Page 67 - The Memory Program How to Prevent Memory Loss and Enhance Memory Power

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Vitamins: Diet Plus Supplements for a Promemory Effect

The beauty of vitamins is that they are completely natural substances essential for daily bodily
functioning, and hence there is little danger in taking extra amounts, with a few exceptions. A diet
rich in fruits and vegetables provides sufficient vitamins and minerals to prevent nutritional
deficiencies, but a proactive intervention for memory loss requires supplementation well above the
recommended FDA daily requirements. In other words, a healthy diet with proper nutrition is
excellent for maintaining general health, but specific supplements are needed to obtain a promemory
effect.

Destroyers of Free Radicals

The free radical theory of aging and memory loss lies behind the use of vitamin C and vitamin E, as
well as vitamin A or beta-carotene. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins, whereas the B
complex vitamins and vitamin C are water soluble. The fat-soluble vitamins are broken down mainly
in the liver, which has a limited capacity to handle these compounds. Therefore, if taken in large
amounts, fat-soluble vitamins like A and E can become toxic (vitamin D is needed for bone
formation, and vitamin K is part of the normal blood-clotting process; these are not directly relevant
to memory). In contrast, the water-soluble vitamins are essentially nontoxic because any excess is
promptly flushed out by the kidneys into the urine. You need to understand this distinction if you are
taking, or plan to take, massive doses of vitamins.

Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Broccoli Blueberries, strawberries
Corn Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit)
Beets Plums
Carrots Red grapes
Spinach Kiwi
Red peppers Peaches
Germs, seeds Nuts

Vitamin A Is Good for Your Brain

Vitamin A is an antioxidant that neutralizes “bad” oxygen and shields the membranes of brain cells
from injury. Research suggests that it