As people age, it is not just the body that undergoes aging but the brain as well. What is concerning is that only a few people notice the subtle changes in their brain performance as they grow older. It is only when they are at an advanced age that moments of forgetfulness and mental dullness become more frequent and noticeable. Brain health is every bit as important as physical health, which is why these two should be maintained closely together. There are various science-backed pieces of evidence that physical youthfulness is connected to a healthy brain and vice-versa.
Read on to know some tips on how to keep your brain healthy and sharp to look and feel youthful.
Improve Your Nutrient Supplementation
While there are various natural ways of keeping the brain healthy, most of them work best as preventive measures and maintaining optimal brain function. They are usually efficacious when applied or practiced while still young. Supplements and herbal support are essential for those with advanced age or those that have nutrient deficiencies that cannot be met by dietary intake. Magnesium, Zinc, CoQ10, and vitamin B-complex are effective ingredients that enhance and maintain brain function, while herbal extracts like ashwagandha, ginseng, and ginkgo are natural brain health boosters that help aging brains recover their youthfulness and sharpness. While there are concerns about the safety and dosage of brain health supplements, you can read more here about the scientifically-based formulation, ingredients, and recommended daily intake to ensure the safety of consumers. Certification and approval from regulatory bodies medicines and supplements such as FDA in the US and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK are vital pieces of information that a supplement is safe for regular consumption.
Get Quality Sleep
Sleep is a vital body process that often gets taken for granted by many people. Sleep not only promotes the recovery and repair of the various organs and cells in the body but also the brain and its neuronal connections. After working up your mind and body for the entire day, they deserve a much-needed downtime to rest, heal, and regenerate. There can be several detrimental effects of frequent sleep deprivation, such as mental fog, poor cognitive performance, memory deficits, emotional distress, and mood disorders. Not doing anything about your poor sleeping habits can have long-term consequences and lead to irreversible brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As early as now, find ways to improve your sleep quality to get seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep. Sleep quality is not only about getting the right hours of sleep but also how well you sleep. Fragmented or interrupted sleep reduces the healing and recovery that your brain gets, be sure to feel comfortable before falling asleep.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Most of the nutrients that your brain needs come from food sources, so make it a point to eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, and vitamin A, B complex, C, and E. The ketogenic diet and Mediterranean diet are two notable eating plans with scientifically backed benefits for the brain. The keto diet is used for treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children. Some studies support its therapeutic potential in treating multiple sclerosis and reducing Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The Mediterranean diet is also shown to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by improving brain volume, cognition, and memory. Also, eating more organic and less processed foods has been shown to slow the deterioration of the brain and keep it healthy.
Stay Physically Active
The benefits of physical activity not only encompass the cardiovascular and muscular system but also the nervous system as well. Regular exercise and physical activity help keep the heart healthy and the blood circulation around the body at an optimum rate. As your blood moves smoothly from your heart to your blood vessels, it delivers oxygen, nutrients, and fuel needed by the brain. Efficient blood circulation slows down or even reverses the degradation of brain connections that happen during aging. Thus, physically active people stay noticeably sharp mentally and are less likely to experience cognitive decline as they age. Scientific studies also found a connection between physical fitness and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Maintain Regular Mental Activity
Regularly engaging in intellectually stimulating activities helps keep your brain in shape. Brain connections are like muscles in our bodies – they need to be used regularly to prevent them from deteriorating. Do puzzles, read books, play games of strategy like chess, or learn arts and crafts to keep yourself mentally active and retain optimal mental functioning as you age. Also, your mind needs relaxation and calmness through meditation, so make sure to meditate every once regularly to reduce confusion, anxiety, and depression and get better focus and sleep.
The brain is a complex organ that holds together almost all of our bodily processes. Thus, it is only wise to keep it healthy and sharp at all times to make us look and feel great. Maintaining proper brain health doesn’t have to be complicated. By harmonizing nutrition, physical activity, mental stimulation, and relaxation, your brain stays at optimum health even as you age. Do your brain a favor by developing healthy habits as early as now.