This One Superfood Supplement Can Be Great For Your Brain
The coffee plant has served humans in a seemingly infinite number of ways. Now we know of another benefit of this amazing plant, and it may be the best one yet.
Coffee fruit extract—which is separate from coffee beans—is full of antioxidants and brain-enhancing compounds. To be more specific, the coffee fruit is a bright red fruit that wraps around coffee beans, helping to protect the coffee beans as they mature. It essentially acts as a nootropic (brain-boosting substance) and has been shown to boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by 143%.
BDNF gives your brain mental clarity and focus and increasing BDNF can assist with learning and creating new neural pathways in the brain. It has been further shown to provide your brain resistance to aging effects and reduce your anxiety. Coffee fruit extract is therefore showcasing itself to be of the best supplements you can give your brain.
Coffee Fruit Extract is a Nootropic
Recall that coffee fruit extract enhances brain health by boosting levels of BDNF. BDNF itself is a protein that allows neurons to quickly form new connections. It also protects neurons against aging and overall encourages the brain to adapt and grow faster. Below are some of the cognitive benefits that the brain receives with higher BDNF:
• Faster Learning: Because BDNF assists with making neuronal connections, it should not come as a surprise that higher BDNF can help with faster learning as new pathways are made quicker in response to stimuli.
• Improved memory: BDNF also triggers new brain connections in the hippocampus, your brain’s memory center.
• Resistance against brain aging: BDNF acts as a neuroprotector that shields your brain from cognitive decline that can come with aging.
• Improved Mood: It has been shown that depressed individuals will more likely have decreased BDNF in certain regions of their brains. Taking antidepressants is done to help normalize BDNF, so it may influence depression and reduce anxiety.
Coffee Fruit Extract for Stress and Anxiety
Coffee fruit extract is also a potent source of chlorogenic acid. And so are coffee beans. Chlorogenic acid is an antioxidant that protects the brain from stress, and it does this by activating the GABA-A receptors—the same receptors that anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax and Valium target. It just does so in a much gentler way, which is why coffee fruit extract could be something you explore if you are dealing with anxiety.
The chlorogenic acid found in coffee fruit extract is what allows it to act as a strong anti-inflammatory source. This means that it shields the cell from oxidative damage and cellular stress.
Where to Get Coffee Fruit Extract
The best form of coffee fruit extract will use the entire fruit. The term for this is whole coffee fruit extract (WCFE), and this is the standard used in all major studies on coffee fruit extract.
When getting coffee fruit extract, the important thing to keep in mind is to get fruits that have been multistep extracted. This will ensure that the final product has more antioxidants and their previously discussed benefits. Ideally, a supplement of 100-200 mg of coffee fruit extract should provide the benefits you are looking for. With regards to the method of consumption, coffee fruit extract can be taken anytime with or without food.
However, taking it in the morning alongside tea or coffee can help you feel focused. This appears to be the best routine for many, as it allows them to start their day feeling energized with a brain that is optimized.