As you get older, memory loss can become a major concern. Age-related memory loss is usually caused by a combination of factors, including diet and lifestyle habits. For instance, certain vitamins play an important role in keeping your brain healthy as you age, while other nutrients may help improve brain function. So what are some of the best vitamins for improving memory? Here are the top memory vitamins that you should consider adding to your diet:
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin that helps convert carbohydrates into energy. It also serves as an antioxidant and plays an important role in brain function. In the body, thiamine is found almost exclusively in the heart, muscles, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. The recommended daily intake of thiamine for adults over 55 is 1.2 milligrams per day—the same as other age groups. You can find thiamine in enriched flour products (such as bread), lean meats such as pork loin and lean beef; dried beans like pinto beans; whole grains such as oats; fortified breakfast cereals made with whole grains or enriched flours; nuts such as cashews; brown rice cakes; chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans); sunflower seeds and more.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in metabolism, DNA synthesis, and brain function. It also helps to maintain a healthy nervous system and skin. In fact, without adequate amounts of vitamin B6 in your diet, you would suffer from many symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia. In addition to improving your moods and sleeping patterns, it can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease with age.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that helps to improve memory and cognitive function. A study published in the journal Neurology found that people who consumed more than 700 milligrams of vitamin C per day had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It has also been suggested that vitamin C may help to protect against cognitive decline, as it aids in the formation of neurotransmitters (chemicals essential for transmitting signals between nerve cells).
There are many different ways to get your daily dose. You can start by adding citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes into your diet; they’re high in vitamin C and other nutrients like potassium that help boost brain health. Another great source is broccoli – one cup contains 89% of your daily recommended amount!
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps reduce oxidative stress’s effects on your cells. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. It’s also known to help protect against age-related cognitive decline because of its ability to counter inflammation in the brain.
In addition to consuming vitamin E through food sources like nuts and seeds, you can also take a supplement containing alpha-tocopherol (the most active form). As always with any supplement, consult with your doctor before taking any new vitamins or supplements.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral that helps support your immune system and maintain muscle growth and mental functions. Zinc is an important part of the brain that helps with depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Zinc is found in beans, nuts, seeds, seafood, and lean meats. In addition to helping with memory loss after age 55 or 60 (or even earlier), zinc can help you boost cognitive function during your golden years — it’s one of the best vitamins for aging adults!
Conclusion
It’s clear that vitamins are essential for our health; as we age, they become even more important. While you may not have had much time to focus on your memory when you were younger, now is the time to start taking care of it. The key is consistency: if you can find the right combination of vitamins and minerals that work for your body type (and tastes), then there’s no reason they won’t help improve your memory!
