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The Pros and Cons of Focus Supplements

A lot of people are interested in focus supplements simply because everyone seems to need a leg up so they can concentrate better and focus on their current tasks and assignments. Modern life is a bit harried these days, and we need all the help we can get.

Who Needs Focus Supplements?

Part of the reason for that need is the threat of Alzheimer’s disease, which becomes a very real possibility as we get older. The Alzheimer’s Association just recently reported that as many as 5.3 million Americans have this condition, and 200,000 of them are younger than 65 years old. Once you go past 65 years old, you have a 1 in 9 chance of getting this disease. Go past 85 years, and the chance increases to 1 in 3.

That’s why every year the news media report another breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research regarding a new drug that will work miracles. The latest hoopla right now is on aducanumab, which has been shown in early tests to slow down the dementia and cognitive decline that’s part of Alzheimer’s. But it is still being tested.

But it’s not just the old who have conditions that impair cognitive functions like memory and focus. For young children, the greatest threat is ADD/ADHD. Surveys report that about 11% of children 4 to 17 years of age have been diagnosed with ADHD in the US in 2011. In some states, the rates are even higher. Kentucky reports rates as high as 18.7%.

Adults can also get ADHD, but even those who don’t have this condition need help concentrating. Jobs are becoming more complicated, home lives become harried, and social lives have become more intricate.

Essentially, we all need focus supplements even if we don’t have ADHD or Alzheimer’s.

Why Natural Focus Supplements are Better than Drugs

If you or a family member has ADHD or Alzheimer’s, there’s no doubt that prescription medicine is going to be prescribed at some point. But if these medical conditions are not involved, then perhaps the supplements for focus you should consider are natural supplements rather than synthetic drugs.

• Natural supplements to help focus can help

These supplements can help regular folks do their job, finish their school work, and focus on their daily tasks.

That’s even true for those with a condition like ADHD and Alzheimer’s. For example, a large-scale study on the popular supplement Ginkgo biloba may not show as much benefit for healthy adults, but for those with a medical condition they have been found to be very beneficial.

It’s been found that a 240 mg daily dose of the extract can work just as well as the Alzheimer’s drug Aricept. Patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s who took Ginkgo biloba showed significant improvement in learning and memory (especially short term memory), daily activities, aggression, anxiety, depression, and social behavior.

It also helped reduce ADHD symptoms in children and teenagers.

• Supplements are safer

The problem with medicines such as Aricept is that they also cause rather distressing side effects. For example, Aricept causes muscle cramps, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and muscle weakness.

Medicines also lose their effectiveness over time, so you need larger doses to get the same effect. And it may be harder to stop taking these drugs because they can be addictive.

Meanwhile, a supplement such as ginkgo biloba when taken in appropriate doses causes virtually no side effects. It works well over time, and it is not addictive at all.

For maximum safety, you may want a brand that’s gluten and lactose free.

• Supplements are more affordable

Not everyone can afford expensive medicines, but supplements can be very friendly to your bank account. For example, Focus Formula (which lists ginkgo biloba among its ingredients, as well as other whole herbs good for focus and memory) costs less than $39 a bottle. It lasts for 39 days, so that’s $1 a day at the most. And you can buy 2 bottles and get the 3^rd one free.

The Downside to Supplements

The problem with supplements is that they are not as closely monitored by the FDA, unlike with drugs. So it’s sometimes a gamble. So if you want to get the best focus supplement brand for you, you should see if the product is made in a FDA-registered facility and the product complies with current Good Manufacturing Practices.

Supplements and medications also share a common problem: they don’t work with everyone. What works for one person may not work with another.

You also want to make sure you don’t take too much of the supplements, especially when you’re taking vitamin and mineral supplements. For example, high dosages of iron can be dangerous. Check with your doctor when taking some vitamin and mineral supplements.

Finally, you should make sure that you’re not allergic to the ingredients. While an allergy to exotic herbs such as ginkgo biloba is quite rare, it’s better to be safe and sure. The lactose intolerant should also make sure that the brand they’re getting is lactose free.

Other Possible Supplements

Aside from Ginkgo biloba, here are some other possible supplements you should consider:

• B vitamins.

  One study from Oxford University found that a group of 3 B vitamins (B6, B12, and folic acid) can help lower the chance of mental decline and dementia.

• Vitamin D.

  This is not really a vitamin at all, but a hormone. It’s been found to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. But it can also improve your memory, boost your problem solving ability, and even lift your mood.

• Centella asiatica

  More popularly known in Asia as Gotu kola, it’s used to support several brain functions such as a healthy memory and cognitive clarity. It also balances your mood, which helps if you’re prone to mood swings.

Supplements can help with your focus and memory, but again you need to be careful. Unless your doctor prescribes a particular medicine, you may want to avoid them because of the threat of side effects. Your focus supplements should contain safe and natural ingredients, and they should be produced by a reputable manufacturer.