They say the brain functions like a muscle and that in order for you to build your muscle you must strengthen it. So how do we do it? How can we take care our brain the right way? Well it all starts with looking at what is in your frig.Most of the things that we eat fuel our bodies for energy and great health but they can also serve as a boost to our brain to help with good health, concentration, and clear thinking. Scientist suggests that incorporating foods that helps the brain can not only increase your brain functions but can potentially even ward off Alzheimer’s disease. So when you make your next trip to the grocery store make sure you pick up some of these items to boost your brain power
* Apple juice and pomegranate juice- Researches have found that apple juice and pomegranate juice may helps you boost your memory* Red grapes, cherries, apples, blueberries and strawberries – Researchers have also suggested that these fruits helps with better cell functions of the brain* Tea and cocoa-herbs in the tea and nutrients in cocoa helps protect the brain from plaque build up. * Salmon and light tuna- This is the mecca of brain food. Provides Omega 3 to the brain* Soy foods- Some studies indicate that isoflavones, which are found in soy, can improve cognitive function, especially in postmenopausal women.* Sunflower seeds, walnuts-not only great for the heart but also the brain. These nuts provide memory health and the walnut is a rich content of Omega-3* Vegetables, especially leafy greens-No brainer. all vegetables feed the body as well as the brain* Canola oil, olive – High in mono-unsaturated fat, olive oil has been shown to improve memory. A cheaper alternative is canola oil, but this hasn’t been studied much yet.* Dark chocolate- It has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain.
It is recommended that you get these items in its natural form. If you get items that have these items in it our if they are packaged, make sure to read the label on the side. Sometimes, the items are made with large amounts of sugar which will defeat the purpose. Try to cut down on foods that contain saturated fats and try to ignore trans fats as much as you can.To get more information about healthy living and taking control of your health, please visit my blog at http://www.gloriaward.com
Hi friends my name is Gloria Ward and I am a health and wellness and personal development coach for men and women who want to make a change in their life. Get More Free Health Tips at http://www.gloriaward.com
When you think of a typical bingo player what springs to mind? Id bet my last pound that you are not thinking of a person of unbelievable mental ability sitting down with their finger hovering over their mouse waiting for their numbers to come up! I would bet however that the image that does spring to mind would be that of an old age pensioner sitting in a grim bingo hall with a handful of bingo cards?Its a well known fact that this stereotype is now a thing of the past as now, people of all shapes, sizes and nationality take pleasure in the land based bingo game, and in recent times online bingo.
Recent studies have shown that online bingo has a positive effect on the brains development and can also improve the mental capacity of the player. This is great news for bingo junkies as they can now feel happy about the fact that they are playing bingo, socialising with friends and giving their brain the workout all at the same time.
The tests were conducted over a prolonged period of time to give unbiased and precise results. The results showed that those who played online bingo enhanced their memory and were able to retain more brain functionality compared to those who did not play online bingo.
The studies also proved that online bingo players could focus more when tackling issues and were able to complete tasks a lot more efficiently than the participants who didnt play online bingo. The studies were principally based on an older age bracket; however it is believed that the younger generation could still benefit from the mental stimulation provided by playing online bingo.
An excellent way to keep your brain functioning at optimum level is to keep it active. Online bingo keeps the brain active as it requires the brain to perform multiple processes. When playing online bingo you have to execute a multitude of tasks simultaneously. All players must be alert for the duration of the game to ensure they dont miss their opportunity winning. This is the chief reason behind online bingo keeping the mind sharp and alert.
The research was carried out on a base of 112 people with an age range of 18 -82. The participants were broken in to two groups, half played online bingo and the other half remained inactive. The results were irrefutable and showed that those playing online bingo were far more accurate when undergoing a mental examination in comparison to the participants who were passive.When the findings were compared it was evident that the age groups divide had minimal effect on the outcome, and in some cases the old outsmarted the younger participants. The research did illustrate that the younger players were almost always faster to act but not always as accurate. Although there were discrepancies in the results it was conclusive that online bingo had a positive affect on the brain.
There are other methods in which to keep the mind sharp, but they are unlikely to be as amusing and profitable as online bingo.
