This question probably came up numerous of time in my Science class in freshmen year of college. I understand that students tend to think that there is a magic pill that they can take to help them cram and remember everything they studied for but for the harsh truth there is not such thing as a “memory vitamin” on the market. If there was, I’m pretty sure everyone would ace all there tests and probably would never forget to buy milk when they are grocery shopping. There is a few natural herbs and seafood that has help with concentration but has never been thoroughly researched to prove its benefits.

Krill oil was been shown through studies to improve you brain function and help increase concentration. It’s also recommended that its taken as a dietary supplement, just like taking your Vitamin C. Fish oil also has the same healthy Omega-3 fatty acid but krill especially antarctic krill provide the most potent amount per weight and size, also it is a lot easier to harvest krill then it is to harvest fish and only certain fish are deemed worthy enough to be harvested for high quality Omega-3. There is also krill oil for children which is important for them while the grow up. The brain needs as much fatty acid to build and maintain a healthy brain function in a child.

Another option to improve your memory is to take a natural herb called Ginkgo Biloba, its actually a tree that has properties that was said to help with memory retention and concentration. No studies have been conducted to prove this theory but many customers of Gingko supplements has said they have notice a difference after consuming the Gingko, either by in a pill form or drinking it as a tea. Ginkgo was found to work efficiently within 2 hours of digesting.

Photo by D’Arcy Norman

I can say that these items works but it all depends on the person and their body. My recommendation is just to study hard and don’t stress over the test the night before. It’s best if you study gradually through the week before the test, this way you remember little parts here and there but if you must taking krill oil and ginkgo can help you concentrate better not necessarily improve your memory though.

When you see the packages of meat marked “organic” next to the less expensive “regular” meat, do you wonder if there is any real difference? Why is organic so great? Is one or the other actually better for your family? You might be surprised at some of the facts about the difference in these meats.

Organic beef is raised without antibiotics, hormones, or other medication. The animals are allowed to graze in open pastures, provided a balanced diet of organic feed that contains no animal products, and clean housing to minimize disease.

Conventional beef is fed animal byproducts (totally against their vegetarian nature), kept in close quarters,  given growth hormones to increase size, administered antibiotics and other disease preventative medicine. The antibiotics are necessary because the cattle are kept so close together. They are fed animal byproducts as a cheap source of protein, which comes from the left-overs of beef, chicken, pork, and horse slaughter houses. They are also fed grain, usually laced with pesticides, which cause a change in the PH balance in their intestine (it becomes more acidic) which in turn encourages an increase in the numbers of E-coli.

A cow raised in a natural state on pasture land has room to move around decreasing the fat content of the animal. They eat a natural diet as nature intended. Mad Cow Disease does not develop because they are not supplemented with animal products in their feed.

A cow raised in a feed lot is packed in with up to 100 other cows. If one gets sick, they all get sick, which is why they are all routinely given antibiotics. The industry for general beef production wants the cattle as large as possible as quickly as possible, hence the growth hormones. These hormones and medications are passed through with the animals’ waste. As the waste is absorbed into the ground, the hormones and medications are taken with it eventually ending up in the area’s water table.

Organic Meat is Healthier

Organically raised beef is healthier. It contains less overall fat, and has more Omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin E content. It doesn’t have to walk around in its own waste, which dramatically reduces your risk of eating E-coli contaminated meat. When you eat organic meat you are not consuming hormones or other medications, and their waste isn’t contaminating our water supply with hormones and antibiotics.

Packages are now displaying cooking instructions to kill any E-coli in the meat with high temperatures. But I’ve seen E-coli under a microscope, and I prefer not to eat those little worms living or dead.

When looking for Organic meat, the package should be clearly marked with a round organic seal. The National Organic Program has a regulation that requires all organic livestock to be traceable. This means that if you have a problem with the meat on your table, it can be traced back to the farm and even the individual animal.

The USDA Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards:

• Animals must have access to the outdoors, including access to pasture for ruminants.
• Meat animals and poultry may be vaccinated.
• Meat animals and poultry may not be given de-wormers for any period of production. Dams cannot be given de-wormer during the last third part of gestation or during lactation.
• Meat animals and poultry cannot be growth-implanted, given growth proponents, fed urea, or given antibiotics for any reason.
• These animals must be fed 100% USDA organic feed. The standards allow for certain vitamin and mineral supplements.
• Meat animals are raised under organic management from the last third of gestation, or no later than the second day of life for poultry.

Here’s some more information on organic beef from Dr. Greene.

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