Boosting Brain Health: Essential Vitamins & Nutrients

Cognitive decline is considered by many to be unavoidable. However, eating vitamin-rich foods and taking vitamins that help with brain health may help slow the process substantially.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps halt free radical damage and is found naturally in fish oils, dark green vegetables and bright yellow or orange produce such as carrots, squash and cantaloupe.

Vitamin B

• B vitamins work best when taken together. B 12 may be especially beneficial to improve memory. B vitamins are found in wheat germ, lecithin, eggs, some nuts, soy and many other foods.

Vitamin C

• As another antioxidant, vitamin C may help cognitive decline by reducing free radical damage and slowing premature aging. Vitamin C is found in sweet potatoes, citrus, strawberries and other produce.

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D, though considered a vitamin, is actually a hormone. Current studies show that adequate vitamin D may be partially responsible for optimal brain health. It can be found in dairy, eggs, fish oil and sprouted seeds.

Warnings

• Although vitamin supplementation may be helpful for brain health, in addition to eating foods that contain the nutrients, you should obtain guidance from a knowledgeable health care practitioner for optimal benefit.