Latest news with #Bacopa
NDTV
23-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
These Supplements Will Help Boost Your Brain Health
Certain supplements can help boost brain health by enhancing memory, focus, mood, and overall cognitive function. The brain requires a variety of nutrients to function optimally, and sometimes our diet may not supply enough of them. Supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, certain vitamins, and herbal extracts can support brain cell communication, protect against oxidative stress, improve blood flow to the brain, and reduce inflammation. They may also support neurotransmitter production and balance, helping with mood and mental clarity. Read on as we share a list of supplements you can try to boost your brain health. 8 Supplements that will help boost your brain health 1. Omega-3 fatty acids Rich in DHA and EPA, omega-3 fatty acids are essential for maintaining the structure and function of brain cells. DHA, in particular, is a major structural component of the brain. These fatty acids support memory, mood stability, and overall cognitive performance while reducing inflammation and oxidative damage in brain tissue. Supplementing with fish oil has been linked to slower cognitive decline and improved focus. 2. Ginkgo biloba This ancient herbal supplement is known for its potential to enhance memory and mental clarity by improving blood circulation in the brain. Ginkgo biloba may help reduce age-related decline in brain function and has been used in the management of dementia symptoms. It is believed to support cognitive speed and attention span. 3. Bacopa monnieri Used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa is known for its ability to enhance memory formation, reduce anxiety, and support brain processing speed. It works by boosting brain chemicals like acetylcholine, which are critical for learning and memory. Long-term use has shown benefits in cognitive function and mental performance. 4. Phosphatidylserine This fatty substance is naturally found in the brain and is vital for the maintenance of cellular structure and signalling. Supplementation can support memory, attention, and mood, especially in older adults. It may help slow age-related cognitive decline and has also been studied for its role in improving symptoms of ADHD. 5. Lion's mane mushroom Lion's Mane is a nootropic mushroom known for its potential to stimulate the growth of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein essential for the growth and survival of neurones. It may improve memory, concentration, and neuroplasticity, making it especially valuable for age-related memory issues and neurodegenerative conditions. 6. Vitamin B complex These B vitamins play a crucial role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and cognition. Deficiencies in B6, B9 (folate), and B12 have been linked to poor memory, fatigue, and even depression. Supplementation supports energy production in brain cells and can help lower homocysteine levels, which are associated with cognitive decline. 7. Curcumin Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that protect the brain against aging and degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's. It may enhance memory and support mood regulation by increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein linked to cognitive function. 8. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) This amino acid compound supports energy production in brain cells and helps in the formation of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter for learning and memory. ALCAR is known to improve mental energy, alertness, and focus, especially in older adults. It may also protect the brain from oxidative stress and age-related decline. However, they should be taken under professional guidance, especially if combined with medications. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
West Australian
30-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Sabrina Hahn: How to add a pond to your garden and the best water plants for frogs, birds and fish
If you're looking to grub in the dirt this winter, consider including a small pond with aquatic plants and some sedges and rushes for hiding spots. Watch the space come alive with dragonflies, birds, frogs and small fish. The inclusion of small ponds or large water pots gives life to outdoor spaces, with reflections and the sound of water and the little critters that visit it. Winter is the ideal time to get everything bedded in and for plants to establish before the hot weather. Ponds also tie in with the current penchant for wildlife-friendly spaces because there is nothing that birds, frogs, dragonflies, bees and other insects like more than a pool of water from which they can drink, bathe or lay their eggs. Most frogs usually require water to lay eggs. The female lays hundreds of eggs contained in a gelatinous material and the male frog fertilises over the top of the eggs. After a few weeks, tadpoles emerge complete with gills, a mouth, and tail for swimming. Once your pond becomes active you will find it irresistible and want to spend hours just sitting and observing the visitors who come to check out the new neighbourhood. Try to include a bog part of the pond that is lined with PVC and UV-stabilised liners to guarantee moisture retention around the water component of the pond and attract burrowing frogs. Around the inside boundary of the bog, plant sedges and place logs and rocks for lizards and frogs to keep them safe from predators. Light exposure is critical for frog breeding — aim for at least one-third of the pond area to receive sunlight in winter, with dappled light preferred in summer. Dead logs have life, they retain moisture and attract insects, which form a vital part of frogs' diets. Additionally, aquatic plants not only stabilise the soil but also enhance oxygen levels in the water. Plants that live in water: Baumea rubiginosa, Lobelia anceps, Meeboldina crassipes, Lysimachia nummularia, Myriophyllum crispatum, Ludwigia palustris, Bacopa monnieri, and Phalaris arundinacea. Plants for bog areas: Acorus gramineus, Baumea preissii, Carex flacca dwarf, Dampiera sp. Houttuynia cordata, Iris brevicaulis, Eleocharis acuta, Goodenia sp. Juncus pauciflorus, and Villarsia reniformis. Water gardens are more than aesthetic enhancements; they support local ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and contribute to sustainable landscaping practices. Features like rain gardens are gaining popularity, capturing rainwater, reducing runoff, and providing habitats for beneficial wildlife. 1. Look on the underside of coleus leaves to hand-pick and squish caterpillars. 2. Don't waste autumn leaves — put them straight on the garden beds. 3. Brugmansia will have the last flush of flowers before winter sets in and then they can be pruned.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Indigenous navitars!
