Your brain controls or regulates everything that you do, from working and playing to remembering, thinking, feeling, and sleeping. When devising a health regimen as you get older, it is important to not only exercise the body, but to exercise your brain. As you get older, not only is your body function reduced, but your brain can also decline. Here are some ideas to keep your brain healthy.
Physical Activity
When you’re running around and active, you are also stimulating and maintaining blood flow to your brain. The more blood that flows to your brain, the more likely your cells are going to be active and healthy. While you’re working out, you’re keeping your brain involved as well. Here are some easy ways to get more physical activity.
Walking
A relaxing walk in the park or speed walking not only gets the blood flowing, but it can be a dynamite way to stimulate your brain’s functions. If you live in a place where you can safely walk, take a walk around the neighborhood and visit your friends. If not, there are tracks and other public facilities just waiting for your use.
Stretching
Stretching exercises strengthen your body and keep the muscles primed and ready for anything that you can throw at them. If you sit at a desk all day, take the time to lift your legs, one at a time, stretching your calves and feet. You’ll find that over time the muscles are growing and helping out your mental.
Body Weight Exercises
Body weight exercises are a dynamic free way to get your brain in shape. Do pushups against the wall, or lift your legs while you’re in bed. This promotes the blood flow, and keeps your brain working at its fullest potential. Exercise and physical activity don’t need to be done at a gym, they can be done in the privacy of your own home.
Diet
The diet that you choose promotes or hinders your brain’s growth. If you’re eating fast, fried food all of the time, your brain may not be getting enough nutrients to thrive. Here are some dietary changes that might just be the ticket to getting your brain in full gear.
Leafy Greens
A diet consisting of leafy greens stimulates your brain’s growth and makes you feel good. They are not only filled with antioxidants, but they’re also packed with vitamins and nutrients which stimulate the brain’s growth.
Fish Oil Supplements
Omega-3 fish oil has been proven to hold back the devastating effects of age on your brain. While your body doesn’t produce omega-3 fish oil on its own, putting fish in your diet or taking a supplement helps all of your body’s functions, not just your brain. Studies have shown that omega-3 fish oil can help reduce the painful effects of arthritis, delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, and help reduce the effects of depression.
Antioxidants
You can find antioxidants in grapes, berries, and other foods. These assist your brain in creating new connections, as well as keeping the brain functioning through times when it would otherwise be deteriorating. Diets which promote brain function include lots of berries and leafy greens, and eating a couple of servings of fish.
Stay Social
Plan a shopping trip with your friends, or make new ones by going to the library and starting a group. Hanging out with friends keeps your brain stimulated and reduces your stress levels. Friends can also keep you on your toes conversationally and through activity.
Conversation
Start a conversation with people that you meet, and you might find that you’ve gotten a new friend. If you’re a big box store walker, talk with the folks who are restocking the shelves and make friends with them. They usually appreciate the break from their work, and you are helping yourself out.
Hobbies
Is there a store that you go to all the time to support your favorite hobby? Gather a group of friends around to talk about that hobby and try to make the world a better place. Maybe you enjoy knitting or cross stitch? Look at various sites like Meetup where you can find kindred spirits.
Phone Calls
Is there someone who you haven’t talked with in years? You might find that they’re in your area, and they’re wanting to meet up with you. Take the time to make a phone call or two, and listen to how their day has gone.
Brain Exercises
Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and other mental exercises can stimulate and bolster those brain cells. When you involve yourself in a game of chess, or word puzzles, you are boosting your brain’s capacity and maybe even making new connections between cells. When any of these exercises become too easy, that means it’s time to progress to the next level.
Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles force you to recall certain words and definitions to put in the boxes. You’re required to remember names of famous people and quotes, as well as putting the rest of your knowledge to the test.
Logic Puzzles
Logic puzzles test your cognitive abilities, encouraging you to extrapolate and use the reasoning portion of your brain. When you pick up a book of logic puzzles, you are taking yourself to a world where all the clues are there, and you get to solve the mystery.
Sudoku
Sudoku requires your reasoning side as well, but this time you’re using numbers instead of letters and words. There is a dose of logic as well as luck involved with finishing a Sudoku puzzle.
Your brain is the most important part of your body. With a mixture of brain exercises, social activities, supplements and activity, you can keep up your mental acuity as you get older. Nothing can hold you back from making miracles happen.
