We take many of our abilities for granted, like brain function, for example. We automatically assume our brain will work efficiently without really considering what we need to include in our diet to feed the brain. Your brain, like all of your other organs, relies on nutritional support. Nutrients that feed the brain include: • Vitamin B12 • Choline • Vinpocetine • Ginkgo Biloba • Huperzine A Vitamin B12 for Brain Health According to the Scientific American, your brain uses as much as one fifth of the entire body’s energy, and yet it weighs less than 10% of the total body weight. That means the brain is the most energy hungry organ in the body. Every time you think a thought, your brain cells have used energy to transmit the neurotransmitters that are vital for transmitting that thought. Every movement also requires the transmission of nerve signals, which requires energy. Vitamin B12 supports the production of energy. Aerobic energy production occurs in a structure called the mitochondrion. Each cell has hundreds of mitochondria that are responsible for producing energy for the cell. These structures transform glucose and oxygen into energy, but they also need access to vitamin B12. That is why vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients for supporting brain health and function. Choline The brain uses energy to transmit the signals that transmit messages within the brain and throughout the body. Neurotransmitters are the chemical compounds that are used for signaling purposes. The brain therefore needs an abundance of the neurotransmitters that allow for healthy signal transmission. Choline is a compound that allows the body to produce acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of the essential neurotransmitters in the brain. Acetylcholine is vital for supporting cognition, sleep, and memory. It is important to ensure your diet is high in choline to give the brain the raw materials to build acetylcholine. Since acetylcholine levels decline with age, taking a choline supplement may be beneficial for supporting healthy brain function. Vinpocetine The common periwinkle is by no means common when it comes to promoting brain health and function. The Vinca minor contains an active ingredient called Vinpocetine. This ingredient was identified about 25 years ago, and studies on Vinpocetine have focused on this humble plant’s ability to improve blood flow to the brain. Blood flow is the foundation of health because blood transports the nutrients and oxygen to the cells to support cellular function. By supporting and promoting healthy blood flow, Vinpocetine provides the transport system responsible for feeding your brain cells. Gingko Biloba Ginkgo Biloba is the oldest living tree species on earth. Gingko trees can live for a thousand years. Ginkgo biloba extracts are generally produced from the leaves of the plant. Scientists have been studying the effects of Ginkgo biloba on memory and cognitive health for decades. Gingko biloba is used to treat various cognitive disorders in Europe. Like many other herbal extracts, ginkgo biloba contains numerous ingredients that offer health benefits. Scientists have identified over 40 different ingredients in Ginkgo that support health. Research on Ginkgo biloba first identified the fact that Ginkgo extracts improve blood flow by dilating the blood vessels in the body. Science has also discovered that Gingko biloba extracts make the blood less sticky, and this promotes and improves blood flow to the brain. More recently, scientists have discovered the Ginkgo biloba extracts protect nerve cells from damage. Ginkgo is therefore being studied as a possible preventative or therapeutic option for Alzheimer’s disease. Huperzine A Club moss is found in India and Southeast Asia. Huperzine A is an extract produced from club moss. Scientists have been studying Huperzine A as a possible adjunctive treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Huperzine A works on the cholinergic system of the brain. Huperzine A increases the levels of acetylcholine in the brain, and that means the brain has access to more neurotransmitters to send signals within the brain and to the rest of the body. Huperzine A therefore seems to promote and improve the storage, consolidation, and retrieval systems of the brain, and it may improve memory and cognitive function. Boost Brain Function The nutrients mentioned above don’t only boost the brain, but also feed and protect the brain. Sadly, most of us only start looking for supplements once we lose function. Brain health is vital from the day you are born until the day you die. Don’t wait for memory to start failing before you invest in brain boosters. The Cognitive Health Formula by Complementary Prescriptions provides a powerful combination of Vitamin B12, Choline, Vinpocetine, Ginkgo Biloba, and Huperzine A.