Need a little something-something to keep the brain ticking? Concerned you’re starting to forget a few things or that your brain power is starting to reduce? Do the most you can do to keep your brain sharp! The old saying ‘use it or lose it’ is very appropriate, so are the below tips.
Eat Your Good Fats: Good fats like omega-3s are heavily involved in the physical structure of the brain. A good foundation is the basis to a thriving structure. Your good fats are also needed to ensure correct and efficient communication between all cells in the body, making them essential for memory-recall, thought patterns and movement. A great way to get your omega-3 is to eat 3 servings of fatty fish per week, or take a fish oil supplement.
Get Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep. Sleeping allows the body to rest, recover and recuperate so that it can perform for the next day. If you are having trouble sleeping, please refer to our this article, or contact us to discuss this further.
Eat Your Greens: Certain vitamins and minerals are needed for the production and transportation of messages throughout the body. These nutrients ensure that the message to pick up the glass of water is conveyed and followed-out. They are also used to remember your cousins’ names and the details of the work meeting you attended yesterday. Eating a rainbow of food would be ideal, but if that’s a little overwhelming, start by eating your greens then add some colour as you go.
Teach it something new: Keep your brain active, alert and young by learning something new. Try learning a new language, a musical instrument or by getting your daily dose of Lumosity. Learning something new can help to create new pathways and thus keep more of your brain active. The saying ‘use it or lose it’ applies in full swing.
Reduce Your Stress, or change the way you respond to stress: Stress can be very taxing to the body and the mind. Chronic stress, or recurring stress not only puts pressure on the brain to over function, but it can also reduce the amount of rest and repair that it sees. This can result in damage to both brain structure and connectivity. Stressed brains don’t learn the same way as non-stressed brains do. If you can’t change your stressors, change the way you respond to stress.
Exercise: Exercise boosts brainpower. Regular aerobic exercise increases oxygen flow to the brain reducing free radical damage and supporting and enhancing neuron development and survival. Exercise can also enhance brain function by reducing stress levels and clearing the mind.
About The Author - Samantha Mainland
Samantha is a highly educated Naturopath having graduated from both Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Naturopathy, and University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Medicine Management with Professional Honours in Complementary Medicine.