Herbs are an excellent way for you to rejuvenate your mind, especially if you are on a strict diet. They are beloved by many health experts because they do not contain any calories. Besides that, they are a great way to add flavors to healthy meals.
They not only help to make your healthy diet tasty, but they will also ensure that you have a better memory. A good memory is vital as you get older as your mind begins to suffer from aging.
Not only do they help to keep your mind sharp, but some research also suggests that these herbs can even prevent brain tumors. Besides that, they can help lessen common metal problems like excessive anxiety.
Parsley and Thyme
A study conducted in Brazil found that the flavonoid found in these natural spices could work wonders for the brain. According to the survey, apigenin, a compound common in them can help to improve the connections between neurons. It was even found that the compound could help to coax stem cells into forming new neurons to replace depleted ones.
While the study was conducted in a laboratory and not on humans, the scientists suggested that eating a diet rich in these spices could do the same for humans. With better connections in mind, it could help to ward off dangerous brain ailments such as Alzheimer’s, depression and even Parkinson’s disease.
According to a research associate, who was not involved with the study, the compound apigenin has similar structures to estrogen. In other research, estrogen has been shown to have a positive impact on the development of neurons. According to Giana Ph.D., the apigenin was able to mimic the effects of estrogen on the human body.
Chamomile
If you love taking tea late at night, then this is no doubt a favorite of yours. It has often been used as an anecdotal cure for stress. Just like apigenin, most of the research done on its effects on neurons has been limited to the lab.
However, when we examine those lab studies, we find that chamomile works like magic on the brain. The herb contains compounds which bind to receptors in the brain when certain chemicals are leased in the brain. These are chemicals, which are known to cause stress and anxiety in humans.
When this happens, the brain can relax, as the neurons are not able to fire. In a study that involved chamomile, groups of people were randomly given chamomile or a placebo. At the end of this study, those who had been taken chamomile were found to have reduced anxiety.
With less anxiety, you can be able to accomplish quite a lot. You will focus more on your work, and your brain can be thus more productive, even late into the night.
Turmeric
To understand how turmeric works in the body, you need to know a bit about macrophages. These are immune cells, which are found throughout the body. These immune cells have the work of destroying foreign objects that course through the body.
However, if a patient has Alzheimer’s, these macrophages are not able to achieve their purpose. When the immune cells fail to do their work well, beta-amyloid plaques build up quickly in the body. These are thought to play a significant role in the advancement of Alzheimer’s in the human body.
When a person regularly takes turmeric, specific compounds in the spice, have been shown to help macrophages do their work. As a result, the macrophages can do their job of clearing plaques form the body. The result is that it could help people who show early signs of the illness.
However, studies have not yet been done to determine how much turmeric you need to consume in your diet to have a meaningful impact on the immune cells. Thus far, all the results collected have only been limited to a petri dish.
Rosemary
This common spice is another excellent way to deal with failing memory. In fact, studies have shown that the mere smell of this herb can help the memory of those above 65. It works explicitly on improving prospective memory.
It is a part of memory, which helps you to remember specific tasks and events, which will occur in future.For instance, being able to remember you have a doctor’s appointment at 4 pm. The study was carried out on 150 people, all above 65 years of age.
The participants were divided into three groups. One group stayed in a room with lavender, the other in a room with rosemary and another in a room with no scent. At the end of the survey, scientists concluded that those who were in a place filled with rosemary so a marked improvement in their prospective memory. Besides that, their alertness was better when compared to those in other rooms.
Sage
Sage has been known anecdotally for its ability to improve the memory of its users. In a pair of studies, capsules filled with sage extract were used to enhance memory.
It was so when compared to those who took the placebo. In another study conducted on animals, it was found that sage extracts could block the activity of a particular enzyme. An enzyme, which is known to degrade an essential neurotransmitter in the human body.
In short, sage can boost or restore brain function, especially memory. However, if you are going to use sage extracts, you need to be careful. They have been known to be quite harmful, especially in those that have high BP. It might make the BP rise.
It is thus advisable to speak to your GP before using sage extracts.
Additional Herbs
Here’s a video showing some of the benefits of Ayurvedic Herbs for brain health and their related benefits:
Conclusion
These herbs can do wonders for your mind. They work even better when combined with an excellent diet and great exercise. In short, if you are keeping yourself fit and healthy, these herbs will provide you with that extra boost that your brain needs.
Reading a list of ingredients is a terrifying prospect. E numbers, additives, preservatives – it’s a nightmare. And half of them you’d have to google to know what the hell they were. Take pasta – ready-made pasta is barely different from poison.
The point is to make sure that you are eating it with the right quantity of cacao and sugar. If it is a whole bar of milk chocolate, you might find that it is filled with ingredients that aren’t all that healthy and don’t have much benefit either. If you eat an entire bar of dark chocolate, there is a good chance you are getting brain enhancing chemicals from the cacao and other nutrients that come in it as well. In fact, the magnesium, iron, and other minerals in chocolate make it a perfect health food.