Ever hear the expression “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”? Well, biblical meanings aside, the concept has a lot to tell us about energy.
I can’t actually think of a time when my mind has been alive, energetic, and enthusiastic, but my body’s been too tired to do something. But there are plenty of times that the reverse is true: your body is perfectly able to perform, but you’re mentally exhausted. Take-home point – energy starts (and frequently ends) in the brain.
That’s why keeping your brain active, keeping the circuits firing on all cylinders, protecting your neurons from the damage known as oxidation (see sidebar below), and generally making sure that everything up there is working fine is probably the best overall strategy on the planet for maintaining terrific reserves of energy**.
**There’s no one on the planet more anti-drug than I am, but consider this: Back in previous wars, when the military had physically exhausted troops on its hands, it would routinely provide the soldiers with amphetamines so they could complete their missions. The soldiers’ physical energy wouldn’t change, but because amphetamines work on the brain, the drugged-out troops were able to perform as if they’d just woken up from nine hours of restful sleep, even though they were physically spent. Moral of the story: If your brain is energized, you are energized. But don’t try this at home, folks.
That’s why, no matter what else I may forget to take, I never forget to take my daily “brain supplements”. The basic brain energy formula I recommend has three important ingredient: acetyl-l-carnitine, phosphatidylserine (PS), and gylcerophosphocholine( GPC). In addition, I strongly recommend taking ginkgo, alpha-lipoic acid, and fish oil for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which is that they help support the brain (as well as a host of other organs and functions).
A PRESCRIPTION FOR MENTLA PRECISION
So what are all these ingredients, and why do they have such unpronounceable names?
I can’t explain the esoteric names in a way that wouldn’t put you to sleep, but I cant tell you what they do and why they help with brain energy. In a nutsheel, acetyl-i-carnitine helps energize the brain; phosphatidylserine, or PS, is great for memory; and GPC helps enhance mental focus. Together, they make a winning combination.
Neurologist David Perlmutter, M.D., author of The Better Brain Book, describes acetyl-l-carnitine as a neuronal energizer. He points out that it helps remove waste products from the little energy production factories in the cells (called mitochondria), enabling those energy-draining (and health-robbing) toxins to be eliminated form the body. Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D., says acetyl-l-carnitine improves the function of those mito0chondria, “returning them to the way they were when you were twenty”.
PS is a member of a class of biochemicals called phospholipids, and has been available as a supplement for decades. It’s been shown in many well-documented studies to restore brain function and help improve learning and concentration. My good friends, biochemist and nutritional supplement expert Parris Kidd, Phd.D., says, ‘Dietary supplementation with PS can alleviate, ameliorate, and sometimes reverse age-releated decline of memory, learning, concentration, word skills, and mood”.
Finally, GPC has been extensively researched for its effect on mental performance, attention, and concentration, and the result have been impressive indeed. (It’s actually found in large quantities in breast milk, which ought to say something about its importance in human health!)
“I continue to be fascinated by GPC’s capacities to sharpen mental performance, even in people who are healthy, and to give new vitality to the again brain”, says Kidd, who is one of the country’s leading experts on GPC (www.dockidd.com).
I also recommend alpha-lipoic acid, a supplement with a huge resume of beneficial effects on the body and brain. Alpha-lippic acid was combined with acetyl-l-carnitine in a series of animal experiments performed in 2002 by the legendary researcher Bruce Ames, Ph.D., at the University of California.
The appearance of the animal brains’ improved and the animals showed significant increases in energy, Ames reported. “With these two supplements together, these old rats got up and did the Macarena”.
Finally, don’t underestimate the old standby for brain health, ginkgo biloba. It’s a powerful antioxidant and neuro-protector. My friend Daniel Amen, M.D., who has looked at more than 10,000 SPECT scan (pictures of brains), says that from a health and function point of view, the healthiest looking brains he has seen are those on ginkgo
So how do you take all these things? Well, let me count the ways. There are dozens of supplements sold that combine them in various formulas marketed for brain health, brain energy, memory enhancement, and the like. These vary widely in quality, and you should look for meaningful doses of the important ingredients (at least 100 mg of PS, 450 mg of GPC, and 300 mg of acetyl-l-carnintine).
I also recommend 100 mg a day of alpha-lipoic acid for general protection (and antiaging assistance!) and 120 to 240 mg of gingko.
Remember, too, that fish oil has many benefits for the brain and althought it won’t directly “give” you energy, it will sure help protect the circuits in the brain that will!
WORT KNOWING
Two other ingredients are often used in brain formulas, largely because both are precursors of that exciting, stimulating, energizing neurotransmitter dopamine. They are DL-phenlalanine and L-tryosine, both amino acids. One formula, designed by Eric Braverman, M.D., combine both in a product aptly called Brain Energy. Brain Energy is also in the vitamin supplements section of my website, www.jonnybowden.com under “brain power”.
Oxidation and Your Brain
Here’s the thing about oxygen: You can’t live without it. But it can also do some nasty damage.
You may remember from high school biology that all molecules have something called electrons that orbit around the core of the molecule in matched pairs. Once in a while, one of these electrons gets loose from its pair bond, and goes on a bit of a rampage while it tries to find a mate. That rampage causes what’s known as oxidative damage, or oxidation. (You can see the visible effects of this by watching what happens to apple slices left out in the air on the kitchen counter overnight).
The rogue, unpaired electrons are known as free radicals. Each time one of these free radicals “hits” on an intact molecule looking to steal a mate for itself, it damages your cells and DNA. When this happens in the brain, the results are…. Well, not good. Antioxidants (including vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, ginkgo, and plant compounds such as flavonoids) actually work by “donating” an electron to the rogue fellow, helping to prevent further damage.
Bottom line : Oxidative damage: bad. Protection against oxidative damage: priceless.
By Jonny Bowden
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