Keeping Your Mind Active

The brain is perhaps the most cherished organ in our bodies, and yet it is the one that bewilders us the most. Because our thoughts and feelings are associated with our personalities, we often fail to recognise that the brain is an organ that reacts to its environment.

Many of us are unaware that we can play a part in keeping our brains in good condition. A holistic approach to body care also encompasses the mind!

Healthy diet

The good stuff: Have you noticed that you are mentally sharper after you eat a particular meal? Food for thought: Good foods deliver stimulating vitamins to your brain. If you enjoy over five servings of fruits and veggies a day, as well as oils in omega-3 fats, you also protect the blood vessels in your brain and help new nerve cells develop. "Yeah, okay...," you’re wondering, "How am I going to get that many veggies into my day?" Here’s a tasty solution: in the morning, toss a few fruits in a blender, add a bit of omega-3 oil, and yogurt. Enjoy the shake as you travel to work.

The bad stuff: Foods that are high in saturated and trans fats, as well as foods high in sodium, are bad for your brain. Cholesterol builds around nerve cells, preventing them from working efficiently.

Physical Exercise:

At the risk of damaging a favourite stereotype, the facts indicate that jocks are smarter! Fit people have more plentiful, and stronger, connections in their brains. (Arthur Kramer) They are also better able to multitask – a skill we can all use these days! Choose your favourite activity to get your heart pumping, for at least twenty minutes, three times a week.

Relaxation

Stress releases hormones that can cause memory problems and brain shrinkage, so it’s important to give your brain time to relax. Ideally, you should spend at least twenty minutes a day simply focusing on relaxing your brain. We recommend meditation, yoga, or tai chi. Even going for a soothing walk will help. These exercises will reduce stressful brain activity, and make your feel-good parts of the mind activate.

Brain challenges

The more connections we have in our brains, the less we have to fear losing some of them. This finding is suggested by Carol Greenwood, senior scientist at the Toronto-based Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Just as plants need nutrients in order to grow, your brain needs stimulation in order to spread its roots. Without intellectual stimulation, those roots will weaken. There are all kinds of ways to stimulate your brain. Spend at least fifteen minutes on brain-challenging activity every day.

Some suggestions:

• Make a habit learning the lyrics to your favourite songs and singing them during your morning shower.


• Learn a new sport or take dance lessons.


• Play party games, chess, or video games with friends.


• Learn a new skill at your local community centre.


• Engage in healthy debates.


• Learn a new language.


• Pick up that musical instrument that’s been collecting dust.


• Attend interesting public lectures, travel, and try making a habit of cooking new foods.

Sleep

People who get eight hours of sleep every night have greater creativity and problem- solving abilities. (German scientist Jan Born) This is because, while we sleep, our brains organise themselves. Once memories are in order, we are free to think in new and interesting ways.

Mood

As if depression isn’t rough enough, it also affects your memory and ability to concentrate. Try to sort through stress you may be experiencing, and visit a counsellor, if necessary. All the suggestions in this article (including diet, relaxation, sleep, exercise, and stimulation), will help alleviate your melancholy. Other ways to cope with the blues include getting more sunlight (or purchasing a light therapy lamp), and trying St. John’s Wort.

Hard time focusing?

According to a recent study at Baycrest, as we mature, the parts of our brains that concentrate do not engage as fully. Also, our ability to turn off distracting thoughts decreases as we age. Solutions? Follow the steps in this article to strengthen your brain’s connections. In the meantime, try to eliminate distractions from the main task on which you are working. For example, turn off the radio while working, reading, or driving. Also, seek out a private space to unwind and think.

DID YOU KNOW? Your brain is busy processing lessons for a while after you are finished learning... even while you are busy thinking of other things. This process is called, "off-line consolidation." (Philippe Peigneux)