We are immeasurably rich in indigenous plants, especially cool season flowers like the Cape daisy (Osteospermum), Kingfisher daisy (Felicia), the delicate trio of diascia, nemesia, and bacopa as well as the ever dependable pelargoniums, amongst others. Are these plants that we see in such colourful profusion in garden centres truly indigenous? Yes and no, or maybe ja/nee! Indigenous plants are defined as the original species that occur in nature and survive without human intervention. However, breeders and growers have hybridised these indigenous plants to make them more compact, with a greater range of flower colours and more adaptable to home gardens. But, like the original species they carry the same hardiness, are as drought tolerant and attract pollinators. Dainty diascia As the hybrid of the original indigenous pink spur-flower, Diascia 'Diamond' is a neat, more compact plant, with larger flowers and a full range of flower colours: apricot, orange, red, fuchsia, dark pink, light pink and white. It flowers best during the cooler months, from autumn through to spring. Diascia 'Diamond' grows in winter sun as well as partial shade and is an excellent edging plant, a filler for rockeries and in hanging baskets and mixed containers. Plant in fertile, well composted soil that drains well. Sweet nemesia Nemesia 'Nesia' grows 30 to 40cm high and spreads up to 30 cm. The Nesia range has striking colours, often with two tones, and a yellow, orange or gold centre. The upright growing plants form a mound and are covered in flowers. They are ideal for containers and garden beds and they grow in semi shade. The flowers are lightly fragrant. Abundant Bacopa 'Bacopa MegaCopa' has large white, pink, or blue flowers that are double the size of other Bacopa varieties. The nicely compact plant fills out quickly, and doesn't fall open in the middle, producing a cushion of flowers. It likes full sun in winter and if moved into semi-shade from spring onwards will flower well into summer. Keep the soil moist, feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month, then sit back and enjoy the show. Easy on the eye Osteospermum are better known to most gardeners as the Cape daisy. It is tough, adaptable and showy in any position. Osteospermum 'Serenity' is a neat and compact plant that is frost tolerant and comes in an array of colours which includes the unusual 'Blue-eyed Beauty' and 'Sunshine Beauty.' These low maintenance daisies grow easily in ordinary garden soil and need full sun with regular watering. True Blue Lobelia 'Curacao' is a showy lobelia that produces an abundance of flowers in various shades of blue. It is heat tolerant and is available with different growth habits; trailing for baskets and mounded for garden beds and containers. The colours are brilliant blue, blue with white eye and light blue. Plant in full sun or semi shade and in loose, gritty soil. Pelargoniums have probably been hybridised more than any other South African flower. The most common varieties are the ivy leaf trailing pelargonium and the upright, bushy zonal pelargonium. 'Tacari' is an ivy leaf pelargonium that has crisp leaves and large double flowers. It It holds its shape in hanging baskets and containers, without getting scraggly. Plants able to thrive despite poor soil, drought, light frost and even light shade. 'Turkana' (with dark green leaves) and 'Kariba' (light green leaves) are zonal pelargoniums that are upright, bushy plants with large, brightly coloured single or double blooms, mainly in shades of pink, red, and white. They produce a neat, colourful hanging basket or container and a neat garden plants. For more info, visit Ball Straathof. For more on gardening, visit Get It Magazine.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Indigenous avatars!
