Have you heard of the herb with the very odd name of Gingko Biloba?
In North America, Gingko Biloba was almost unknown a decade ago, but now it is a herbal remedy that is very widely advertised in health food stores and magazines.
Gingko Biloba has a reputation for improving thinking ability, reversing memory loss, and warding off Alzheimer’s disease.
In much of the world, Gingko is prescribed frequently by doctors as a treatment for failing memory related to aging, and even as a treatment for the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Gingko has been widely used by many people in Europe and in Asia for centuries. In China, herbal doctors have been prescribing gingko for various ailments for more than 5,000 years!
This herbal product is made from the leaf of the gingko tree, one of the oldest kinds of trees in the world.
The ginko leaf extract contains many organic compounds. The compounds that are believed to be particularly beneficial to the brain are called flavonoids and terpenoids.
Below is a short list of some of the positive ways that gingko is believed to benefit the brain:
· It improves the brain’s blood supply, especially in the small capillaries
· It has antioxydant activity that neutralizes free radical damage to brain cells
· It can reduce inflammation to brain cell membranes.
· It improves the transmission of signals by neurotransmitters in the brain.
· It appears to improve the brain’s metabolism of sugar
· It increases the brain’s production of alpha brain waves which can improve mental alertness
Gingko is very widely used by millions of people who want to boost their mind power and improve their memory. But is gingko really safe? Does it really work to boost memory? Should you take it?
In the last twenty years, hundreds of studies of gingko have been done to investigate the effectiveness of this herb. Some of these studies were done in laboratories to examine the effects of various extracts of the leaf on brain cells, and some were clinical trials on humans to measure the impact of Gingko on memory.
Many of these studies suggest gingko is an effective and safe remedy for age related confusion and memory loss. However it is important to know that many of the favorable studies of Gingko were quite small and they only lasted a few weeks. Therefore the positive results of these tests might not be repeated in larger, better controlled studies.
If you decide you want to take Gingko, don’t expect any sudden, dramatic changes.
Any positive effects of Gingko could take several weeks or even longer, to become noticeable. The resulting improvements from taking Gingko are likely to be very small, usually about the same amount of memory improvement you’d get from drinking a cup of coffee!
If you want to take Gingko, how much should you take? Most of the studies of Gingko used a standardized dosage of 120 milligrams a day, while the studies that used much higher doses did not show much more improvement in mental effectiveness. Therefore, a dose of 120 milligrams a day should be adequate.
Although some reports about Gingko hint that this herb might be able to protect you against developing Alzheimer’s disease, there is no real proof that taking gingko can keep you safe from getting Alzheimer’s. Gingko may have some small role to play in helping some people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to experience a slight improvement in mental alertness and memory, but it does not seem to prevent the disease from occurring.
When you buy any herbal remedies, you must always keep in mind that the quality of the ingredients can vary widely. Researchers who test herbal products have discovered that many of the packages that say they contain Gingko, actually do not contain the levels of active ingredients they list on the label. In some cases, bargain brands have none of the active ingredients whatsoever!
Therefore if you’re going to take Gingko, be sure to use a brand you trust will have a standardized level of active ingredients.
For most people, gingko is very safe, although a few people do experience minor side effects such as an upset stomach.
However, if you are taking blood thinners such as Warfarin, or if you take the anti-depressant, Trazadone, you may experiece more serious side effects. It is possible that in some cases Gingko may interact with certain medications and cause problems.
Before you start taking Gingko, be sure to check with your doctor first. It’s important to make sure that none of your medications pose a problem when taken with this herb
This article is written by Royane Real, author of “Your Quick Guide to Improving Your Learning Ability” If you want to learn how to boost your learning, download this special report,
by: Royane Real
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
How to Restore Your Creative Ability
Do you consider yourself a creative person? Most of us were very creative as young children, but as we got older, we often lose touch with our ability to be creative..
If you watch very young children at play and exploring the world around them, you will notice that children are often endlessly creative. A young child can probably think of twenty new uses for a cardboard box, while you probably don’t bother to think of more than two or three ways that same box can be used.
