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| Gotu Kola |
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Review
Summary |
While many people freak out when they notice that their memory is not as sharp as it usually is, and often they tend to think that they are getting old or developing some kind of dementia related illness; however, the truth is that memory lapses are fairly normal and common. Most people know that both short and long term memory are centered in the brain, but in reality a lot of physiological, emotional, social and environmental factors go into brain health and memory. But just because lapses in memory are considered to be normal, this doesn’t mean there isn’t anything that can be done about them.
In fact, there are lots of things people can do at any age to keep their memory and mental acuity fresh, and there are things that can be done as people get older to ward off cognitive decline. Holistic supplementation has been shown to be a front line of defense in both these scenarios. Elements like Alpha GPC, Phosphatidylserine and Vinpocetine have all showed stellar results in augmenting cognitive health, and they are often dubbed as being smart drugs. Gotu Kola is an element that’s shown up in a wide range of products including weight loss supplements, but more recently it has been heavily marketed as being a cognitive enhancer. The truth is that most people don’t know which cognitive enhancers are effective or not, so let’s take a deeper look at Gotu Kola to see exactly what it can deliver.
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| Ingredient At A Glance |
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Gotu Kola is also known as Centella Asiatica and Hydrocotyl Asiatica. It is indigenous to Malaysia, Melanesia, Sri Lanka, Northern Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and some parts of Asia. As well as being a medicinal herb, it is also used as a spice and is heavily used in the preparation of Sri Lankan cuisine. It contains a variety of nutrients, including Amino Acids, Aspartate, Glutamate, Serine, Threonine, Alanine, Lysine, Histidine and Aminobutyrate.
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| Ingredient in Focus |
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Gotu Kola was traditionally used to help boost wound healing and address leprosy. Its mechanism of action, when it comes to addressing these aspects of health, has to do with its purported ability to stimulate the production of type I Collagen, as well as easing inflammatory responses and myofibroblast production. It is also thought to have a steroid like reaction that may have an affect on leprosy. In folk medicine it has been suggested to have some nootropic abilities, which means that it is purported to be able to augment brain health and performance.
However, while it is often used to increase memory and ease senility in these systems, there is little evidence that it can actually improve cognition. But there are currently studies under way to determine its abilities when it comes to improving brain health. Since Gotu Kola is rich in B Complex Vitamins, it is conceivable that it may actually be shown to have some affect on brain health. For instance, Folic Acid, Vitamins B6 and B12 have been shown to be able to balance homocysteine levels in the brain. This is important, because high homocysteine levels have been found in individuals who have dementia related issues.
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| Lifestyle |
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Gotu Kola is often promoted as being a hardcore cognitive enhancer, but as we saw above, there is no evidence available that can support its case. But there are some extracts on the market that are research proven to be able to increase cognitive health. Alpha GPC is an element that many consumers look for in their cognitive enhancers, because it helps the body produce more Choline, which in turn increases acetylcholine production.
This is important, because acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays an integral role in memory, reasoning and focus. Low levels may cause a reduction in cognitive health, but Alpha GPC has been shown to increase acetylcholine production, and in some instances, reverse memory damage. Phosphatidylserine is used to increase nerve health and nutritional support; and Vinpocetine has been shown in clinical studies to be able to augment blood flow to the brain.
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| Positives |
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• Contains a full a array of antioxidant and nutritional support
• Formula seems to be priced reasonably
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| Negatives |
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• Not research proven to boost cognitive health
• Can not increase circulation
• May not increase acetylcholine production
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| Final Thoughts |
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There is a lot of folklore around Gotu Kola, and its purported abilities to augment cognitive health may eventually be proven to be true, but they may not. However, this extract is full of healthful elements, like Amino Acids and B Vitamins, which may help act as neuro protectors for the brain. Yet, most people, when they decide that they want to increase cognitive health, want to use elements and formulas that have a proven track record of success in this arena.
Some consumers may well opt to give Gotu Kola a try, but there are also elements out there, like Alpha GPC, Phosphatidylserine and Vinpocetine, which have a higher track record of success in research studies. These elements are often used together in the more results driven cognitive enhancers, because they work exceptionally well together.
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| Our
Editors Choice:
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Week
of: Tue Nov 17th, 2009 |
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Neurostin® -
Neurostin™ is a blend of non-prescription ingredients that were carefully formulated to reverse and prevent the depletion of the nutrients your brain needs to perform optimally. This is a very well received product that customers speak highly of. The unique formula of Neurostin™ provides your body with all the necessary building blocks to make choline which is the most vital component needed by the cells that comprise both short and long term memory. The formula has also been proven to produce both oxygen and blood flow to the brain which decrease and reverse the effects of deterioration. Neurostin is one of the few formulas that regulates the levels of homocysteine which is key in preventing both long term memory loss and Alzheimer’s. This is an awesome overall formula that enhances overall brain function, sharpness and clarity Click Here to read our full review. |
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