We are immeasurably rich in indigenous plants, especially cool season flowers like the Cape daisy (Osteospermum), Kingfisher daisy (Felicia), the delicate trio of diascia, nemesia, and bacopa as well as the ever dependable pelargoniums, amongst others. Are these plants that we see in such colourful profusion in garden centres truly indigenous? Yes and no, or maybe ja/nee! Indigenous plants are defined as the original species that occur in nature and survive without human intervention. However, breeders and growers have hybridised these indigenous plants to make them more compact, with a greater range of flower colours and more adaptable to home gardens. But, like the original species they carry the same hardiness, are as drought tolerant and attract pollinators. Dainty diascia As the hybrid of the original indigenous pink spur-flower, Diascia 'Diamond' is a neat, more compact plant, with larger flowers and a full range of flower colours: apricot, orange, red, fuchsia, dark pink, light pink and white. It flowers best during the cooler months, from autumn through to spring. Diascia 'Diamond' grows in winter sun as well as partial shade and is an excellent edging plant, a filler for rockeries and in hanging baskets and mixed containers. Plant in fertile, well composted soil that drains well. Sweet nemesia Nemesia 'Nesia' grows 30 to 40cm high and spreads up to 30 cm. The Nesia range has striking colours, often with two tones, and a yellow, orange or gold centre. The upright growing plants form a mound and are covered in flowers. They are ideal for containers and garden beds and they grow in semi shade. The flowers are lightly fragrant. Abundant Bacopa 'Bacopa MegaCopa' has large white, pink, or blue flowers that are double the size of other Bacopa varieties. The nicely compact plant fills out quickly, and doesn't fall open in the middle, producing a cushion of flowers. It likes full sun in winter and if moved into semi-shade from spring onwards will flower well into summer. Keep the soil moist, feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month, then sit back and enjoy the show. Easy on the eye Osteospermum are better known to most gardeners as the Cape daisy. It is tough, adaptable and showy in any position. Osteospermum 'Serenity' is a neat and compact plant that is frost tolerant and comes in an array of colours which includes the unusual 'Blue-eyed Beauty' and 'Sunshine Beauty.' These low maintenance daisies grow easily in ordinary garden soil and need full sun with regular watering. True Blue Lobelia 'Curacao' is a showy lobelia that produces an abundance of flowers in various shades of blue. It is heat tolerant and is available with different growth habits; trailing for baskets and mounded for garden beds and containers. The colours are brilliant blue, blue with white eye and light blue. Plant in full sun or semi shade and in loose, gritty soil. Pelargoniums have probably been hybridised more than any other South African flower. The most common varieties are the ivy leaf trailing pelargonium and the upright, bushy zonal pelargonium. 'Tacari' is an ivy leaf pelargonium that has crisp leaves and large double flowers. It It holds its shape in hanging baskets and containers, without getting scraggly. Plants able to thrive despite poor soil, drought, light frost and even light shade. 'Turkana' (with dark green leaves) and 'Kariba' (light green leaves) are zonal pelargoniums that are upright, bushy plants with large, brightly coloured single or double blooms, mainly in shades of pink, red, and white. They produce a neat, colourful hanging basket or container and a neat garden plants. For more info, visit Ball Straathof. For more on gardening, visit Get It Magazine.
