When you’re being pulled in every direction, it’s easy to get lost. Don't lose your train of thought, upgrade the tracks.
With the holidays fast approaching, and the to-do list never-ending, it’s not uncommon for us to feel overwhelmed, overworked, and out of focus.
So far this month, we at D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition have discussed ways to support your sleep and stress levels through the holidays, and now it’s time to support the best thing about you: your brain.
We all know the experience of multitasking during the holidays. For me, it can look like:
Wrapping presents.
Remembering I didn’t ever figure out what I wanted to get my sister.
Back to wrapping presents. Just ran out of tape.
OK, I’ll walk to the store down the street, grab tape, but I think I need more cinnamon for the spice cake I’m making, I’ll check the cabinets before I head out.
Wondering when I’ll squeeze in a trip to get my sister a gift.
The holidays often involve a lot of juggling – with friends and family coming to town, or maybe you’re traveling - we’ve got deadlines to hit and people to see. It’s easy to feel distracted and pulled in so many directions.
It’s why I lean heavily on Attentia during this time, to help me itemize my to-do’s and keep focused and present for what I need to get done. For me, supporting my focus also comes with the added benefit of stress relief, since I’m able to ground myself and achieve.
Attentia’s an interesting formula, as it’s a blend of three herbs well known for their nootropic (cognition-supporting) propensities.
Ginkgo Leaf Extract: Ginkgo has been shown to improve mental sharpness, support better memory and may improve circulation to the arms, legs and brain. I love ginkgo for its microvascular benefits, which may support cognition by increasing blood flow and nutrition to the tiny blood vessels that supply the brain.
Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is one of the most heavily studied adaptogens; a term used to describe an agent that has a balancing effect on the system. Research shows Ashwagandha may improve absentmindedness and relieve occasional stress and frustration.
Eleutherococcus. Also known Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), Eleuthero has been used for centuries in Eastern countries to increase focus and concentration. It’s a hardy plant known to withstand cold temperatures, just like some of us during the holidays.
In addition to these three prime movers in Attentia’s formula, there are extra synergists for further focus support.
Grapeseed Extract: One of the best antioxidants around.
Magnesium: A personal favorite of mine. Magnesium’s benefits are quite far-reaching as it’s involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body. One reaction in particular, is the breakdown of stress signaling molecules, known as catecholamines. Mag supports the clearance of these stress-causing neurotransmitters, and we’ve seen in research that magnesium deficiency predisposes individuals to the ill effects of stress.
Together, Attentia’s formula aims to support focus and attention, and relieve occasional brain fog, making the holiday to-do list a little less daunting.