Children are often very willing to try new ways of doing something, to put together objects in ways that you would never think of. Part of the reason for the great creativity shown by children is that they haven’t yet learned the official rules on how things must be and how things are supposed to be used.
Once we start to learn a lot of rules about how the world is supposed to work, many of us start fearing our creativity because we fear making a mistake. We become afraid that others will laugh at us.
When we’re trying really hard to be creative and artistic, we fear that we won’t be good enough, that our work won’t compete with the Picassos and Shakespeares of the world. For many of us, that fear is enough to stop us from going any further into the world of creativity.
As we grow older, many of us stop trying to be creative. It becomes easier to join all the other people who are making their living in the nine to five world, and we squelch the dreams we once had of being a writer or a singer or a painter, because after all, no one else will ever know we had such dreams, no one but us.
If you have ever had a spark of original creativity, it is still possible to fan that spark and make it grow into a sizeable flame again. Usually what stops most of us from being creative again as adults, is an inner fear, a fear of failing, of not living up to our own impossibly high standards. What if I try and I fail? For some of us, this thought becomes terrifying, because we are measuring ourselves against an imaginary standard.We can fear failure so much that we won’t even allow ourselves the necessary permission to become good at our chosen field by putting in the time to practise, to explore, to fail.
To try something that turns out to be a failure does not mean that we are failures, or that we are useless.
We forget, or perhaps we never learned, that failure is simply a form of feedback that tells us what works and what doesn’t.
When we have shaky self esteeem, we may jump to the conclusion that any failure, or any possibility of failure, or any effort that does not result in a 200% success, means that we are flawed and horrible at the core.
I have seen many talented, creative, and intelligent people shrink back from their true passion because they had so much fear that they did not dare to move ahead and use their talent.
And I have also seen many people who possessed truly mediocre levels of talent but who had unshakeable confidence. In some cases, these marginally talented people were able to succeed because they truly believed they were entitled to success in all that they did.
For all those people who are searching for the secret of how they can dare to be their true, creative selves, I wish that in one short article I could reveal the simple secret that would lead them to their heart’s desire. There is no easy answer that will fit everyone.
Each person may find the answer in a different way. If you are lucky enough to have true desire and true courage to face your fears, you will find a road to creativity eventually.
And if you don’t have enough desire, or enough courage, don’t despair, you can build these qualities into yourself, but it will take time and perserverence.
If you have had a history of being harsh with yourself every time you try to be creative, you must now make a solemn vow that you will support yourself in all your creative endeavors, no matter how they turn out.
If you have had a habit of criticizing other artists, writers, actors or musicians who are successful, stop this habit at once! This habit can destroy your own confidence in your ability and right to be creative.
Gather around yourself some talented and supportive people who can guide you and support you on your journey of exploration. Take classes in your chosen field, read books, read the biographies of those artists you admire. You will find that many of them went through periods of self doubt about their talent.
Celebrate the creative explorations of others, and celebrate your own. Be playful again, and rediscover your youthful love of creativity!
This article is by Royane Real, author of the new book “How You Can Be Smarter – Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative” ; Download it now!
by :Royane Real
If you watch very young children at play and exploring the world around them, you will notice that children are often endlessly creative. A young child can probably think of twenty new uses for a cardboard box, while you probably don’t bother to think of more than two or three ways that same box can be used.
Children are often very willing to try new ways of doing something, to put together objects in ways that you would never think of. Part of the reason for the great creativity shown by children is that they haven’t yet learned the official rules on how things must be and how things are supposed to be used.
Once we start to learn a lot of rules about how the world is supposed to work, many of us start fearing our creativity because we fear making a mistake. We become afraid that others will laugh at us.
When we’re trying really hard to be creative and artistic, we fear that we won’t be good enough, that our work won’t compete with the Picassos and Shakespeares of the world. For many of us, that fear is enough to stop us from going any further into the world of creativity.