Telegraph
28-02-2025
- General
- Telegraph
10 of the best trailing plants for vibrant hanging baskets
Give vertical spaces an uplifting makeover with hanging baskets that add oodles of colour, shape and scent to your garden without compromising on space. For the best displays, opt for plants that deliver exceptionally long flowering periods, outstanding beauty and tolerance of the unpredictable British weather. Begonia Illumination Apricot Shades The burgeoning blooms of Begonia Illumination cast rays of sunshine into gardens with their cheery hues of gold, tangerine and apricot. During the growing season, the trailing stems become smothered with multi-petalled flowers that spill gently over the edges of hanging baskets to form a dazzling spherical display. This stalwart of summer is undaunted by the vagaries of British weather and flowers profusely with little or no maintenance. Dazzling Double Fuchsia Collection With their pendulous blooms reminiscent of ballerinas wearing flamboyant tutus, the fuchsias in this collection consist of a mix of hardy, half-hardy and tender perennials in jewel and pastel colour combinations. Their graceful nature and ability to flower non-stop for months make them champion plants of hanging baskets, containers and window boxes. Give them a position that receives sun for at least part of the day. Sweet Surfinia Collection Sun-worshipping surfinia plants are renowned for their floral extravaganzas of cascading trumpet-shaped blooms. They have long been the perfect bedfellows for hanging baskets where they tumble down in gentle waves of colour, allowing them to be appreciated at eye level. Plant them either as a species on their own or combined with other hanging-basket favourites. These surfinias are self-cleaning bedding plants, which means their spent flowers shed on their own. Why we recommend Sweet Surfinias Exceptional flower power from early summer until autumn. Sutera Diffusus Scopia Venus A popular trailing plant that is perhaps more widely known among the gardening community as 'Bacopa', this produces heaps of dainty open flowers along its cascading green stems. The single-plug plants consist of a trio of blue, pink and white varieties to ensure an early but impactful display once planted. Use Bacopa to soften the edges of raised beds and hanging baskets or as ground cover in beds and borders. Perfect Pelargonium Collection The classic charm of these Calliope pelargoniums provides opulent colour to summer-planting schemes and a unique aroma that intensifies in the heat. More commonly referred to as bedding geraniums, Calliopes are a cross between zonal and ivy-leaved pelargoniums that are characterised by a mounding to semi-trailing habit. A hanging basket brimming with vibrantly coloured Calliopes makes an eye-catching focal point that will last until the first frosts. Catchy Calibrachoa Collection Create a carnival of sizzling shades in your garden with the colour-changing chameleon-like Calibrachoa. These intriguing plants visibly respond to variations in light levels and temperatures, allowing them to alter the intensity of colour in their pretty little striped speckled faces. Often referred to as mini petunias or million bells, Chameleon Calibrachoas will spill and thrill from hanging baskets in a joyous celebration of colour. Lobelia Laguna Collection With frothy clouds of delicate flowers, trailing lobelias are the hanging-basket staple for effortlessly filling gaps between neighbouring bedding plants. The Laguna collection is an exceptionally floriferous new variety for 2025 and includes two true blue varieties, a colour that is scarce in nature. Pure white, sky blue and dark blue plants produce lightweight multi-branching stems that can be pruned back if needed. Why we recommend Lobelia Lagunas For their six-month flowering period. Plant: After the risk of frost has passed Foliage: March to November Flowers: May to October Lantana Evita Collection The exotic-looking ball-shaped blooms of Lantana consist of dozens of mini florets that attract butterflies and bees, which will help boost biodiversity in your garden. As a native of the tropical regions, its common name is 'Jamaican Mountain Sage' and that tells you that this plant loves to bask in the sun. Colours in the collection range from candy-floss pinks to citrusy oranges and beautiful yellows to snowy whites. Petunia Double Tumbelina Sophia Tumbelina petunias don't rely on other plants to enhance their beauty. Their frilly mauve flowers grow cheek by jowl against a backdrop of green foliage and provide independent highlights of colour, form and fragrance in baskets, balcony boxes, patio containers and even indoor and outdoor plant pots. The plants perform well in all aspects from full sun to part shade and will benefit from having their spent flowers removed occasionally to make way for new buds to form. Dichondra Argentea Silver Falls This invaluable tender perennial for hanging baskets produces long billowing stems clad in silvery heart-shaped leaves, hence its common name, 'Silver Nickel'. The metallic sheen of its foliage makes a great foil for pastel or bold-coloured bedding plants. Its trailing stems can extend to over a metre during the growing season, so, for best effect, grow it in an elevated position. Why we recommend Dichondra Argentea Makes a great focal point when grown on its own. FAQs What are the lowest maintenance/easiest-to-take-care-of plants? Cherry-pick plants for your hanging baskets and containers that have uncomplicated requirements and flower relentlessly throughout the summer season. Begonia Illumination Apricot Series, the Catchy Calibrachoa Collection and the Sweet Surfinia Collection are among those that fit this brief. What are the best non-flowering plants for hanging baskets? Dichondra Argentea Silver Falls is one of the best cascading-foliage plants for hanging baskets. Its understated elegance forms a good partnership with flowering plants but it is equally stunning on its own. How to take care of hanging baskets? Water hanging baskets at the end of the day when it is cooler because this allows the water to percolate through the soil at its own pace without evaporating. Administer a liquid feed once a fortnight because the nutrients in compost depletes over time. Dead-head where necessary to promote new blooms.
