Vitamin Brain: Benefits of Vitamin B to the Aging Brain

It would be interesting to know that the brain may not be the biggest organ of the body (our skin is), but it is the organ that uses the most energy! Representing only 2% of a person’s human total body weight, the brain accounts for more than 20% of the body’s total energy expenditure, highlighting all the more the importance of giving it the right nutrition it deserves. The brain can be compared to a sponge that soaks up all that it can, including nutrients from food and dietary supplements. Because it functions 24/7, it needs all the nutritional support it can get to remain active.

A functioning nervous system depends on a person’s steady supply of nutrients: Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin K, and most of all, Vitamin B. When it comes to the B vitamins, you might as well say that “B” stands for brain! Vitamin B12, in fact, is one of the best nutrients to support the brain’s health. For emphasis, research confirms that there is a direct correlation between Vitamin B12 deficiency and a poorly functioning brain.

While most adults get their B Vitamins from their diet, some, especially the elderly, are at risk of B12 deficiency. As a person gets older, their bodies find it difficult to absorb B12 from food hence the likelihood that their brains suffer from malnutrition. Moreover, adults who are sick or recovering from medical procedures may also need more B Vitamins in their diet to ensure that they are getting the right amount of nutrients that their bodies need.

Be sure to take charge of your or your loved one’s Vitamin B intake with a dietary supplement or a full meal like Ensure which has 25 percent of the daily value of Vitamin B12 and folate in each 8-ounce bottle. Not to mention, it also has a broad range of macronutrients and micronutrients for a complete and balanced diet.

References:

5 Vitamins for Brain Health and Memory