Sharpening your brain can be simple and fun. All you have to do is pay attention and listen to your instinct, say researchers. Giving your brain some boosts can be done in a number of ways, including the following ten:
1. Take a walk. If you feel a little strange walking by yourself, take your dog for a walk (if you don’t have a dog, borrow one, or take a friend or neighbor with you). By walking just 20 minutes a day you can lower your blood sugar, and increase your heart rate. Blood sugar levels can keep your brain in a fog, and your heart needs the exercise to pump extra oxygen to the brain.
2. Play video games. Video games like Wii, gives your brain the exercise you need and you can get up and interact with the screen. You can find brainteasers as you become an expert at the games, and improve your physical health as well. You are forming new neurons (brain cells) as you improve your memory and your health.
3. Eat healthy snacks. Instead of reaching for that candy bar, eat almonds and blueberries instead. These types of snacks can lower your blood sugar and improve memory and cognition. In addition, blueberries contain antioxidants and the almonds are full of omega3 fatty acids that keep your brain in tip-top shape.
4. Pay attention when others are talking to you. When listening to another person, pay attention, not only to what they are saying but how they are saying it. You can sometimes miss a change in their tone that could indicate a problem, or something of importance, if you don’t pay attention. You can also put the image of what they are saying into a picture story in your head, which will activate many different areas of your brain and help in memory formation.
5. Notice details around you. You’ve heard the term “Wake up and smell the roses.” By taking a sniff of the air around you, looking at minute details in your room, notice the colors. etc. you are promoting cell growth in the visual and sensory areas of the brain, which promotes memory.
6. Spice it up. Add spices to your food, and your life, by adding some curry to your food. Turmeric, the active ingredient in Indian curry, contains resveratrol, the same powerful antioxidant that makes red wine good for brain health. Sprinkle it on salads, add it to your meat, or even put it in your tea — by eating curry once a week you can protect your brain from those harmful free radicals.
7. Add walnut oil to your salad. Walnut oil is chock-full of brain-healthy omega-3 fatty acids that cuts brain inflammation, which some scientists believe can indicate cognitive problems. It also thins the blood slightly, which keeps it flowing to your brain.
8. Do some weight training. Strap some weights on your ankles or wrists as you walk, or practice gentle yoga. By adding some strength training to your exercise regiment will help to protect your brain against free radicals and encourage new brain cell growth.
9. Take a trip around your neighborhood. Check out all the changes that are taking place in your neighborhood. If you have children or grandchildren, take them with you to explore the area around you. In addition to finding new ideas for things you can do at home to change your yard, or maybe getting acquainted with your neighbors, it created new neural pathways in your brain.
10. Bring out your passions. If you can get worked up talking about sports, politics or religion you can form new neural pathways and force yourself to think quicker and make better decisions. Just make sure you do it without getting angry — which raises harmful and memory-hindering cortisol levels.
I hope you implement some or all of these brain building and memory improvement strategies.
About the author:
Ron White is a two-time USA Memory Champion and memory expert. As a memory speaker he travels the world to speak before large groups or small company seminars, demonstrating his memory skills and teaching others how to improve their memory, and how important a good memory is in all phases of your life. His CDs and memory products are also available online at BrainAthlete.com.
Sources:
Everyday Ways to Stay Sharp – Want to keep your brain in shape? Work it: http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-08-2008/noodle_boosters.html
