Relax!
We all know that stress is bad for us,
but did you know that stress can actually diminish your ability to develop and retain memories? It's true because the brain functions with the help of neurotransmitters. The presence of stress actually causes a hormone called cortisol to be released
in your body.
Cortisol can interfere with your brain's performance. One side effect of too much cortisol present during chronic stress,
is that it can reduce the part of the brain that deals with recent memories! It's best to relax and do find long term solutions for dealing with stress such as getting regular exercise and meditation.
Stop Smoking
Anything that reduces blood flow in the body can be detrimental to your health.
Smoking has this effect, which then causes less oxygen to be available in general.
The brain needs appropriate oxygen levels to work well,
and this will certainly affect brain performance.
Eat Well
Just like the rest of your body, eating well is critical to the brain. Your body needs many vitamins, minerals and nutrients to function properly.
By eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and minimizing unhealthy foods
like sugary snacks and drinks, you can improve your brains performance dramatically.
It is important to have a balanced diet and one that includes foods that nourish your body.
Get Regular Exercise
It is important to exercise regularly in order to keep your body and brain in tip top shape. Without exercise, the whole body gets sluggish, and proper oxygenation isn't great for memory or enhanced brain function. You'll find that after a regular exercise routine
that your mind is sharper and you feel better in general.
Challenge Your Mind
There are some activities that are perfect for enhancing brain function.
If you like doing mental activities, then you are already on your way
to improving your brain performance.
In fact, science has proven that engaging your mind in mental activities can not
only improve current brain function, it can be preventative against some
diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
Try activities like crossword puzzles or mental math games.
These will certainly help your brain work smoother and quicker.
Other good activities to try are word search puzzles,
logic puzzles, Sudoku puzzles and brain teasers.
Give you mind a work out just like you
give your body when you exercise!
Avoid Brain Toxins
While it's relaxing to have a glass of wine at dinner, it is important not to go
overboard with excessive alcohol drinking. Both alcohol and drug use can cloud your
thinking and possibly even damage the sensitive parts of your brain in charge of
memory and movement. Having a glass of wine to relax once or twice per week is
definitely along the lines of a healthy lifestyle, but try to avoid heavy or even moderate drinking in order to prevent impaired brain performance.