Folate

Having a strong, healthy mind is key to functioning in our daily lives, and stress can affect a persons state of mind. Taking a daily multi-vitamin is extremely important as life is busy and we don’t always have the time to eat balanced meals. Folate helps to keep stress under wraps, and promotes mental awareness. Folate is a B-complex vitamin found in fruits such as oranges, strawberries, and avocados and in vegetables, such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, broccoli, and spinach. The synthetic form of folate is folic acid and it is found in certain fortified grain foods, such as fortified breads and cereals. Several studies have documented a link between increased folate or folic acid intake and decreased rates of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Adequate folate intake also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and certain kinds of cancers. Being physically and mentally active and eating a healthy diet that includes omega-3 fats from nuts, olive oil, and fish are other ways to help preserve cognitive function. A daily helping of folate appears to help ward off one of the causes of age related cognitive decline which is known as high homocysteine levels. Folate lowers blood levels of homocysteine, a protein that can damage blood vessels and cells of the brain.