10 Ways to Improve Brain Fitness and Age Gracefully : Brain Foods

Published September 7, 2020

Article by Diane Carbo

Brain fitness and aging gracefully is a hot topic today. It was not long ago that it was believed that as we aged we were no longer able to learn or retain new information.

Research now shows that the brain never stops learning and is just like every other muscle in our body. Use it or lose it!

The capacity to learn and maintain brain fitness continues throughout our lives. There are steps we can take to assure ongoing brain fitness. Your brain is like a network of telephone wires. Parts of your brain “talk” to each other through these wires. If you do not use different wires, after a time, they become old and brittle and die off. Think of it as a part that has not been maintained or neglected in this telephone network.

The good news is, the neglected parts of the brain can be improved and other parts strengthened by training the brain!

Here are 10 ways to improve brain fitness and age gracefully: Maintain a positive attitude! Did you know that stress and anxiety actually kill the various connections to the brain?

Chronic stress and anxiety prevent new connections from being developed. If you are a person that has high anxiety or chronic stress, look into stress reduction techniques for improved brain fitness.Take time to learn about how you brain functions and how what things you can incorporate into your life to improve your brain fitness.Take time to exercise daily. Surprisingly, physical activity also improves brain fitness. Walk, run, dance, do chair exercises, stretch! Mix it up. Doing something different is important to brain fitness.Eat a balanced diet. You are what you eat. You don’t have to take all kinds of supplements. Make wise food choices. Some known brain foods are omega-3 fatty acids, found in cold-water fish such as mackerel, herring, salmon, and tuna, also have shown some benefits. There is no consistent scientific data on Ginkgo biloba as a brain enhancer.Challenge your brain often! That may mean getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things. These new activities develop and strengthen new connections.Be adaptable. Put yourself in new situations. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Take time to travel to new places, meet new people. Explore new opportunities. Your brain will love you for it!Have a sense of humor. Look for things that make you laugh. There is complexity to humor. Take time to laugh and do it often.Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from them. Try new things, develop your own opinions and be open to hearing a different point of view! Have stimulating conversations and enjoy them!Don’t get comfortable with daily routines. Mix it up a little. Take a different way to work or shop at a different grocery store. This will force you to focus on your new environment.Maintain friendships and develop new ones. Socialization is important and promotes discussions and interactions that encourage improved brain fitness

The 10 Ways to Improve Brain Fitness and Age Gracefully should be incorporated into your daily routine. Take action and incorporate new habits to improve your brain fitness. Be open to new, different and challenging everyday. Your brain will love you for it!

Diane Carbo a Registered Nurse started http://www.aginghomehealthcare.com to assist others age in familiar surroundings and avoid the emotional and frustrating task of maneuvering the medical delivery system.