function possible.There are also numerous supplements that support brain memory.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

The brain relies on acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter, but your body uses Acetyl-L-Carnitine to convert choline into the acetylcholine the brain needs. Acetyl-L-Carnitine facilitates the manufacture of acetylcholine and is vital for boosting brain function, but Acetyl-L-Carnitine also plays a vital role in supporting energy production for the brain. Your brain makes up approximately 10% of your body weight, but the brain uses about 20% of the energy you produce. That is a phenomenal amount of energy, and it is important to support the brain by supplementing the compounds that support energy production in the brain. Every nerve signal and neurotransmission in your brain uses energy. The brain also needs energy to support the production of the compounds needed to support mood, to facilitate cognition, and to promote overall brain health. Acetyl-L-Carnitine is essential for transporting fatty acids into the brain cells. The brain uses glucose and fatty acids to produce energy. Acetyl-L-Carnitine is, therefore, vital for supporting brain health. Studies show that Acetyl-L-Carnitine supplementation improves cognitive status, improves memory function, and helps to reduce mental fatigue.

Ginkgo Biloba

In general, supplements and nutritional support requires a constant and consistent effort to maintain results. Many people tend to think that taking a vitamin C tablet once will be sufficient for boosting the immune system, for example, but most supplements are not like drugs. You can’t just take one and expect to be healthy for the rest of your life. In fact, you often can’t notice the difference until you’ve taken the supplement for a while. Ginkgo Biloba is, however, an exception to that rule. A number of studies have shown that even a single dose of Ginkgo Biloba can boost memory and cognitive function. This, of course, doesn’t mean the boost lasts forever. You still need to boost the brain constantly, but, for you executives seeking a quick brain boost, a Ginkgo Biloba supplement may offer you that all-important edge during one of your high-powered meetings.

Ginseng

Ginseng is another herbal extract that breaks the rules in terms of single doses. A single dose of ginseng has also been found to help promote and support optimal cognitive function. Ginseng is particularly helpful for executives, because ginseng not only boosts brain function, but also provides you with an energy boost. Let’s face it: You may not be running a marathon or a one hundred meter sprint, but, when it comes to energy requirements, executives sometimes need just as much energy as a top professional athlete. A top quality ginseng supplement can give you the energy boost you need, while at the same time boosting brain function, giving you the best of both worlds for supporting your ability to succeed as a modern executive.

Boost Your Brain Power to Succeed

There are many more herbal extracts, nutrients, and vitamins that are vital for brain support. If you want to set yourself up for success, see your brain like athletes see their bodies, and make sure your nutrition supports your goals.