Now that you are aware that online bingo is an equivalent of training your brain, you wont feel as guilty being glued in front of your computer screen for hours on end.
If online bingo is a passion of yours, its well worth checking out http://www.expertbingo.co.uk as they provide am in depth overview of the online bingo market available to UK players as well as providing comprehensive reviews of all the major bingo sites and hosting a wealth of related content for example; free bingo diary, bingo calls, bingo etiquette, bingo lingo and much more.
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Trainers Resource: Visual Icebreakers.
Trainers Resource: Visual Icebreakers Teasers To Boost Creativity,word Power,lateral Thinking Skills In A Fun & Whole Brain Way. Trainers Resource: Visual Icebreakers.
The mind is a crucial organ in the body, the purpose and function of the brain is very important in the day to day activities of the human being. The brain controls all functions of the body. It is important for an individual to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will work to better his brain capacity. Studies have it that the average man utilizes only a third of his overall brain capacity. This here shows how powerful the brain can be. Giving a boost to the brain can have many added advantage to any individual.
There are many methods people have used to boost their minds to perform certain tasks better. Some of these activities are the Yoga, listening to brainwave technology and use of drug. Just to explain what each method entails.
The Yoga
Yoga was invented by a Chinese monk, the art of meditation involves observing certain postures, and uttering soothing words to the soul. The practice has gained much popularity in western countries. This is as a result of its effectiveness in healing and suppressing depression. Training and practices advocated in Yoga are effective in the healing of the body and soul. However, as this may be the case negative responses from this meditation practice has evoked much debate.
Antidepressant drugs
Use of antidepressants is the physician’s way of helping a patient boost his brain power. There a lots of antidepressant drugs in the market. They range from herbal to chemical based antidepressants. The use of these drugs can be very effective. However, reports of after effects are very often reported. The misuse of these drugs can also lead to brain diseases. The most common are schizophrenia; this comes from overdose of any serotonin antidepressants. Before any person engages in the use of these drugs proper medical advice should be first given.
Brainwave technology entertainment
This is the latest form of mind improvement products. The use of brainwave technology has been highly utilized among many individual today. The fact that you need no form of practice, or you need not to practice any words to achieve results makes this method an attraction to many people out there. Brainwave technology uses binaural beats to concur with brain frequencies. Frequencies from this beats are played in such a way that they enable the brain to slip in different brain states. Many people have attested to the positive attributes concerned with this method of mediation.
Consistence use of any of the above method will give results to a boost in your brain power. However, as discussed you need to be very particular if you are to use Yoga or drugs to attain your mind freedom. This method will not work to all of us. The best method so far is the brainwave technology. This method has no known side effects or after effects whatsoever. Engaging your research skills in getting the best of any of the mentioned products is highly recommended, however the effectiveness will vary with each and every of them.
Click Here to get your Free “Success Accelerator” Brainwave Cd today! Unleash your Mind Power potential to attain the lifestyle that you want. Go claim your Free Cd today!
What is it that draws us to games like Brain Age and Big Brain Academy? Much the same can be said for “thinking puzzles” like Sudoku games. They are designed to make us think, which for many of us is actually a challenge in itself.
We’re not stupid, mind you, but we’re “out of practice.” These games are a thrill for some adults to play because it challenges them in ways they’ve not been challenged in years. Most of us have managed to graduate from the third grade and excel up to the twelfth grade years and beyond. Yet, how often do we do basic multiplication or sort through coins to see how fast we can make fifty cents with small change?
Day to day, we develop habits and focus on a specific area of mental challenges. Some of us may use small pieces of our algebra past or geometry for software development, graphic arts or construction. Others may use advanced trig to build 18th century furniture or mechanical tool design. And, there are those select few that found a niche in their basic English classes to setup a blog and go to town.
Few of us, however, have found a complete use for the broad learning we did in our younger years.
This doesn’t discount the importance of learning in our youth! We’ve learned to specialize over the years and things we don’t use fade away into the depths of our memory. They’re still back there someplace, we just have to concentrate to recall them. Yet, at the core, this method of recollection and retraining is a very fun activity.
