Remember school? Remember that one kid who kicked everyone’s butt when it came to sports? They could out-lift, out-run, out-swim and out-do anyone.
Ever wondered why despite all your effort, you could you never compete on this person’s level? It may have to do with a neurotransmitter they were lucky enough to possess high amounts of: Acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is commonly referred to as our memory neurotransmitter. It converts short-term memory to long-term memory, and those of us that possess a dominance in it often can recall all sorts of trivia and information at the drop of a hat. It also controls muscle contraction, which is why those who are dominant tend to be incredibly gifted when it comes to sports. Their agility and the mind-muscle connection are often superior to their counterparts. We commonly recognise this as ‘talent’.
Acetylcholine is commonly referred to as our memory neurotransmitter, converting short-term memory to long-term memory.
When you have a deficiency in this neurotransmitter, ‘senior moments’ can become a consistent problem, even in younger people. Being unable to recall numbers, stories, and faces are symptomatic of acetylcholine impairment. When these symptoms present in younger people it can indicate early brain degeneration, as acetylcholine is produced in the hippocampus.
Other symptoms of acetylcholine deficiency can come in the form of poor coordination and stability, as it controls our muscles, so those of you who are constantly hitting their shins or falling over may lack this important neurotransmitter. Many of our clients struggle to push hard on the gym floor, and having a deficiency in acetylcholine can almost certainly be to blame.
Acetylcholine controls muscle contraction, which is why those who are dominant tend to be more gifted when it comes to sports.
The most encouraging aspect is that acetylcholine is mostly reliant on nutritional compounds for its production, which means that nutrition is key toward making this neurotransmitter stronger. Unlike other neurotransmitters, repeated exposure of its receptor sites does not cause resistance. Basically you can never over-indulge on compounds that help support it. Nutritional compounds shown to support activity include L-Huperzine A, Alpha GPC, acetyl l-carnitine and pantothenic acid. These are all primarily found in animal proteins. B vitamins also play a huge role in supporting its production, alongside rosemary oil, as this helps inhibit acetylcholinesterase (the enzyme that breaks it down). You can diffuse this oil in your home to help assist you through periods of study and learning.
Acetylcholine is the one neurotransmitter that you can afford to be slightly dominant in, so if weight training and memory are your goals add these compounds into your routine to help toward reaching them!
