Introduction
Memory loss can be a difficult and frustrating experience. Fortunately, there are a number of supplements that can help improve memory and cognitive function. According to dietitians, the best supplements for memory loss are those that contain omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants. These supplements can help improve memory, focus, and concentration, as well as reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, they can help protect against age-related memory decline. Read on to learn more about the best supplements for memory loss, as recommended by dietitians.
The Best Supplements For Memory Loss, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not That
Memory loss can be a difficult and frustrating experience, but there are ways to help improve your memory. Dietitians recommend certain supplements to help improve memory loss, and here are some of the best ones to consider.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a great supplement for memory loss because it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain health. Omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help improve memory. Fish oil can also help to improve mood and reduce stress, which can also help with memory loss.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is an herb that has been used for centuries to help improve memory. It is believed to help improve blood flow to the brain, which can help improve memory and cognitive function. It can also help to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help with memory loss.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for brain health. It helps to produce neurotransmitters, which are important for memory and cognitive function. Vitamin B12 can also help to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help with memory loss.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another essential vitamin for brain health. It helps to protect the brain from oxidative damage, which can help improve memory. Vitamin E can also help to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help with memory loss.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is an amino acid that helps to improve memory and cognitive function. It helps to increase the production of acetylcholine, which is an important neurotransmitter for memory and cognitive function. Acetyl-L-Carnitine can also help to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can help with memory loss.
These are just some of the best supplements for memory loss, according to dietitians. If you are experiencing memory loss, it is important to talk to your doctor or dietitian to determine the best course of action for you.
You get ready to leave the house, and you suddenly forget where you last placed your car keys. Or maybe it slipped your mind to pay your latest utility bill.
Although it can be frustrating in the moment, these instances of forgetfulness are most likely just a normal part of age-related memory loss.
Everyone’s brain changes as they get older, which is why it’s important to get the right nutrients on a daily basis. This can either happen through your diet, with supplements you take, or both.
We talked with a few dietitians to get their recommended supplements to take for memory loss as you age. Continue reading to find out what they say, and for more age-related health tips, check out The #1 Best Supplement if You Have Heart Disease.
Fish oil is one of the most popular supplements to take for boosting your memory and fighting age-related memory loss. According to Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, “the brain requires omega-3 fatty acids to make nerve cells, which are vital to memory and one’s ability to learn, so it has been found that fish oil can help prevent cognitive diseases and slow mental decline.”
Best says it’s also possible to get omega-3 fatty acids through the food you eat. Foods like fatty fish, walnuts, and chia seeds are high in omega-3s, but a supplement may come in handy if you don’t consume these foods often.
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Vitamin B12 is necessary for your body’s formation of cells, and a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to anemia, muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, and trouble focusing.
While many people are deficient in this vitamin, especially those who don’t consume animal products or fish, your chances for deficiency increase with age because your body has a harder time absorbing the vitamin.
“A severe vitamin B12 deficiency can cause memory loss, disorientation, and an overall decline in mental abilities, so supplementing this vitamin can be very helpful,” says Paula Doebrich, MPH, RDN, a registered dietitian at Happea Nutrition.
Choline is a crucial nutrient that your body needs for cognitive function, and while your body can make some choline in your liver, it’s important to still get choline from food or supplements.
Unfortunately, Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD a registered dietitian for Zhou Nutrition says that Americans aren’t getting nearly enough of this valuable nutrient.
“One of choline’s main roles is to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in memory regulation, and data shows that intake of this nutrient is linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease,” says Manaker.
You can find choline in many types of meat, fish, and nuts, but you may want to talk with your doctor about possibly needing a supplement as well.
RELATED: Best Supplements For People Over 50, Say Nutrition Experts
Rhodiola rosea is a flower that you probably haven’t heard of before. While this plant usually flies under the radar, it is known to have many brain-boosting qualities when consumed.
“Rhodiola rosea has been shown to offer memory support in some preliminary data, and it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may be reasons why it supports brain health,” says Manaker.
In a report from Aging & Disease, Rhodiola rosea was found to possibly help with age-related diseases, but more research still needs to be done.
Bacopa Monnieri is another plant that researchers are learning may have memory-boosting benefits when consumed.
“This nootropic herb is found in many brain health-supporting supplement blends thanks to its antioxidant effects, and it may support brain function in a natural way,” says Manaker.
In fact, research from Psychopharmacology found that Bacopa Monnieri helped to improve memory and cognitive function in healthy adults after 5- and 12-week checkups.
If you’re interested, you can find it in tea form, as a pill, or in powder form as well.