Maintaining a Sharp Mind (Brains)
Mar 7th, 2007 by Susan
In previous centuries, people didn’t worry so much about age-related brain conditions. Forgetfulness, speech problems and confusion were simply considered part of getting old. Now that our bodies are remaining fit and strong for much longer, it’s increasingly important that our minds also remain active - as much for our families’ sake as our own. Caring for a person suffering the effects of degenerative brain disease can be extremely draining both physically and emotionally.
Let’s think about our brains
The brain is the centre of our nervous system and the most metabolically active organ in the body. It is made up of some 100 billion neurons and weighs about 1.3 kilograms. The brain utilizes about 02% of the total oxygen by the body, so a good blood supply to the brain is crucial.
Under normal circumstances, the brain uses a continuous supply of glucose as its source of energy. Without constant replenishment, the glucose reserves of the brain will be used in approximately 10 minutes.
Brain food
A healthy brain needs a healthy diet. Start the day with breakfast - there is increasing evidence that eating breakfast is associated with better memory function later in the day. A diet high in foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds is important for brain health. Additionally, DHA, an essential fatty acid found in deep sea fish (such as tuna) aids the proper function and development of the brain.
Think Ginkgo
Herbs such as Ginkgo Biloba have long been used to help improve memory and learning ability, and may help slow progression of age-related memory loss. Ginkgo appears to improve cognition in a number of ways including its ability to affect blood flow to the brain and by free radical scavenging. It is recommended as a long-term solution for improving cognitive function.
Take your brain for a walk
Exercise increases blood flow and nutrition to the brain. Research indicates that regular exercise is associated with significant reduction of risk of several forms of cognitive decline. Even low intensity exercise such as walking can be helpful. It’s found that you only needs to walk 1000 steps a day to enjoy the benefits. That’s about twice around a suburban block.
