Your brain is one of the most valuable tools you have, and as you age, your brain ages with you. In fact, it loses weight and mass and literally dries out the older you get. While this is not preventable, what you can help to keep at bay is age-related memory loss and dementia. This is done by using tools and living a lifestyle that helps keep your brain sharp. Just as you want to work out the rest of your body to keep it fine-tuned, you want to do the same for your brain. Here are things you can do now to keep your brain healthier as you age.
Eat healthy fats
Believe it or not, brain function relies on a healthy diet as much as the rest of your body does. A diet with healthy polyunsaturated fats has been shown to lead to more mental energy, so stock up on walnuts, sardines, and avocados. You can also switch to olive oil when preparing meals or frying food to get your saturated fats into your regular diet. Other foods that have healthy levels of brain-boosting fats include:
- almonds
- sesame seeds
- salmon
Make your brain think
You can mentally stimulate your brain by doing certain fun activities that forces it to use both its right and left hemisphere. Games such as crossword puzzles, word searches, and memory card games all do this, and help keep your mind sharp and focused. Doing math problems and other thinking activities also work to keep your brain sharp.
Another way you can keep your brain healthy as you age is by challenging your memory. Do this by making a few small changes in your daily routine, such as switching where you keep your phone charger or hang your keys. As your brain is forced to recall a new location, it is also boosting its ability to retain information. Keeping a journal also helps: simply write down tidbits of special events or daily activities that you can read later. Your brain will begin to recreate those events into a fuller story, which helps keep your memory sharp.
Since your brain ages just as much as the rest of your body does, it's important that you keep it in great health so you can retain sharp focus and information retention as you age. Eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fats and playing fun games that force your brain to use all its components are great ways to help you ensure a healthier thinker for life. Talk to a brain specialist, like those at BrainFlex Wellness Club and other locations, for more tips and ideas.
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