02/26/2020 / By Michael Alexander
Seventy-five percent of Americans are turning to supplements to address their health needs, according to data collected by the Council for Responsible Nutrition during their Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements for 2018. Not only that, 87 percent of the surveyed supplement users said they have overall confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of the supplements they take.
This is complemented by a recent study by the AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons), which found that a quarter of Americans aged over 50 take supplements mainly for brain health. According to the AARP study, this translates to a booming business that’s expected to reach $5.8 billion in terms of sales by 2023.
Among the brain health-supporting supplements discussed in the study are those containing:
The study also looked at ginkgo biloba and other plant-derived compounds such as curcumin, various flavanols, huperzine-A and caffeine. (Related: Nutrients and brain health: Which ones are great for improving mental health?)
The mentioned supplements have shown health benefits in separate studies — health benefits that may be linked to the majority of their components’ antioxidant properties.
For example, B vitamins have been shown to support good mental health in individuals, while omega-3 supplementation can be used as adjunctive therapy in the management of treatment-unresponsive depression and schizophrenia.
B vitamins and omega-3s, on separate studies, have been shown to possess antioxidant properties. This means that they can help promote the body’s overall health by fighting the damaging effects of oxidative stress caused by free radicals from the environment.
However, the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) — the group which conducted the study on behalf of the AARP — said that while supplements offer benefits to those who take them, the best way to get nutrients is through a healthy and balanced diet.
Looking to improve your cognitive function? Here are some foods you can add to your diet:
It doesn’t stop there. Other superfoods that can support healthy cognitive function include eggs, green tea, oranges, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate and turmeric.
Sources include:
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