9 Ways to Improve Your Brain Function
Part of staying as young as possible for as long as possible is keeping your brain functioning well. Whether you need a brain boost because you’re a mother of four with a full-time job and just staying awake is a challenge or because you’re trying your best to climb the career ladder and you need to constantly be on top form, you’ll need to give your brain a fighting chance. Here are some ways you can give your brain a boost.
Play Games
Playing mentally stimulating games is a way of exercising your brain so it stays alert and ready. Your brain needs to be exercised, just like every other muscle in the body. You can play games like chess, word and picture puzzles, trivia games and many more. The great thing about this way of boosting your brain’s function is, it’s fun. You don’t have to look at it as a chore you have to complete to keep your brain young because it’s something the whole family can get involved in.
Exercise
Have you ever noticed how much more motivated you are after exercise? It’s as if the world opens up and you can see things brighter and clearer. That’s the benefit exercise has on your brain. It increases the amount of blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain. It also lowers blood pressure and reduces mental stress. It’s ideal for anyone that feels their job is stressful. We can’t always avoid stress at work, but exercising can go a long way to relieving your tension. Going for an early morning run is one of the best ways of setting yourself and your brain up for the day.
What Are You Eating?
Your diet has a direct effect on how your brain is functioning. It’s best to stay away from saturated fats, which means the less take-aways you eat, the better. B vitamins and folic acid are ideal for brain function and you’ll find plenty of those in leafy green vegetables. If you’re worried that you’re not getting your fill of the vitamins you need, you may want to take a supplement. You can get everything you need from brain function support nootropic. To ensure you get a good range of vitamins in your diet, why not try making smoothies for your breakfast?
Blood Pressure
Did you know that high blood pressure can lead to cognitive decline in old age? It’s also worth knowing that there are many things you can do to easily lower your blood pressure when you need to. Studies have found that stroking dogs can significantly lower a human’s blood pressure. That’s because most people become totally relaxed around dogs, especially puppies. You can also lower blood pressure by lowering the amount of alcohol you drink per week. For women, it should be no more than a glass of wine per day. For men, no more than 2 pints of beer per day.
Cholesterol
Bad cholesterol has been linked to dementia in older age. It’s important to improve your cholesterol as soon as possible. You can do so by adjusting your diet and getting regular exercise. If you’re a smoker you may want to think about cutting down or giving up altogether. Here are some ways you can reduce your bad cholesterol and get more of the good.
Mental Health
We’re all affected by mental health at some point in our lives. Whether you go through a difficult time in your life, like a divorce or you’re clinically diagnosed with a mental health issue, it’s important to do what you can to look after your mental health. It goes without saying that the more pressure we have on our mind, the more likely our brains will need help to function in the future. If you feel like you need help to get through a particularly tough time in your life, counselling can be a fantastic way to take care of yourself.
Use Protective Equipment
It’s only as we get older that we realise that the things we did when we were younger do have consequences. If you think you can get away with riding a bike without a helmet, think again. Every fall, every hit, every accident; it’s all absorbed by our bodies. Even if we believe we’ve walked away without major injury and recover with no issues, the aches and pains may come back to haunt us. So, if you want your brain to function as well as possible in older age, you’ll need to protect is. Wear a helmet on a bike, wear protective gear when walking through a construction site and don’t take your body for granted.
Stay in the Game
Retirement doesn’t have to mean that you’re stuck at home watching re-runs of The Golden Girls. To keep your brain active, you need to be around other people. So, as you approach retirement, start to join clubs and groups where you can talk to like-minded people. One of the biggest complaints from retirees is loneliness. And, loneliness is no good for our brains. Of course, there will be days when you just want to be at home and relax, but staying connected to the community is a big key in keeping your brain active.
Travel
There’s nothing that broadens the mind quite as much as travel. It’s wonderful to see how other people live. Experiencing other cultures is the best way to awaken your brain. Travelling allows you to see new sights, taste new foods and speak different languages. It’s also the perfect excuse to totally relax. Whether you’re relaxing on the beach or exploring the wonders of the country you’re in, you’ll surely have forgotten about all the stresses and responsibilities of home. Take a look at some of the top travel destinations for over 50’s.
Keeping your brain functioning well isn’t hard when you know how. All you need is zest for life, a balanced diet and some good exercise for your mind to be in tip top shape.
Tia, and TipsfromTia.com is trying to keep you looking good and
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