Phosphatidylserine
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Lipids - Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine

 

What is Phosphatidylserine?

 

Phosphatidylserine (abbreviated as PS) is a natural substance that is crucial to the brain health, as it is a main constituent of the millions of cells that make up the brain. The truth is that, phosphatidylserine is present in the membrane of all cells of the human body, but its top concentration is found within the brain cells, where it makes approximately 7 to 10 % of their lipid content. Half of the total phosphatidylserine in the body is located in the brain.

 

Phosphatidylserine has many functions throughout all tissues and organs, but its chief role is maintaining healthy membranes of brain cells and hence boosting mental performance.

 

What is Phosphatidylserine used for?

 

Phosphatidylserine helps regulate the production of cortisone by the adrenal glands, hence in the insomnia therapy it is beneficial for people who cannot fall asleep due to the high levels of cortisone, as it often happens under the stress.

 

The levels of cortisone are supposed to be high in the morning, to help us wake up and get going. However, in stressed people cortisone may be too high in the night too, what does not allow them to fall asleep.

 

Apart that, Phosphatidylserine is thought to be one of the most perspective brain chemicals. Sometimes being named a “memory molecule”, this nutrient is effectively used to enhance memory, attention and learning abilities in elderly people as well as in young adults.

 

Phosphatidylserine increases concentration and mental clarity by rejuvenating and energizing the membranes of brain cells.

 

Many students revere this nutrient for the reason that it helps retain the information - really helpful quality before the tests, and elderly like it too as it prevents and reverts memory loss and age related cognitive decline, turning back the clock and restoring optimal thinking abilities and learning skills.

 

Being a strong brain health promoting agent, phosphatidylserine is used in the cure of Alzheimer's disease, and also to decrease the risk of dementia in the elderly.

 

In the therapy of depression phosphatidylserine is revered for the ability to stimulate the manufacture of dopamine, brain’s main “feel good” nutrient, that is frequently depleted in people suffering depression.

 

Its dopamine boosting actions make phosphatidylserine beneficial in the treatment of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), which is characterized by low levels of dopamine too.

 

PS is also able to reduce stress, improve mood and help athletic performance.

 

How does Phosphatidylserine work?

 

Phosphatidylserine is the compound very important for the regulation of brain cells work.

It is a key constituent for healthy, vivacious, and fully functional brain cell membranes.

 

Phosphatidylserine helps brain cells interaction by modulating the fluidity of cell membranes and boosting the amount of receptors for neurotransmitters, the brain messenger molecules.

 

The receptor sites for acetylcholine, brain chemical accountable for memory and learning abilities, are made from phosphatidylserine.

 

Aside from that, PS augments the manufacture of dopamine, the main “feel good” agent in the brain, responsible for the cognitive functioning, physical energy and feelings of reward.

 

Supplemental PS has been shown to help better work of brain cells, consistent with the activity of a brain that is less aged.

 

Dangers of Phosphatidylserine deficiency

 

Phosphatidylserine supply is very short in modern diet, thus it must be built from other substances, what is an energy consuming process for the organism. Worse even, the body’s ability to synthesize ample amounts of PS dramatically decreases with age and under stress.

Impaired short term memory and cognitive abilities, in severe cases depressive disorders, may result from phosphatidylserine insufficiency.

 

Dietary sources

 

The foods high in Phosphatidylserine include meat, especially organ meat, fish, and white beans.

 

Complementary supplements

 

Adequate supply of vitamins B12 and B9, and essential fatty acids is needed for the body to be able to manufacture PS

 

Availability and dosage

 

100-300mg daily

 

Side effects and precautions:

 

None

 

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Disclaimer: The information on this site is given for educational purposes only. Thorough health assessment done by a health care professional is necessary before deciding to take any of the supplements mentioned.