Glutamine is another amino acid with brain boosting abilities. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body, one of the reasons being that it acts as a secondary fuel source for the brain when glucose is not available, as such it provides energy to all the cells of the brain, making it vital to every function. Glutamine is considered both essential and non-essential, depending on the circumstances in the body. Seeing as it is so vital to the brain, as well as both immunological and gastrointestinal functioning, supplementing with glutamine, or at the very least making sure to consciously include it in the diet, is very important. Food sources of glutamine include animal protein, beets, cabbage, beans, raw spinach and parsley.

If You Don't use it, You'll Lose it.
Just as your body gets flabby and lazy without exercise, so does your brain. Both physical and mental exercise is extremely important to maintain healthy brain function. Physical exercise in the form of cardiovascular activity enhances blood flow to the brain, increasing the density and size of the brain capillaries. This increases oxygen to the brain and therefore optimizes delivery of nutrients and overall cognitive ability.

Crossword puzzles, games like Sodoku, card games, reading and learning new tasks, whether it be a new dance, a new song or a new language can all serve to increase brain function and enhance synapse activity within the brain. September means back to school for a lot of us, but it doesn't have to be a drag, just remember that with each new fact you learn or mathematical equation you solve, you are actually increasing brain power and protecting your brain from early decline. For those of us who have long finished school, remember that even old dogs can learn new tricks. Keep learning, it will keep your brain young and sharp.

Herbs
There are a number of different herbal supplements that can help to protect the brain from deterioration. Ginkgo biloba has long been known as a memory boosting herb. It increases blood flow to the brain, therefore increasing delivery of nutrients and enhancing communication between brain and nerve cells. It is also a potent anti-oxidant, helping to prevent free radical damage and limit deterioration of cells due to free radical damage. Bacopa is another effective 'brain boosting' herb. Bacosides, a specific constituent of Bacopa, are thought to be responsible for its' ability to enhance nerve impulses in the brain and even repair existing damage to neurons and their synaptic activity. This has implications in memory, attention, and overall prevention and even reversal of cognitive decline.

The brain boosting ability of food
A healthy diet is key to a healthy body, the brain being no exception. In fact the brain is one hungry organ, as long as it's the right fuel. Brain cells require 2x the amount of energy than that required by other cells in the body. When this energy requirement is not met, it leads to mental stress and exhaustion. The brain actually feeds on glucose, but don't reach for the candy bar just yet. Simple carbohydrates and refined sugar will fuel the brain, but it's very short lived and is followed by a low in which brain function is significantly less than optimal. Foods high in refined sugar lead to insulin release from the pancreas, which triggers cells to pull excess glucose out of the blood stream for storage. This means that ultimately, these foods cause glucose to be sucked out of the brain, resulting in less energy, meaning less focus and less than optimal function. The focus needs to be on complex carbohydrates like those found in fruit and vegetables and whole grains.

Many fruits and vegetables are also extremely high in antioxidants, helping to reduce the risk brain cell damage. Additionally, the importance of protein in the diet must not be underestimated. Protein is a long lasting and necessary energy source for the brain, supporting memory, attention and a number of other cognitive functions. Protein also contains a number of essential amino acids Eggs, one excellent source of protein, have been shown to boost brain power thanks to their lecithin and (therefore their) choline content. Lecithin, or c, also found in such things as oats, flax, wheat germ and fish, helps to speed up the sending of signals by/to nerve cells in the brain. Omega fatty acids, like those found in fatty fish like salmon and sardines, supports the building and maintenance of grey matter within the brain, as well as make up a large component of any cell membrane. In other words, Omega 3 fatty acids help to ensure the integrity of brain cells. Among their many other benefits, omega 3 fatty acids have shown positive effects on emotional balance, attitude and attention.

Mood support
Bouts of depression, usually situational, are not uncommon for all of us. Overwhelming feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety are only exacerbated with stress and we could all use a little added support from time to time. Talking to a professional or a loved one can always help, as can some natural supplements. Fluctuations in mood can be neurotransmitter related. Deficient levels or inappropriate secretion of the neurotransmitter serotonin can have huge impacts on mood and mood stability. Deficiencies of a co enzyme called SAM-e have also been linked to depression, among other diseases. Supplementation may be important, as research has not shown that increasing methionine content in the diet (an amino acid that aids in the production of SAM-e) does not significantly improve SAM-e levels. 5HTP is a precursor to both serotonin and melatonin, both important to mood regulation. 5 HTP has been favourably compared to tricyclic antidepressants for the treatment of depression and balancing of serotonin levels. Deficiency in certain B vitamins can also impact brain function, including mood. B6 and B3, among others, have been researched for their mood stabilizing properties with positive results. Folic acid and B12 are essential for the production of SAM-e.

Sleep
Sleep is not a dormant time for the brain, in fact the brain is quite active during sleep. Many believe that sleep is a time for over-worked neurons to repair. It is also said that it may allow the brain to exercise important neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate from a lack of activity while we are awake. Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on our ability to focus, our memory, rational thinking and mood. This also strongly suggests that at least certain types of sleep help to maintain optimal emotional and social functioning. There is also some research to suggest that memory encoding happens during sleep.

The fall tends to be a time when we get back into the swing of a routine. The nights are cooler and sleep tends to come a little easier. That being said, sometimes getting back into a healthy sleep routine is not easy and sometimes added support is needed. Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone which is supposed to increase as night falls or it gets darker, making us feel sleepy. Melatonin, if taken about 30 minutes before bed, can help those individuals who often lie awake for hours before they are able to fall asleep. GABA is another amino acid and neurotransmitter shown to calm the nervous system, literally preventing brain cells from over firing. GABA is often recommended for those individuals who can fall asleep, but can seem to stay asleep throughout the night.

Stress Reduction
Very little explanation is necessary here. Our brain cannot work miracles. If you are in the middle of a million different tasks, with a million different things running through your mind, you are bound to forget something, lose focus and attention on any one task and have trouble thinking clearly. Stress, as always, plays a huge role in how well we are functioning, including cognitively. As important as it is to exercise your brain, be sure that you are also allowing yourself time to shut your brain off, as well. Meditation is one excellent way to do this. For some, an evening stroll or a hot bath can also do wonders to get out of your head, hit your internal reset button and allow yourself to focus again.

Listed below are some of the nutrients and supplements that support the brain and nervous system.  (CLICK SUPPLEMENT NAME FOR PRODUCTS).