ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Your brain allows you to think, feel, communicate, make decisions, and live a productive life. That’s why keeping it healthy is so important. Ivanhoe reports on some ways to boost your brain health.
A healthy brain is essential for a healthy life. One way to boost brain power is to lower stress levels.
James E. Galvin, MD, MPH; Prof. of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine says, “People who are under a lot of stress, and strain and duress, their cognitive performance is lower.”
Doctor Galvin says yoga can help you relax. A recent study found people who did two weeks of Yoga Nidra – a specific type of yoga that incorporates meditation and mindfulness – had improvements in sleep quality, attention, and memory.
Good nutrition is also key for brain health. The Alzheimer’s association recommends a diet that includes more veggies and lean meats with fewer fatty and processed foods. A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found foods high in fat can negatively impact the brain. Adults who ate two butter croissants for breakfast and then performed mental math tasks had less oxygen flow to the part of the brain involved in decision-making and emotions.
Regular exercise can also help your brain!
“The loss of muscle mass and strength is a very strong predictor of how you do on a cognitive test.” explains Doctor Galvin.
Studies in animals have found exercise increases the connections between brain cells. Staying socially engaged is another factor that can protect the brain. According to the US Surgeon General’s advisory report, chronic isolation can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day! With ways to boost your brain health!
Sleep is also vital for overall brain health. According to Johns Hopkins, a healthy amount of sleep promotes “brain plasticity” or the brain’s ability to adapt to input. Researchers also believe that sleep may promote the removal of waste products from your brain cells.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young
https://depts.washington.edu/mbwc/news/article/social-connection-and-brain-health
BACK TO BASICS TO BOOST
BRAIN HEALTH
REPOORT #3167
BACKGROUND: The brain controls everything you do, from thinking, feeling, and communicating, those are just some of the things that your brain does. In short, it’s important and it’s your job to keep it healthy and boost it. A significant way to boost your brain health is to eat right. A healthy and well-balanced diet is essential for your brain. Research has found that specific foods help contribute to brain health so make sure to eat fish, especially those containing omega-3 fatty acids for an additional benefit, walnuts and pecans since they are rich in antioxidants, and olive oil and dark-skinned fruits like blueberries and vegetables which contain vitamin E and beta carotenes.
MORE WAYS FOR A BOOST: Developing good brain habits is an important part of boosting your brain and keeping it healthy. One way is to simply meet up with friends and hang out with them. Being social can help you deal with depression and stress. Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. So, it’s essential to stay connected with your loved ones for your mental and physical well-being. If you decide to consume alcohol, it is essential to do so in moderation. For healthy adults, moderate alcohol consumption means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Excessive drinking can increase the risk of falls and cause memory problems. It can also exacerbate medical conditions that affect the brain, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/brain-health-tips/art-20555198)
MENTALLY ON THE MOVE: The brain is like a muscle, and you need to keep it moving one way or another. Instead of watching TV, do some reading or, if that doesn’t excite you, try doing a jigsaw puzzle. Having different types of activities can challenge your brain and boost its health. Most health care teams don’t recommend paid brain-training programs. They can overcommit results and focus on skills that aren’t beneficial. Some other options to incorporate into your daily routine to boosts brain health: aim for seven to eight consecutive hours of sleep per night to help boost overall memory, follow a mediterranean diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods instead of meat and salt in a typical American diet and exercise since physical activity can benefit the brain and reduce your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
* For More Information, Contact:
James E. Galvin, MD, MPH
Prof. of Neurology and Psychiatry
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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