These days it seems like everyone is on a hunt for the latest and greatest way to improve their mental acuity. People want to be smarter than smart, sharper than sharp, and at their peak mental prowess at all times. The desire to excel mentally is admirable, but it’s not easy. With so much information available at our fingertips, how can we know where to put our energy and attention? Information overload also makes it hard to stay focused which is why we need a bit of brain performance support: enter brain health supplements like Tinc.
What do Brain Performance Supplements Do?
Designed to improve brain connections, focus, concentration, alertness, and reaction time, brain performance supplements may be exactly what you need to enhance your mental strength. Brain supplements work in various ways. Some are intended specifically for mood and clarity while others are meant to target memory. There is an argument to be made that you could get everything you need to support your brain from food, but the reality is that most people will still be lacking in certain areas.
Brain supplements fill in the gaps. They step in where nutrition falls short and help your body absorb the necessary nutrients for peak performance. These supplements are not meant to be a replacement for eating a brain-healthy diet. Rather, they complement a diet already rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, vitamins, minerals, leafy greens, and other healthy foods that contribute to mental sharpness.
The aforementioned foods are widely recognized as some of the most nutritious ways to increase Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Another way to increase the absorption of BDNF is through the consumption of coffee fruit extract, the single ingredient found in Tinc.
What is BDNF?
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, also known as BDNF, is a key neuroprotein involved in brain health. BDNF is largely responsible for increasing overall vitality and neuronal plasticity, a critical component of learning and memory function.
How Does BDNF Work?
Without getting too far into the scientific weeds of it all, BDNF works by increasing the expression of pro-survival genes. It regulates glucose and energy metabolism levels while simultaneously preventing the overuse of tyrosine kinase B (high affinity receptor TrkB).
Benefits of Increased BDNF
Low levels of BDNF are linked with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple sclerosis (MS), and Huntington’s disease, among others. While these are extreme cases where BDNF may be low, an increase in it may help prevent and manage mental degeneration.
What the Science Says
The good news is that there is an extensive amount of scientific research that supports brain supplements for mental clarity through an increase in BDNF.
Brain Support from Coffee Fruit Extract
A single-dose study from the British Journal of Nutrition was conducted to assess the effectiveness of whole coffee fruit concentrate powder (WCFC) compared to other sources related to an increase in BDNF. These other sources were green coffee caffeine powder, grape seed extract powder, and coffee bean extract powder. The data collected showed that while grape seed extract powder and green coffee caffeine powder increased BDNF by about 31%, whole coffee fruit concentrate powder increased BDNF by 143%.
Mental Support Supplements for Alertness & Fatigue
Brain performance supplements that increase BDNF may be the ticket to improved mental clarity, but getting more granular about how that works is critical to their widespread acceptance. Research published by the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement found that a certain polyphenol-rich coffeeberry extract led to an increase in performance when participants engaged in fatiguing cognitive tasks. The study compared the effects of consuming beverages with the extract against those without. It determined that there was lower perception of fatigue when people performed the same tasks after consuming the coffee extract as compared to not consuming it. Simply put, participants exerted the same energy but felt less drained with the right brain performance support.
Multivariate Methods for Cognitive Neuroscience Aging
Then the question of brain supplements for aging comes into play. Science supports the use of supplements for mental clarity across adults of all ages (18 and up), but there may be reason to believe that they may be even more beneficial for the older population. Studies on age-related shifts in neural engagement and cognitive operations seem to link these deficits to something called Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA). MVPA techniques use spatial and temporal patterns of neural signals to gather information related to the specific regions of the brain. An argument could be made that increasing BDNF may activate certain areas of the brain that would otherwise be less utilized.
How to Increase BDNF
The science-backed claims supporting the importance of BDNF are pretty clear. Then the question becomes, “How do you increase BDNF?” More importantly, how do you increase BDNF to yield brain support?
- Consume Coffee and Take Coffea Arabica Supplements
This isn’t a free-for-all permission slip to go ahead and drink 6 cups of coffee per day. Rather, it is a suggestion that moderate consumption of coffee (1-2 cups per day) and/or taking Coffea Arabica supplements could be beneficial for brain support. The coffee bean contains chlorogenic acid, a natural compound known for its antioxidant properties. It is also associated with anti-inflammatory effects, neuroprotective benefits, blood sugar regulation, and more. One of the best ways to get chlorogenic acid is through food and/or brain supplements like Tinc, which is standardized to 40% Chlorogenic Acid.
- Manage Stress
We all know that chronic stress is not good for anyone’s health, but did you know that it can also lead to a decrease in BDNF? Managing your stress levels may help you increase BDNF or keep it within a healthy range. While you’re at it, it may be a good idea to evaluate your sleep, as insufficient sleep can be an added stressor.
- Exercise Regularly
Research suggests that intense aerobic exercise, high intensity interval training (HIIT), and resistance training may elevate BDNF levels. The medical journal Neuroscience found that physically active people tend to have higher BDNF levels than sedentary individuals. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the gym. Simply incorporating more movement into your daily routine could have a major impact.
- Spend Time in the Sun
Vitamin D is a pillar of well-being but how you get it matters as well. If possible, spend time in the sun to reap the benefits of the vitamin. While Vitamin D supplements may help, evidence has shown that individuals with access to direct sunlight tend to see increased levels of BDNF when compared to those without it.
- Eat BDNF Rich Foods
Eating a diet rich in BDNF increasing foods can go a long way when it comes to your brain health. Foods such as dark chocolate, blueberries, extra virgin olive oil, and foods with Omega 3 fatty acids (certain fish) are known to support brain health. These foods are high in polyphenol antioxidants, which complement BDNF levels quite well
If you had any question as to the validity of brain supplements for mental performance, we hope this cleared a few things up! Every brain supplement is different, but the ones that keep it simple, focus on increasing BDNF, and are backed by science are much easier to get behind. Add to that the countless customer reviews and testimonials from people who have had positive experiences, and we have a consensus: brain performance supplements will give you the boost you need.
Ready to see it for yourself? Try our Daily Brain Boost when you shop at Tinc today.
