Step it up.
A 30-minute daily walk is one of the best things you can do for your body, including your brain. Exercise can help prevent things that can lead to memory loss, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and stroke.
A colorful variety of fruits, vegetables and grains is good for the brain.
Increasing a plant-based diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables helps the body function at its best. Good antioxidants help the body neutralize brain-damaging free radicals and fight off diseases, while reproducing healthier cells.
Fortify with fish.
In one recent study involving 5,500 men and women, simply eating fish at least once a week led to a 70% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk. Why? Omega-3’s, fatty acids found in certain fish (such as salmon, trout, canned tuna) facilitate the transmission of messages between brain cells-the basis of all mental activity. Eating four ounces of fish, four times a week
Engage your brain – Socially and with mental challenges.
Just like physical exercise, mental exercise is good for you. Playing cards, join a book club, watch a football game with friends, playing a brain-training app. Any mentally challenging activity will keep your mind sharp, so make lifelong learning a habit. The more social connections someone has, the better they are at preserving mental function and memory.
Strive for sweet sleep.
Attention and concentration go down when sleep is restless, and mental function isn’t as sharp as it is in those who have normal, restful sleep. Although age and lifestyles may vary sleep needs a bit, in general, is recommended that we get between 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Sleep allows the body to replenish and refresh itself, which is vital for optimal brain health at any stage of life. To promote sweet sleep, avoid big meals and caffeine at least 3-4 hours prior to bed, creating a habit of going to bed around the same time nightly.
Decrease the stress.
Being under stress is very bad for the brain. High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, make it harder to pull information from your brain’s memory. Try different ways to relax, like meditation, yoga, massage, relaxing with music or a good book.
Reference: WebMd.com – Senior Brain Boosters
WRITTEN BY: WENDY TUCKER, RN
Mrs. Wendy Tucker is an R.N. and Healthy Living Advocate who believes in a holistic approach to health care with an emphasis on prevention. Her entrepreneurial spirit and nursing background merged when she decided to focus on learning and sharing about the importance of whole food nutrition with the Juice Plus+ Company.