Well, most people will argue that it is natural to be forgetful at old age, which is false. It is brought about by how you trained your brain during your early years.
If you experience memory lapses very often, you need to worry. It might be more than just a slip. The brain is a viable organ that regenerates regularly but will require some technical assistance. This assistance originates from individual habits and lifestyles.
Below are eight habits to keep your mind sharp.
1. Proper Dieting
Healthy feeding is always food for the brain. By all means, go for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, they should be low in fat and comprise mainly of vegetables. Fish, nuts, olive oil, fruits, and vegetables should all be on your menu.
Diets rich in sugar have damaging effects on the brain. They are associated with inadequate insulin regulation, inflammation of the brain, as well as oxidative stress. The ultimate goal of your diet should be to maintain the sensitivity of the insulin.
Ditching sugars is not enough to guarantee sharpness. You will have to do more, especially when it comes to eliminating oxidants from the brain. The best way to eradicate these toxins is by taking enough fruits and vegetables.
Dark chocolate is recommended since it contains ingredients that improve your memory as well as cognitive functions. A mug of coffee is also good for your brain, provided it is taken in low doses.
2. Sleep Well
No one can question the importance of sleep in one’s life. But then, did you know that the quality and duration of sleep play a critical role in the development of your brain?
Almost all forms of dementia are caused by the accumulation of toxins in the brain. There exists no better way of dealing with these toxins other than having enough sleep.
Unfortunately, most people struggle to catch some sleep, which, as such, necessitates sleep masks. These materials create a dark environment that tunes your brain into a sleeping mode. Do not stay awake until midnight while there exists something to hasten the process.
Before going to bed, ensure that you have been away from your electronics for close to an hour. This creates a digital detox that allows the brain to settle before falling asleep.
3. Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise and brain health are the same things. Exercises, whether light or heavy, are food for the brain. Adults engaged in physical activity have a better memory.
The brain has a crucial part called the hippocampus, which is responsible for your memory. With age, this part shrinks, and this explains why the elderly can hardly remember anything.
With regular physical activity, there is increased blood flow to the brain, thus increasing the size and life of the hippocampus. Exercises that touch on the leg muscles are therapeutic in that they send signals to the brain, which triggers the formation of healthy new brain cells.
4. Be Comfortable
The state of your mind can be primarily defined by the environment you live in. The environment, in this case, may mean the actual surrounding or the organization of your house.
The mind tends to pick and relate to what it is exposed to. At the same time, there is the issue of bedding for good sleep. Good sleep cannot be defined by the number of hours alone; it also includes the quality of the sleep.
The bed and mattress you use have a lot to do with your brain health. Slim, worn-out bedding can cause stress, creating the need for mattress toppers. Apart from making your mattress look new, they add the much-needed comfort to enhance some good sleep for a healthy brain.
5. Play Difficult Games
Although there is a debate on the effects of gaming, we cannot run away from the fact that they are beneficial to the brain. Choose games that keep you thinking, rather than games that are predictable romps.
Modern-day games are tricky and can keep your mind active as you try to figure a way out. Games are also a stress reliever that gives room for the development of new brain cells.
6. Socialize
Staying indoors to watch movies and enjoy the internet is a modern form of entertainment that does not benefit your brain in any way. To make matters worse, people have embraced online platforms such as Facebook for interaction.
Socializing requires more of a physical interaction where you get to meet new people and make friends. While all these happen, the brain benefits through a uniform circulation of blood as you listen and formulate responses.
Interacting with others also provides a learning experience since knowledge is always nourishment for the brain. There is also the aspect of deep listening, which is good for your mind.
7. Reduce Mental Stress
Stress and anxiety eat up though your brain in numerous ways. First, it triggers the release of cortisol, a dangerous secretion that hampers the normal functioning of the brain.
Stress seems to be a daily occurrence for everyone in this day and age. It is, therefore, reasonable to stay away from factors that bring this stress. In case you find yourself in the situation unknowingly, always embrace healthy ways of eliminating stress.
Put stress on the physical body through regular exercising and it will, in turn, reduce the mental stress. Do not, at any point, enslave your brain with things you cannot handle. Stressing your mind beyond its capacity is not healthy.
8. Meditate
Meditation is can last between 10 and 15 minutes, where you reflect on issues that you have gone through. Mediation is always suitable as it enables you to catch some sleep as your bran is left to cool down.
It is also crucial in the reduction of stress levels. Stress has a damaging effect on the brain, and meditation is one of the approaches to keep the pressure at bay. Through regular meditation, your mind gets the feeling of satisfaction, thus better development.
Exercise and stress management are vital to the well being of your brain, but for as long as you are idle, it is all zero work. Knowledge is the best food for your mind and should be pursued by all means possible. Go for that master’s not because of a job but for the sake of your brain’s health.
Resources – WebMD, Harvard Medical School, The Healthy