The best 5 herbs for your cognition

March 12, 2019 at 4:09 am

The owner of the apartment said she could smell it. I had to smile. The night before, my girlfriend and I had been to a garlic restaurant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands The starter was soup, the main course chicken and the dessert ice cream. But as you might already guess: the most important ingredient in all three courses? That was garlic.

Garlic is often used in the kitchen to give the dish some extra flavor. I often put a clove of garlic in the pan with onion. Only years later after our visit to the restaurant in Rotterdam I found out that garlic is not only delicious, but also healthy for you.

In addition to garlic there are 4 other herbs that are healthy for your brain and cognitive abilities. These are rosemary, Huperzine A, Alpha GPC, Rhodolia Rhosea and peppermint.

Garlic

In 2007, Das, Banik and Ray’s research led to roaring headlines. Could garlic prevent and prevent the development of brain tumors? The researchers themselves were not sure; the effect of certain substances in garlic was visible in a petri dish in the laboratory, but it was too early to apply the same effects to the human brain.

In addition to  benefits for your brain, other properties are also attributed to garlic. It seems to help to keep your blood vessels and heart healthy, to improve your immune system and to prevent aging. Some say that a garlic is an aphrodisiac. 

Because garlic opens the blood vessels it provides extra blood supply to the genitals. It is best to eat garlic raw. You can also take it in the form of supplements.

Rosemary

Herbs not only have a positive effect only when you eat it. The scent of lavender has a relaxing and soothing effect. There is basis to believe that the scent of rosemary  supports your memory. At least, this is according to study with a group of  elderly. In the study, the subjects (older than 65 years) were divided into 3 groups.

One group came into a room with the scent of lavender, another group in a room with a scent of rosemary and a third group in a room without a specific smell. It turned out that the subjects in the rosemary’s room had a better memory and also a higher level of alertness.

Huperzia Serrata

Huperzine-A is a constituent that occurs in a few plant families, including Huperziaceae. It is a kind of moss and there is no known harmful side effect. For that reason this ingredient is often added to nootropics and supplements.

Huperzine is associated with the protection of new brains (neurogenesis). Scientists have conducted this research into the effect of Alzheimer’s disease. Like Ginko Biloba and Ginseng, it has been used for years in Chinese medicine.

Alpha GPC

Alpha-GPC stands for Alpha-glycerophosphocholine. The substance provides an increase in cognitive performance and protects against aging processes in the brain. It mainly works in the support of the cell membrane. It also seems that it can help in physical performance, especially in endurance and strength.

Alpha GPC is in foods that can be bought in the supermarket, such as eggs. If you take Piracitam from Aniracitam (also not legally available in the Netherlands), then you are advised to take extra Alpha-GPC. The reason for this is that the racitams claim the choline reserves in your brain.

Rhodolia Rhosea

Rhodolia Rhosea is referred to as both a traditional Chinese medicine and a Scandinavian herb. The properties that are against the herb that helps to reduce fatigue (especially in stressful situations). It also has brain protective capabilities.

For the latter claim there is less scientific evidence, but the two benefits. If you are less tired and better able to cope with stress, you can often think more quietly and make informed decisions.

For this reason it is recommended to take extra Rhodolia, especially if you do not drink caffeine for a few days. It is then a substitute for caffeine that you then miss.

Peppermint

Do you ever order peppermint tea? Scientists conducted research with 180 subjects. As with the rosemary scent, participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Each group received a different hot drink: the first group got chamomile tea, the second group peppermint tea and a third group only hot water.

After twenty minutes, the memory was measured and asked for their mood. It emerged that the group that drank peppermint tea had a better short and long-term memory. This effect certainly occurred in comparison with chamomile tea. Chamomile tea resulted in lower alertness and a less functioning memory. For that reason it is often recommended to drink chamomile tea in the evening with the aim of sleeping better.

Conclusion

The easiest way to get a few of these substances to you is by swallowing nootropics. For example, the Paneuromix Caps contain Huperzine A, Rhodolia Rhosea and Alpha-GPC.

If you have use a clove of garlic in your recipe tonight, hang a sprig of rosemary is in your room and you drink a cup of peppermint tea, then you might have found the perfect combination!

Let me know on social media! Do you use these herbs? Or do you use other things to stimulate your cognitive abilities?

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