As we grow older, many of us stop trying to be creative. It becomes easier to join all the other people who are making their living in the nine to five world, and we squelch the dreams we once had of being a writer or a singer or a painter, because after all, no one else will ever know we had such dreams, no one but us.
If you have ever had a spark of original creativity, it is still possible to fan that spark and make it grow into a sizeable flame again. Usually what stops most of us from being creative again as adults, is an inner fear, a fear of failing, of not living up to our own impossibly high standards. What if I try and I fail? For some of us, this thought becomes terrifying, because we are measuring ourselves against an imaginary standard.We can fear failure so much that we won’t even allow ourselves the necessary permission to become good at our chosen field by putting in the time to practise, to explore, to fail.
To try something that turns out to be a failure does not mean that we are failures, or that we are useless.
We forget, or perhaps we never learned, that failure is simply a form of feedback that tells us what works and what doesn’t.
When we have shaky self esteeem, we may jump to the conclusion that any failure, or any possibility of failure, or any effort that does not result in a 200% success, means that we are flawed and horrible at the core.
I have seen many talented, creative, and intelligent people shrink back from their true passion because they had so much fear that they did not dare to move ahead and use their talent.
And I have also seen many people who possessed truly mediocre levels of talent but who had unshakeable confidence. In some cases, these marginally talented people were able to succeed because they truly believed they were entitled to success in all that they did.
For all those people who are searching for the secret of how they can dare to be their true, creative selves, I wish that in one short article I could reveal the simple secret that would lead them to their heart’s desire. There is no easy answer that will fit everyone.
Each person may find the answer in a different way. If you are lucky enough to have true desire and true courage to face your fears, you will find a road to creativity eventually.
And if you don’t have enough desire, or enough courage, don’t despair, you can build these qualities into yourself, but it will take time and perserverence.
If you have had a history of being harsh with yourself every time you try to be creative, you must now make a solemn vow that you will support yourself in all your creative endeavors, no matter how they turn out.
If you have had a habit of criticizing other artists, writers, actors or musicians who are successful, stop this habit at once! This habit can destroy your own confidence in your ability and right to be creative.
Gather around yourself some talented and supportive people who can guide you and support you on your journey of exploration. Take classes in your chosen field, read books, read the biographies of those artists you admire. You will find that many of them went through periods of self doubt about their talent.
Celebrate the creative explorations of others, and celebrate your own. Be playful again, and rediscover your youthful love of creativity!
This article is by Royane Real, author of the new book “How You Can Be Smarter – Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative” ; Download it now!
by :Royane Real
How Exercise Helps Your Brain Work Better
Do you want your brain to work better? Do you want to be able to think more clearly, remember better and feel better?
If you want to boost your brain power, you may already know that giving your brain the right kind of nutrition will help your brain work better. But did you know that an important part of boosting your brain power is getting regular physical exercise?
Are you surprised to learn that exercise is important if you want your brain to work better?
We often forget that the brain is actually a part of our flesh and blood. Because your brain is a part of your body, it needs to be nourished and looked after, just like the rest of you.
Your brain needs more oxygen than any other organ, and it gets this oxygen from the blood that circulates throughout your entire body. Your brain also gets lots of other important nutrients from your blood, such as the glucose that is the fuel the brain cells need to burn to make energy.
In addition, your blood also carries a lot of important chemical messengers such as hormones that help different parts of the body communicate with each other, as well as with the brain.
If your circulation is poor, or if your nutrititon is inadequate, your brain power will suffer. Physical exercise is a great way to help improve the circulation of your blood, not just to your brain, but to the rest of your body as well.
Many scientific studies of humans and animals show that physical exercise can help the brain work better. Here are some of the ways that your brain will benefit when you exercise your body:
· With regular exercise the circulation of blood within your brain will improve.
· Regular exercise can help reduce high blood pressure. Blood pressure that is too high is suspected of damaging brain cells and high blood pressure greatly increases the likelihood of a stroke.
· Exercise improves the levels of oxygen in the blood.
