THE REVIEW:
I read a review where the person did not like this book because it was full of information on supplements and disorganized. wow. All I can say is that this book is the best out of the three books I purchased on brain health. This book is written more like a owners manual. It does not read well if you are looking for a novel. Sometimes I have to go to the index and find the information I want, like I said, an owners manual. The author also has really done his research which I like. He backs up his statements with citations to studies vs. someone just telling me his or her opinion. I read about 1/3 - 1/2 of the book. There are just some aspects of information in the book that do not pertain to me or not interested in; however, it might pertain to someone else and what does pertain to me is priceless. If you want to keep your brain healthy I highly recommend this book.
Pros:
- Excellent useful information
- Backs up statements with studies
- Detailed foods/supplements information
- Explains why things happen
- Warns you about "false" symptoms while your brain heals <= very important
- It's the best $20 I've ever spent
Cons:
- This book does not read like a novel, so if you're looking for a book to curl up in front of a fireplace and read front to back, this might not be written to your liking. However, my suggestion would be to not read it like a novel and more like a self help book to zero in on what you need to know to keep your brain healthy.
- Maybe not perfectly organized, but that's like complaining about what color the ambulance is painted while having a heart attack
INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN SUPPLEMENTS: 2018 update
Alpha GPC is a great mental booster, but it is expensive. Over 4 years of learning, trial and error, I want to pass on something that took me a long time to figure out - which is, how to get a longer lasting effect of Alpha GPC without breaking the bank. So, I am passing along that information as well as some knowledge of supplements that have helped me out. Your needs might be different than mine, so I am not recommending you use them. I am just providing information that you can use as a starting point for your own research and in combination with reading this book.
These are the two powerhouses I take to boost mental acuity on a more longer term basis. With this combination, I have less need to use Alpha GPC, which saves me a lot of money. You can add these to orange juice with little effect to taste. The best part is that I can afford to take them because they are provided in bulk powder. Together, they will allow your body to build the AcetylCholine neurotransmitter. Think of it like taking protein powder to build muscle. You will not find this combination of products suggested in any books (none that I have found). It is based on my own research and a lot of trial and error. It maximizes effect with minimal cost. I'm passing it along so you can benefit from my experiences.
Bulksupplements Choline L-Bitartrate Powder (250 grams)
- I use this as more of a long term to build up Choline in the brain. This form is absorbed better than the "DL-Bitartrate" form. The "L" form is better than the "DL" form also because it does not cause any upsets in the GI tract (from personal experience).
BulkSupplements Pure Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR) Powder (250 grams)
- I use this to supplement the Acetyl group. The reason this is important is because it combines with the Choline to make the neurotransmitter AcetylCholine. When the Acetyl is separated, the L-Carnitine is left to be used as an Amino Acid, which is also beneficial to boost energy.
These are some good supplements that support brain health.
Now Foods Sunflower Lecithin Powder, 1 Pound
- Lecithin makes up about 30% dry weight of the brain. I take it to supply this building block for the brain much the same way a body builder takes protein for the muscles.
NOW Alpha GPC 300 mg,60 Veg Capsules
- I take this to quickly boost Choline. It is a form of Choline that can pass through the blood-brain barrier. For example, a student can take it before taking an exam, or one can take it if they have brain fog.
BulkSupplements Pure Magnesium Citrate Powder (250 grams)
- Magnesium is important for many reasons. One reason that is important to me is that it promotes brain cell genesis.
