As we grow older, we pile up experiences and memories to hold onto and relive them in our old age. Unfortunately, the older we get, the less we tend to remember - and yet, that should be the case. With an estimated 50 million people living with dementia and other brain-related issues, it is important to learn how to keep your brain healthy so as to reduce the risk of dementia and enjoy a happy life in the future. Here are four natural ways to boost your brainpower.
Be Physically Active
Regular physical activity has been proven to be of immense benefits to the brain - from childhood all the way to adulthood. In children, regular physical activity has been shown to promote excellent cognitive development. In adults, it has been proven to improve thinking ability and memory, especially for adults with mild cognitive impairments. Activities such as aerobic exercises can increase brain volume while boosting short-term memory. Ten minutes of exercise each day is enough to boost areas of the brain responsible for problem-solving and decision-making. You can also opt for more gentle forms of exercise like yoga for 25 minutes a day.
Eat ‘Brain Food’
The kind of food you eat plays a crucial role in keeping your brain healthy. Brain food comes in several varieties that range from fish to fruits. Let’s take a look at some examples.
- Fatty fish: These include sardines, trout, and salmon. Fatty fishes are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
- Coffee: This ‘morning delight’ contains antioxidants and caffeine that can help the brain but coffee should also be used in moderation.
- Dark chocolate: This is packed with essential compounds that boost the brain. It also contains antioxidants and caffeine.
Other essential brain food examples include oranges, nuts, turmeric, green tea, eggs, pumpkin seeds, and broccoli.
Learn A New Language
Research has proven that learning a new language is one sure way to give your mind the training it needs by booting its cognitive capabilities. In infants, especially, learning a new or foreign language has been associated with cognitive development. While in adults, it has been proven to result in sharpened minds as learning new languages helps to enhance brain plasticity. This, in effect, boosts its ability to code information it receives. Even further research has shown that the ability to learn and speak more than one language helps to slow down the decline in cognition that comes with ageing.
Learn To Play A Musical Instrument
Not everybody can be a Mozart. However, studies have shown that learning to play a musical instrument comes with so many benefits for the brain. When children, in particular, are exposed to musical instruments at a very young age, it comes with several benefits. Children that learn to play musical instruments tend to ward off a decline in cognition associated with old age. But adults are not left out, though. Learning a musical instrument also helps to improve attention while expanding the brain’s capacity to store information for future reference.
Good memory care today is vital for future memory health tomorrow. Engaging in activities that help to boost the power of the brain also helps to ward off cognitive decline that comes with age, and leaves us with our good memories to treasure for a long time.
