Don't Overfeed

Compared to muzzling an appetite that never seems to abate, getting to the gym regularly can feel like a Sunday in the park with pigeons. Fortunately, research on the supplement citicoline shows it might help your brain refrain from delicious thoughts. Scientists from McLean Hospital (Belmont, Massachusetts) found that subjects who took 2,000 mg of citicoline a day experienced a 12% reduction in appetite after just six weeks. The effect may be due to an increase in levels of a brain-signaling molecule known as dopamine, which is related to appetite. Earlier studies showed that citicoline supplementation can elevate the amount of energy available in certain portions of the brain, and it had a positive effect on memory and behavior in the elderly. For appetite reduction, take 2,000 mg a day. For overall cognitive enhancement, try 500 mg daily.