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Do you always forget where you placed your keys or your purse? What about Mr. What’s His Name, that very kind acquaintance who referred you to your next job? What was the name of the movie you saw last week for sake of conversation? If you’re blaming genetics or stress on your memory challenge, you might be pointing your finger in the wrong direction. The major clue to your forgetfulness may be linked to what you store in
your body, not in your short-term memory bank.
Clinical tests continue to show that people with adequate levels of the B Complex Vitamin Riboflavin do well on memory exams. The “B” could stand for “brain,” if you’re one of many with limited instant recall. And the number one source of that vitamin is sunflower seeds.
Even when you’re sleeping or relaxing, your brain is still hard at work. Although it makes up just two percent of your total body weight, it uses up to 30% of your daily intake of calories. For it to work properly, it must be fed. Even if you’re not a breakfast eater, that meal is the best way to jumpstart your brain. A quick and easy English muffin with peanut butter, an orange, and glass of milk might be what your brain may be asking you first thing in the morning when you feel like your head is in a fog. Snacking on sunflower seeds and fruit between meals adds more muscle to that hungry, demanding tissue.
Thiamin, or Vitamin B-1, also helps the memory; and that’s found in cereals, meats and nuts. Zinc is still recognized as a crucial brain mineral, and scientists have discovered that even a mild deficiency of this nutrient can affect both memory and mental functions. Good sources of zinc include dark turkeymeat, whole grains and seafood.
Research also shows that the mineral Boron has an effect on the brain’s electrical activity. Foods high in Boron include broccoli, apples, pears, peaches and grapes. In Chinese culture, walnuts are known as the longevity fruit because it is believed they feed both the kidneys and the brain. And according to Chinese philosophy, if you keep those two vital organs in good working order, you’ll live longer.
In essence, if you need help remembering, just keep in mind the letter “B.” Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B Complex and Boron all help you to “bear in mind” even on those days when life’s challenges are sending you in a billion directions.
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