· Exercise improves the metabolism of your brain cells and speeds up the removal of waste products produced by your brain.
· Regular physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, makes the heart muscle stronger. When your heart is strong, your entire body and your brain benefit from improved circulation.
· Exercising regularly can help improve your cholesterol levels. Too much cholesterol can contribute to clogging your arteries.
· Exercise can reduce the negative effects of longterm stress which can damage the brain.
· Regular exercise can relieve depression and improve self esteem.
· Regular exercise will help you to sleep better at night.
· Exercise helps to regulate the levels of blood sugar which is particularly important for diabetics.
· Exercise can increase the levels of the important brain chemicals called norepinephrine and dopamine. These brain chemicals can boost moods, and your brain uses them to lock in memories of facts and events.
· Researchers have discovered in animal studies that exercise improves the production of a chemical named nerve growth factor. This chemical helps brain cells to make new connections to each other.
If you are serious about wanting your brain to work better, you will have to learn to give your brain what it needs. That means learning how to feed it and nourish it properly, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and getting regular physical exercise.
Make a commitment to exercise regularly and it will pay off in so many ways. You’ll feel physically and mentally more energized, and less stressed. You’ll think more clearly and feel more alive.
This article is by Royane Real, author of the new downloadable book, “How to Be Smarter – Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative” To boost your brain power, download
If you want to boost your brain power, you may already know that giving your brain the right kind of nutrition will help your brain work better. But did you know that an important part of boosting your brain power is getting regular physical exercise?
Are you surprised to learn that exercise is important if you want your brain to work better?
We often forget that the brain is actually a part of our flesh and blood. Because your brain is a part of your body, it needs to be nourished and looked after, just like the rest of you.
Your brain needs more oxygen than any other organ, and it gets this oxygen from the blood that circulates throughout your entire body. Your brain also gets lots of other important nutrients from your blood, such as the glucose that is the fuel the brain cells need to burn to make energy.
In addition, your blood also carries a lot of important chemical messengers such as hormones that help different parts of the body communicate with each other, as well as with the brain.
If your circulation is poor, or if your nutrititon is inadequate, your brain power will suffer. Physical exercise is a great way to help improve the circulation of your blood, not just to your brain, but to the rest of your body as well.
Many scientific studies of humans and animals show that physical exercise can help the brain work better. Here are some of the ways that your brain will benefit when you exercise your body:
· With regular exercise the circulation of blood within your brain will improve.
· Regular exercise can help reduce high blood pressure. Blood pressure that is too high is suspected of damaging brain cells and high blood pressure greatly increases the likelihood of a stroke.
· Exercise improves the levels of oxygen in the blood.
· Exercise improves the metabolism of your brain cells and speeds up the removal of waste products produced by your brain.
· Regular physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, makes the heart muscle stronger. When your heart is strong, your entire body and your brain benefit from improved circulation.
· Exercising regularly can help improve your cholesterol levels. Too much cholesterol can contribute to clogging your arteries.
· Exercise can reduce the negative effects of longterm stress which can damage the brain.
· Regular exercise can relieve depression and improve self esteem.
· Regular exercise will help you to sleep better at night.
· Exercise helps to regulate the levels of blood sugar which is particularly important for diabetics.
· Exercise can increase the levels of the important brain chemicals called norepinephrine and dopamine. These brain chemicals can boost moods, and your brain uses them to lock in memories of facts and events.
· Researchers have discovered in animal studies that exercise improves the production of a chemical named nerve growth factor. This chemical helps brain cells to make new connections to each other.
If you are serious about wanting your brain to work better, you will have to learn to give your brain what it needs. That means learning how to feed it and nourish it properly, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and getting regular physical exercise.
Make a commitment to exercise regularly and it will pay off in so many ways. You’ll feel physically and mentally more energized, and less stressed. You’ll think more clearly and feel more alive.
This article is by Royane Real, author of the new downloadable book, “How to Be Smarter – Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative” To boost your brain power, download
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