How to Improve Mental Clarity
April 9, 2008
Get To Sleep. Mental alertness begins with attaining good quality and quantity of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night for optimal health and performance, but most people fall short of this due to a hectic schedule or an inability to fall asleep. Sleep is very important for your brain because this is the time when memories and information are actually processed and organized in your brain. If you are having any problems getting to sleep try our Sleep1.
Remember Exercise Is Important For Your Brain. Regular physical exercise is not just essential for your body, it’s essential for your brain as well. When you exercise, your body increases circulation of blood, and consequently oxygen and glucose (the sugar your brain uses as a fuel) to the brain. To increase mental clarity, try light aerobic exercise during the day, such as brisk walking, swimming, or casual cycling.
Try Brain-ercise. As physical exercise strengthens your body, exercising your mind strengthens your brain. Activities such as Sudoku, puzzles, drawing, and math quizzes all stimulate your brain, helping you create and maintain important neuronal connections critical to cognitive abilities. One simple exercise you can practice very simply is to write with the opposite of your dominant hand. It may be difficult initially, but with a little practice and some neuronal connections, you will get the hang of it.
Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels. Just like gasoline fuels a car, blood sugar fuels your brain. The human body has incredible abilities to regulate blood sugar, but even these complex physiological functions have their limitations. You can help your body maintain healthy blood glucose levels by consuming well-balanced, low-sugar, and portion-controlled meals every four to five hours throughout the day. Additionally, consuming small carbohydrate snacks between meals, such as sliced fruits and vegetables, will help fuel your brain.
Provide Your Brain the Right Nutrients like those packed into Neuro1. When it comes to your brain, not all food is created equal. Your brain requires special nutrition to perform optimally. Because your brain is mostly composed of fat, it is important to include healthy fats, such as polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats in your diet. Avoid saturated, trans, and hydrogenated fats that may actually have a negative impact on your mental clarity.
There are micronutrients present in small amounts in the diet that can positively affect mental clarity and cognitive abilities. Many vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, the B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, are essential for humans. These vitamins and minerals play an integral role in brain and nervous system functions, energy production, immune system function, organ health, and cell protection.
Certain amino acids function as or are converted to important neurotransmitters, which may be present in less-than-optimal concentrations in the body due to conditions of stress, fatigue, sleep deprivation, exhaustion, or sub-optimal diet, such as taurine and tyrosine. Plant and herbal extracts, such as bacopa monniera, rhodiola rosea, ginkgo biloba and huperzia serrata, can help to stimulate the nervous system, making you feel more alert while helping to optimize neurotransmitter levels and protecting against neurodegenerative processes.
Neuronutrients, such as glucuronolactone, phosphatidylserine, and alpha-glycerylphsophoryl choline can also help support brain function. While these neuronutrients sound obscure, they actually occur naturally in the human body and are found in some foods.
Supplements designed to support mental clarity may include ingredients, such as those described above, that are researched to improve aspects of cognitive abilities. These nutrients are an easy way to provide your brain with the fuel and building blocks required to maximize your mental clarity.
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2 Responses to “How to Improve Mental Clarity”
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Thanks for the article. Very helpful information.
Hi Bill, My name is Jennifer, I am the mother of a 10 year old boy who is clearly your biggest fan. His name is Austin and he has played competitive football for 3 years now. His jersey has always been, of coarse-53 and all over his room you will find your autographed pictures, trader cards, jersey, and even a football. I’m not sure where he got this dedication to the greatest defensive tackle there ever was, but he’s got it. He wants to be just like you when he gets into college ball. We listen to you on the radio when you come on 103.5 the fox in Denver. Austin would do just about anything to meet you. Is there a way to know when you would be making appearences in Denver so we could try to come meet you? I can’t tell you how that would make Austin feel and how it would effect the rest of his life. Austin has a passion for the game and well, he’s good at it. I think with some corespondance from you would really send him over the edge for football. Thanks so much for your time Bill, and for being such a great positive roll model in my son’s life.
Your biggest fans’ mom, Jennifer Lobsinger