Want To Smarten Up?

It is possible to increase mental acuity and memory up to 25% by adding a well-known food supplement—lecithin—according to an interesting report from the Organic Consumer, a health publication.

Lecithin, a natural component of soy beans, contain choline, required in the production of acetylcholine, an important brain chemical involved in memory and thought. Phosphatidyl-choline, in lecithin, is the source of acetylcholine.

Dr. Christian Gillin, one of the pioneer researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States, reported that subjects of an experiment became smarter and increased their learning ability by the simple addition of lecithin to their daily diets.

Dr. Sitram, another researcher, found improvement was most dramatic in slow learners. “Choline is a part of the B-Complex,” he explained, “and the substance acts within 90 minutes and its level in the blood lasts for four to five hours.

Maureen Kennedy Salaman, best selling author of the book, All Your Health Questions Answered Naturally, maintains that “Only two food sources contain liberal amounts of lecithin: soybeans and eggs.” Lecithin is also found in wheat germ, cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, lentils, rice, etc.

And because exercise promotes a healthier brain, here’s something for exercise buffs: If you suffer from muscle soreness and stiffness after a workout, they are the results of strenuous physical activity. The discomfort may occur immediately—or some delay—following the activity, in which case the soreness may not be felt until the next day. Pain in the neck, or “stiff-neck,” is a common occurrence; pain in the joints, is another.

The soreness and stiffness usually lasts for only a few days, although after periods of heavy exercise, it may last for a week.

Medical authorities have offered two possible causes of muscle soreness and stiffness:

• The metabolic waste (lactic acid) remains in the muscles for a few hours after exercise, causing pain in the muscle receptors.
• The muscle soreness may be the result of tiny muscle fiber tears that occur during severe muscular activity.

To avoid muscle soreness and stiffness, plan your conditioning program to progress gradually, especially during the beginning stages.

One best remedy to overcome sore muscles is to have a regular body massage. It lessens stress and relaxes you, too. So, why not give it a try?