For all the hullabaloo about jellyfish, milk protein, ginkgo biloba, and other exotic nutrients to supposedly enhance cognition, nothing beats the natural brain molecules called phospholipids. Known as the fats of intelligence, for improving mental health and functioning, phospholipids are insulating chemicals critical for the development of the myelin coating on nerve cells and for promoting the smooth conduction of neural electricity.
Phospholipids are also modified to make ACH, the brains most important learning molecule. As a bonus, phospholipids help reduce levels of homocysteine, a major culprit in the development of brain illnesses, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
The best source of phospholipids is lecithin, available as capsules or powder in most health food stores. As we age, taking three or four capsules or a teaspoon full of a powder daily is a great way to keep the brain and memory in tip-top shape. You can also eat lecithin. Eggs, beans, dairy and organ meats are particularly high in this important brain health substance.
