How Diet and Fitness Affect the BrainWhat you eat and how you behave can have a large impact on how your mind operates. If you aren't giving it the right nutrients or keeping it in shape, you may start to feel the effects of a declining memory, lower creativity and a lack of motivation. FoodsWhat you eat matters. The brain accounts for 20% of your body's total energy consumption. This means that a fifth of everything you eat ends up in your head! The brain needs a steady supply of energy throughout the day to keep in tip-top working order, so be sure to not skip any meals, especially breakfast. Saturated / Unsaturated FatsMost people know that the saturated and trans fats that are found in meats and processed foods are bad for their heart, but you may not know that they are also bad for your brain too! Unsaturated fats like those found in fish, nuts and most vegetable oils can actually improve your cognition....[read more] Caffeine Caffeine is probably the most commonly used chemical stimulant. More than 90% of Americans consume caffeine on a daily basis in their coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate....[read more] Caffeine II In addition to working as a brain stimulant, caffeine has also been shown to improve athletic performance and endurance....[read more] Green Tea There are many recent studies that show that drinking green tea may have beneficial affects on the brain. Green tea contains a bioflavonoid called catechin, which is a powerful antioxidants that can help prevent damage to the brain caused by free radicals....[read more] Alcohol Alcohol consumption can cause several different memory problems. In one study it was shown that heavy drinkers have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia later in life....[read more] Behavior How you treat your body can also have a large impact on you brain. Staying in shape, getting adequate sleep and keep stress to a minimum are important for having a healthy mind. Physical ExerciseMany scientific studies have shown that routine exercise and staying physically in shape can improve memory and slow down normal age related memory decline. There are several reasons why this might be the case....[read more] Good Sleep Good sleep is extremely important if you want to have a strong memory, because it is during sleep that memory consolidation occurs....[read more] Stress Stress is a mental or emotional condition that occurs in response to external influences. All organisms on earth respond to stress in physical and physiological ways....[read more] Supplements There are several different supplements which have been show to have beneficial effects on memory and mental acuity. These supplements include: Vitamin BVitamin B12 Vitamin C Vitamin E Omega-3 Fatty Acids Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba There is no quick fix to a faulty memory, however evidence shows that if you take care of your mind throughout your life you can prolong its healthy functioning. Other Articles of Interest Antioxidants Breathing Type A Personalities |
