Maximum Brain Power – The brain is undoubtedly one of the body’s hardest-working organs. The three-pound workhorse processes 70,000 thoughts each day, employing 100 billion neurons and 500 million synapses to help you facilitate the many decisions you make each second. It’s no wonder that some days the brain demands a break!
Unfortunately, Maximum Brain Power declines with age, but that’s not the only cause for concern. Some surprising other factors can speed things up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), risk factors like family history, exposure to toxins, physical activity and chronic disease can increase risk of cognitive impairment. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to improve the health of your most valuable organ, from taking brain-boosting supplements to signing up for mentally stimulating hobbies.
In this guide, we’ll go over a few great tips for bolstering mental performance to help you stay sharp at any age.
Focus on Nutritio
We’ve all heard of the heart healthy diet, but what about a brain healthy diet? Indeed, the brain is like any other organ in the body in that it needs the right nutrients each day to function at its very best. The experts say the best foods to eat for brain power include those that protect the heart and blood vessels, ensuring that the right nutrients get delivered to the brain.
Eat a brain-healthy diet
What should you eat to benefit the brain? Switch to fish and plant-based proteins and healthy oils, such as olive oil, instead of saturated fats that could clog your arteries. Studies have linked coffee, tea and walnuts to better memory and improved mental function.
Take supplements
An easy way to boost mental performance without changing your diet is to take supplements for brain fog and memory. Due to the link between the brain and gut, probiotics may be a good route to take for supplementation that supports the brain.
Lower your cholesterol
We typically obsess over cholesterol levels due to their impact on the heart, but did you know that they also play a role in cognitive function? High cholesterol causes clogged arteries, which can lead to a condition called vascular dementia. This happens due to reduced oxygen and blood flow to the brain and causes confusion, disorientation and trouble speaking or understanding speech.
Lower your blood sugar
Diabetics have a 73 percent increased risk of developing dementia and a 100 percent higher risk of developing vascular dementia. Keeping your blood sugar low is crucial to lowering your risk of diabetes and preventing long-term cognitive decline. Following a low-carb, plant-based diet and cutting out sugary, processed foods can help.
Get Enough Sleep
We’ve all experienced the noticeable cognitive impairment after a sleepless night. Getting enough regular, high-quality sleep helps the brain rest and recharge so it can regulate emotions and keep you energized throughout the day. Sleep is crucial to fostering attention, concentration, memory, problem-solving ability, creativity and judgment. Research also shows that chronic sleep deprivation can impair attention and memory in the short-term and memory and decision-making in the long-term. Improving your sleep health is one of the best ways to set yourself up for a life of strong cognitive function, both now and in the future. Consider taking supplements such as magnesium for sleep and creating a comfortable sleep environment to help you get into a good rest routine.
Stay Mentally Stimulated
The brain is a muscle, and like all muscles in the body, it needs exercise to stay strong. When in school, we automatically get plenty of mental stimulation through reading, studying and games. However, as we age, we have fewer reasons to sit down and concentrate. But building some cognitive exercises into your daily routine can help you stay mentally sharp and keep your memory in great shape. Some great activities to boost mental sharpness include crossword puzzles, chess, sudoku and memory games. Learning a new language and reading are great mental stimulators as well.
Get Plenty of Exercise
Getting your recommended daily amount of exercise isn’t just vital to your physical well-being. It may also have some important benefits for your brain. In fact, studies show that physical exercise can affect brain plasticity, which in turn affects cognition. Exercise stimulates the growth of neuronal connections while increasing heart rate and pumping more oxygen to the brain. Of course, exercise can also help you de-stress and supports general physical wellness, which can help the brain thrive.
Make Small Lifestyle Changes
If you’re concerned about mental decline, there may be some simple adjustments you can make without drastically upending your lifestyle. For example, cutting down on alcohol and tobacco may help prevent issues with memory and mental performance at any age. Making small changes to your diet and daily routine is the best way to set yourself up for success, since you’re much more likely to follow them each day.
Reduce Stress
Study after study has confirmed the link between stress and general wellness, and we know now more than ever just how much stress hormones wreak havoc on the body. When we’re stressed, the brain puts most of its energy and resources towards the problem, which zaps it of the energy required to perform vital tasks requiring concentration, memory and performance. Stress also promotes inflammation, which can negatively affect the health of your body’s most crucial organs. Do everything you can to manage stress to prevent it from getting in the way of your mental function. Meditation, yoga, socializing and taking regular vacations can help you keep stress levels under control for better health and Maximum Brain Power.
Maintaining good cognitive health is crucial to helping you live a happy, healthy life for longer. It’s important to prioritize cognitive function alongside all other aspects of your physical health — including diet, exercise and mental wellness — so you thrive well into old age. These tips will help you make Maximum Brain Powerbut meaningful changes so you stay sharp and achieve all of your goals each and every day.