subject: Keeping the Brain Healthy Can Improve Your Memory [print this page] Keeping the Brain Healthy Can Improve Your Memory
If you're getting older you might start seeing a change in your brain. Maybe your short term memory isn't as good and you're having trouble recalling names or remembering where you put your car keys. The fact is, it's not just your imagination. Scientists have found your brain really does get slower as you get older.
But luckily, if you're interested in keeping the brain healthy there are two ways you can go.
1) Keep your brain active keep physically active with exercise because that helps keep oxygen flowing through your brain. And that boosts your memory.
It also means keep learning new things. Take up a new hobby. Every time you learn something new, you create new grooves in your brain which sparks new connections. It gives you a new perspective and this is invaluable for keeping the brain healthy.
2) You also want to pay attention to the foods you eat. Your nutrition plays a valuable role in your brain.
Did you know you could boost your brain power by eating fish? That's because fish is full of omega 3 fatty acids and these are crucial to your brain functions. See, if you think of your brain as a giant message center, it makes sense that if messages aren't getting through or are getting "held up" up in transition, that will cause you to be forgetful.
Keeping the Brain Healthy Through Fish
The oils in fish, especially DHA, help your synapses to connect so your brain "fires" quicker and the messages are sent and received.
Here's how.
Your nerves have a protective coating called myelin. Over time, this coating wears away leaving your nerves exposed. Without this protection, they can become frayed and just as a frayed wire doesn't work so well with your electrical outlets, so your frayed nerves have trouble working too.
Studies show these omega 3 fatty acids--like in fish oil--can smooth your frayed nerves and keep them working at a fast pace. Plus, these nutrients can also boost your mood and keep you positive.
Keeping the brain healthy requires a level of DHA and other healthy omega 3 fats. Unfortunately, if you're eating the typical American diet, you're not getting enough of these fats. Eating fish is one way to offset your nutritional deficiency. You can also take fish oil supplements to ensure you're getting the nutrients you need.
To learn more about the role of omega 3's on keeping the brain healthy, please visit my website where I share the research I've learned over the years.
