Body Shop: 5 supplements serve up brain-boosting surprises - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Air Force Times

Body Shop: 5 supplements serve up brain-boosting surprises

Several popular dietary supplements just got better recommendations, with new studies suggesting they offer surprising benefits in the brain-boosting department.

Creatine, a protein normally produced in the liver, is well-known as the bodybuilder’s all-natural drug of choice. But several recent studies suggest creatine may also strengthen your brain muscles.

Researchers are finding that it improves thinking, psychomotor muscle-memory skills and mood after staying up all night.

Animal studies suggest creatine consumption also can help protect against traumatic brain injury.

Turns out Omega-3 fatty acids are brain-buffers, too. Found in fish oil, Omega-3s are becoming the no-brainer supplement for all-around good health.

A slew of studies over the past few years have shown they also guard against inflammation caused by brain injury while rallying immune system and antioxidant defenses after a hit to the head. Omega-3s also reduce learning disabilities following traumatic brain injuries.

Early results in an ongoing study by former Army psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen show dramatic recovery among NFL players who have been hit with head-crunching concussions.

“These are big guys who have all suffered brain damage,” says Amen, author of “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body: Use Your Brain to Get and Keep the Body You Have Always Wanted.”

“Our goal [was] to see if we could rehabilitate their brains.”

So far, so good.

After taking a multivitamin and Omega-3s, among other supplements, for about a year, 14 of the first 18 people tested saw significant improvements, with many doubling their brain-testing scores.

Meanwhile, zinc deficiencies have long been known to cause hair loss, impotence and skin conditions and to slow healing, but new research is showing zinc is an essential part of the immune system and is now being used to treat attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, as well.

Amen, who runs four brain treatment clinics, says zinc works wonders for memory enhancement as well, a finding supported by other studies. He’s also a big fan of green tea, which he says improves focus and energy.

Antioxidants such as beta carotene, found in vitamin A, may also be helpful for increasing thinking skills and memory.