As we get older there are the obvious changes going on. The fine lines and wrinkles, the sagging butt and eyelids, the chicken neck, flabby arms - ok - I'll stop. But even more unsettling about aging is that our mind starts to go too. Just as there are things that we can do to slow down the physical changes, there are also things we can do to keep our minds younger.



What Was I Talking About?

Oh yeah,

Keeping Our Minds Younger

Brain Food

One of the most important things we can do for both body and mind is to eat the right kinds of foods. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Adding more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables vegetables into our diets has other benefits. They increase blood flow to the brain and help our bodies produce more acetylcholine which helps with mental function. Blueberries are one of the berry good brain foods. Research says that if you eat at least a cup of blueberries a day, your memory will improve in just a few short months. The problem is, you have to remember to eat them.

Stress

Stress can be a big factor in our mental decline. Research tells us that those of us who are prone to being "stressed out" have a higher risk of cognitive impairment. Identifying the source of our stress is the first step in managing it. I find that certain types of stress keep me a little sharper. Tough deadlines and performance incentives have kept me a little more on my toes. I also have found that exercise, yoga and meditation help me stay focused and keep the stress level manageable.

Sleep

Research shows that getting a good night's sleep strengthens memory recall. While we sleep our brain is busy storing and sorting through information from the day. Not sleeping enough encourages those blank moments and lack of focus. Lack of sleep also affects your mood and performance.

Stay Active

One of the reasons that we suffer mental decline as we age is not staying active, both physically and mentally. The old adage "use it or lose it" applies to not only our muscle strength but our memory as well. The more you work out the body and the mind the better you'll be able to process and remember things. For example, taking on unfamiliar tasks can improve short term memory and build up the part of the brain that processes information. And regular exercise increases oxygen to the brain and is just all around good for mental and physical stamina.

Many of us have some bad habits which doesn't help our ability to process and retain information. The good news is that barring some terrible disease or serious injury, we can improve our memory.

Copyright (c) 2008 Lynne Hagan