There are many things you can do to give your memory and brain health a boost. In addition to exercises, certain lifestyle factors have a significant impact on how well our brains function. You may not realize just how much certain things contribute to your overall cognitive function. Let’s consider three…
The Food You Eat
Yes, it’s true. What you put in your body makes a big difference when it comes to brain health and memory. A balanced diet is recommended for a healthy body, and guess what? That same healthy diet will help you achieve optimal brain function. Along with the general guidelines for a well-balanced diet, there are specific foods that have been shown to boost memory and improve focus. Blueberries, for one. They reduce inflammation and slow down the aging effects on your brain. Fatty fish contain the omega-3 fatty acids necessary to build brain cells, leading to improvement in learning and memory. You might be pleased to know that dark chocolate contains a number of good-for-your-brain compounds, including caffeine and special antioxidants known as flavonoids. Caffeine increases alertness, sharpens concentration and improves mood. Flavonoids boost your memory and hold off cognitive decline. Some other foods to add to your list of brain boosters include broccoli, pumpkin seeds, turmeric, coffee, oranges, nuts and eggs.
Mental Activity
The amount of activity you subject your mind to heavily influences your brain’s function. It’s “use it or lose it”. The more you engage in an activity that utilizes a particular type of cognitive function, the stronger that function becomes. For example, when you exercise your working memory by manipulating information in your mind, your ease of performing these types of activities will increase over time. There are a number of benefits to maintaining an active mind. Regular reading, working with brain teasers, engaging in hobbies and learning new skills will make you sharper and more alert. You’ll also develop better recall.
Playing games and solving puzzles are fun ways for you to improve your memory and cognitive function. For two highly rated books of games, puzzles and trivia that will improve your brain function and memory, read my review HERE.
Genetics
Cognitive decline occurs to some extent in all of us. However, the amount of that decline varies from person to person. Many scientific studies have looked at this in order to determine how we can delay the onset of conditions like Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Why is it that some people remain sharp as a tack well into old age, while others begin to suffer memory loss earlier? Researchers have shown that a person’s genes do influence these outcomes. There are known genetic markers that are associated with cognitive functioning in aging. The existence and combination of these markers play a significant role in how an individual’s brain function is maintained with age.
This information is just a summary of what is known on these topics. These are some of the key elements that contribute to your overall brain health. Some, like genetics, are beyond your control but you can see that there are a number of preventive measures you can take to keep your mind sharp. The sooner you start, the better.
