Despite what many people think, our brain can remain sharp, active, vital and creative no matter what our age. Our brain will continue to create new brain cells and new connections over the years, but our brain vitality is completely up to us. Maintaining that vitality is truly a “use it or lose it” situation.
Studies done by a number of schools of medicine suggest that the more stimulating and intellectually challenging that we make our lives, the better our odds are to keep our brain sharp as we get older.
Some additional ways to keep our brains sharp include:
Exercise regularly: Exercising delivers more oxygen-rich blood to the brain which is vital for producing new brain cells and preventing atrophy. According to CBSNews.com exercise also helps provide your brain with more blood flow. More blood means more nutrients and oxygen to help your brain function better. Exercise also helps reduce stress, which can produce memory-damaging hormones.
Eat low-fat and healthy: Glucose spikes and fatty plaque deposits due to overeating can damage the brain, so a lower-calorie diet promotes better circulation and helps to control weight. It’s also important to avoid trans fats found in junk food, because this type of fat narrows the blood vessels and reduced the flow of blood, nutrients and oxygen to the brain. Complex carbohydrates on the other hand can give the brain a lift by increasing sugar levels in the bloodstream.
Challenge your brain: Challenging your brain by learning and doing something new every week helps to create new neural pathways, helping to make your brain more versatile and able to multi-task. As found on CBSNews.com the more intellectual stimulation your brain gets, the better it functions. One theory is that intellectual stimulation prevents deterioration by strengthening the neural connections in the brain. The more stimulating the experience, the stronger the connections grow.
By keeping your blood moving, paying attention to what you eat and keeping your mind stimulated you can actively strengthen your brain.
Popularity: unranked [?]