Use Nutrition, Exercise, Water To Boost Brain Function
Your brain is only about the size of your two fists. Compared to the weight of your whole body, your gray matter accounts for just 2 percent of your total mass. But what a 2 percent it is! Without a healthy brain, it is exceedingly difficult - or in some cases, impossible - to accomplish all the things you want to do as you age. Here, then, is a quick primer on how to keep your brain younger longer.
First and foremost, good nutrition is important. Virtually all major health experts will tell you that you cannot maintain good brain health without a sensible diet and plenty of water. Most medical professionals will recommend taking nutritional health supplements, since it is tough to eat a perfectly balanced diet every day.
Consider this. According to new recommendations released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, each meal you eat should be composed of one-half fruits and vegetables, one-quarter whole grains and one-quarter lean protein.
That's all fine and dandy, but who has the time and energy to make every single meal that way? Many pundits have noted that breakfast is a particularly difficult meal to make brain-healthy, since most meals made early in the day are heavy on protein and light on produce.
This means that good dietary supplementation is essential. The brain needs vitamins, proteins, minerals and plenty of water in order to function properly. By taking a vitamin supplement early in the day, you can improve your brain function and sharpen your memory, one capsule at a time.
Don't skimp on the water, either! Studies have shown that too little moisture can reduce the speed at which your brain functions. No wonder being dehydrated gives you a headache. And that's not all it does either.
Scientists have begun to suspect that aging Americans, especially men, drink far too little water throughout the day. You know how most public health authorities recommend drinking eight tall glasses of water daily? Well, many retired men and women consume far less per day.
Research has established that much of this avoidance of water is simply due to aging adults not wanting to have to use the bathroom all day long. Understandable! Unfortunately, the brain needs water more than ever in old age. Without moisture, the brain's neurons have difficulty firing at high speed, which can result in fuzziness, confusion, tiredness or difficulty remembering simple things.
By taking dietary supplements, eating right, exercising, drinking plenty or water and getting a good night's sleep, you may be able to keep your cognitive functions sharp and your memory clear for longer than you ever thought possible!
When you buy nutritional health supplements, be sure to look for those that contain the best brain health ingredients.
For starters, try a complete multivitamin, one containing zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium and other essential minerals. Your brain needs these to keep its batteries charged. Likewise, look for capsules that deliver plenty of vitamins B, C, D and K, since no healthy brain can function for long without them!
What else can keep brains churning into the golden years? Phosphatidylserine can. Also called "PS," this soy-based nutrient is like Mother Nature's superfood for the brain, providing the building materials necessary to rejuvenate neurons and speed up memory.
In studies, scientists found that aging adults who took PS reported up to a 30 percent increase in some brain function measures. Researchers estimated that taking PS can roll back cognitive decline by as many as 12 years!
Our brain accounts for 2 percent of our body weight. But that doesn't make us special. According to a neuroscientist at the University of Washington, a parrot's brain also accounts for about 2 percent of its mass.
What does make us special is that, unlike squawking Polly, we can do something to preserve our brain health into old age - namely, eating right, drinking lots of water, getting daily physical activity and taking brain supplements.
If you find your thoughts getting a little fuzzy these days, consider trying a PS-based nutritional health supplement and a daily multivitamin. After all, taking care of your thinker is a no-brainer!