EXPLAINING HOW ACETYLCHOLINE AFFECTS THE GUT: 4/9/2018 update
If you are just beginning to take Choline and Acetyl L-Carnitine, be advised to start out with a small dose and work your way up. The book explains this very well in that your body being able to produce more AcetylCholine neurotransmitter will boost your brain; however, it will also boost all communication within the body, not just the brain. That means the gut-brain axis (talked about in the book) will also communicate more efficiently, which is a really good thing. Ever been constipated and don't really know why? Well, one reason I found out in how it affected me is that it can be exacerbated by deficient communication of the gut-brain axis because of a deficiency in the AcetylCholine neurotransmitter. Now reverse that when your body can all of a sudden produce the proper amounts of neurotransmitter AcetlCholine. I would start out with about 1/8 teaspoon Choline and 1/4 teaspoon Acetyl L-Carnitine (keeping a 1:2 ratio) and work your way up from there. Also, take the magnesium separately (i.e., different time of the day) if you are running into that issue as I have noticed combining the magnesium at the same time sometimes increases bowl transit time but separating them doesn't. Keep in mind that any undesirable effects an increase in the neurotransmitter will have is temporary while your body heals and realigns itself back to a normal functioning gut-brain axis. Another example, when I boosted my AcetlChoine neurotransmitter for the first time, my hands became a little more unsteady (he also talks about this in the book). One might think this then was a bad thing. Then, after about 4-7 days, my hands became more steady than they ever have been. Much more steady than before, and they have stayed steady ever since (now 4 years later). This is not a quick fix of your symptoms; this is information to heal your brain and nervous system to return it back to normal functioning. Just for reference, I am over 50 years of age. Just like he says in the book, if the temporary effects are too undesirable, then stop the supplements until the effects subside. Then start again at a lower dose. As your body heals, you will be able to increase the dose. It's difficult to explain it all here in a post. My suggestion is to buy the book as he explains all this and more.
Note: If anyone is interested in more supplements w/ information that I take, please post a comment and I will update the review.
[Update: 8/22/2014]
I have started following some of the advice this book gives and so far I am impressed. The part I really like is when he warns that when you start modifying your diet or supplements for brain health you might actually experience the opposite effect. This is exactly what happened to me. When I began I actually found it harder to think and concentrate. If I would have not had this warning I might have stopped. Other symptoms were mild gitters and mild diarrhea. All of that went away and now I'm thinking better than before. My hands are now more steady than before. And of course the diarrhea was temporary. He explains the connection between the brain and the GI tract as the gut-brain axis. He explains all the reasons why I had my experiences, so he gets six stars from me.
[Update: 10/29/2015]
I really cannot say enough about the direction this book has taken me in helping me with my brain health. You know, it's funny, we all can easily get how we have to eat protein to work out and gain muscle, but for some reason it is very difficult for us to understand what we have to do to maintain our brain health. Then we wonder why out parents, friends, and even ourselves are faced with mild cognitive impairment. I have done so much more to improve my brain health than even this book can describe; I would have to write a book myself, but... it all started with this book. I highly recommend you buy it, read it... no... study it, learn from it and keep learning from other sources as well. This book is a wonderful starting point. What a gift... it's the gift that keeps on giving.
REVIEW COMMENT POSTED BY Ann Larsen: [3/15/18 update]
She recommends a book "The End of Alzeheimer's" by Dale Bredesen. Please review her comments.
[+] HUMOR HEALS THE HEART:
Okay, you have read this review and found it helpful, but you're on the fence as to whether it was helpful enough to deserve a helpful vote. To click or not to click. Decisions, decisions. Well, I've come up with a little humorous spin about myself as it pertains to my devotion in creating helpful reviews. I've done this using the style of the comedic legend Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) and do this also in honor and memory of his great work. The plan is to get you chuckling as you click the helpful button. Let's see - here it goes:
"I tell ya, I just don't get no respect. I started writing reviews and getting helpful votes. Wow, this is cool, I said. I checked my profile and saw that my reviewer ranking was around #8000. So, I wrote more reviews. I was so excited when I checked my reviewer ranking to see it improve to around #7000, so I put even more time into writing reviews. I must be getting helpful votes, I thought, because my reviewer ranking then shot up to #5028. Alright, I said, I rolled up my sleeves, dropped everything and put ALL my time into my reviews. Then, I checked - my reviewer ranking said - #GETALIFE. No respect I tell ya. No respect at all."
GIVE Reviews - my standard for writing reviews.
[G]enuine - This is a review that is honest, trustworthy with no reason other than to help people in the Amazon family.
[I]nformational - This review needs to provide information related to this product in a concise matter.
[V]aluable - This review needs to provide value to the reader such that it helps him or her determine if this product is for them.
[E]nlightening - This review needs to go beyond product information such that the reader learns something they did not otherwise know.
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