Diet? CHECK! Exercise? CHECK! Supplements? CHECK! Nervous system recovery? What is that? An important factor of weight loss that is frequently overlooked!
We often use only nutraceuticals to support our weight loss/metabolic goals, but fail to support our nervous system and its ‘moving parts’. Nervous system support, especially as it relates to recovery from exercise should be a part of any weight loss system. Commonly these support nutrients are referred to as nootropics. Nootropics are ingredients that support memory, focus and drive. These are essential to support motivation through weight-loss and lifestyle changes.
Considering that stress is a constant for most, if not all individuals, starting with stress support ingredients is your best bet. Vitamin C and Magnesium are both beneficial for stress recovery as well as nervous system recovery. They can easily be paired with botanicals, called nervines that are taken as a part of stress formulas. These are botanicals like Holy basil, Ashwaganda and Scutallaria. Amino acids like tyrosine, theanine and glycine can also be helpful in both stress and nervous system recovery.
Some of the most powerful and well-studied nootropics are available in many nutraceutical formulation, such as Wolfberry, also known as huprazine A. Wolfberry is well researched, and shown to maintain acetylcholine (a memory and mood related neurotransmitter) levels by limiting the enzymes that try to breakdown acetylcholine. Acetyl-L-Carnitine can assist in improved energy, both physically and mentally by opposing toxic fatty acids in the mitochondria (cells). Acetyl-L-Carnitine enhances acetylcholine levels while reducing oxidative stress on the brain when paired with A-lipoic acid (an antioxidant).
It’s important to remember, it takes multiple lines of defense to protect the body and brain. There is no one single trigger for disease or decline. Make sure your defense is as robust as the number of ways there are to get sick!
Sources:
Blusztajn, J. (1998). Choline, a Vital Amine. Developmental Neuroscience,281(5378), 794-795.
Lerer, B., Oppenheim, Y., Kelly, D., Gorfine, M., Kampf-Sherf, O., & Schreiber, S. (2000). An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive decline.
Raves, M., Harel, M., Pang, Y., Silman, I., Kozikowski, A., & Sussman, J. (1997). Structure of acetylcholinesterase complexed with the nootropic alkaloid, (-)-huperzine A. Nature Structural Biology,4, 57 – 63
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