Cognitive Function & Mental Performance The brain is the most complex machine in the universe and the largest and most important part of your nervous system. It contains more than 80 billion neurons with intricate pathways linking our senses, our movements and our memory. The brain depends upon a wide supply of different micronutrients that work together to ensure optimum health and performance and it consumes a massive 30% of the energy we produce from our food. Like all ‘machines’, it makes sense that what you put in affects what you get out! Specific ‘brain’ nutrients such as zinc, iodine, vitamin B12, B6 and folate have especially supportive functions. Brain cells cannot be replaced and have the highest priority in the body for specific micronutrients.