Proof is in the success (or creation) of such shows as “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” Where Jeff Foxworthy shows many contestants that they are, in fact, not as smart as a fifth grader. It’s a trick really, common sense tells you things they’ve learned in the last six months are going to be easier to recall than things we learned fifteen or more years ago!
We’re really not “training” our brain to do anything new; we’re teaching ourselves to recall information we once relied on in our everyday grade school life. Memorizing our “times tables” was a priority back in the day and was a chore to say the least. Now, recalling those lessons in a game like Brain Age becomes fun! Perhaps it’s fun because it recalls the innocents of our youth or maybe, as humans, we’re just looking for a challenge… a comfortable challenge.
It’s like riding a bike! Well, not really. Unless you consider picking up a bike after fifteen years and smashing your face on the pavement a few dozen times before you remember. Very few folks will have a brain age score of 20 the very first time they pickup Brain Age.
Games like Big Brain Academy use many of the senses we use everyday but have taken for granted over the years. How fast can you identify moving objects or shapes in the form of silhouettes? Who cares, right? Consider how fast you can dodge the shadow of a dog walking into the road at night. You’re good, you just don’t recognize it as a talent.
We use these magic powers in our brain each day to some degree but we hardly consider them of entertainment value. Yet, it’s the entertainment value that we’ve found so appealing. Why else would Nintendo release Brain Age 2 for the Nintendo DS? Can you imagine what you would have said if, fifteen years ago, you were sitting in fifth grade and someone said “you’ll be playing this in a video game someday.”
Have you ever said to yourself or a friend, “I really wish I paid more attention in school”? Sure you have! It seems a lot of us have matured since then and feel we’d pay more attention now than we did as a kid. Odd how things work.
Jennifer runs a casual games blog at casualgamerchick.com, which covers everything to do with casual games and casual gaming. I cover all platforms that run casual games including the mobile phone.
The brain can clearly be identified as the best and the most important component of the body. It gives orders to almost every other part of your body what to do, every time, whether you’re conscious of it or not. When a message receives into the brain from wherever in the body, the brain directs the body how to respond. It not only manage what you think and sense, how you study and memorize, but also functions that you might not be attentive of, such as the beating of the heart.
The brain has higher nutrient requirements than other parts of the body. Proper nutrition is extremely significant for the healthy function of the brain. Different nutrition plans or nutrient consumption can change the performance of nerves in the brain. Shortages or overloads of particular vitamins or minerals can harm nerves in the brain, can lead to changes in mind, limiting analytical capability, and damaging brain performance. Numerous dietary factors can influence brain health. Often shortages of several nutrients relatively than a particular nutrient are accountable for changes in brain performance.
Carbohydrates considerably have an effect on frame of mind and activities. Eating a meal rich in carbohydrates is extremely important to maintain sufficient levels of the brain fuel glucose. Best sources of carbohydrates are Whole Wheat Flour, Beans and legumes, Green Gram, Dry Dates, Apricot, and starchy vegetables such as corn.
Proteins can stimulate or calm your brain as well as nourish your brain during its existence. Protein’s linking role is even more spectacular and important for the growth of the brain. When nerve cells travel from their place of birth, protein performs as a molecular guide.
Proteins in the meal influence brain operation as they supply the amino acids from which neurotransmitters are fabricated. Neurotransmitters are the messengers that transmit signals from one brain cell to another. The better you nourish these couriers, the more powerfully they carry the supplies.
Calcium is an important nutrient for the function of the brain too. Calcium is not just significant to growing bones, but to growing brains as well. Children with calcium shortages might show weakened performance and learning. Nutritional intake of fats might also have an important role in brain performance. Nutritional fats can be found in both animal and plant foodstuff.
By following the fundamentals of nutrition, you can keep your brain healthy and make sure that your brain is functioning properly.
It appears these days there is a desire for many to mentally be at constant peak performance. Whether you are working job(s) while attending school, a parent working extra hours trying to balance home and work life, a student trying to compete in our ever changing marketplace or all of the above – one thing is clear: there is no time for brain fog, lack of focus, concentration, and daydreaming and the alike. The mentally strong will survive and I have created the ultimate guide to whip your brains into shape.
Enhancing your mind can be compared to enhancing your physique. You have to train, exercise, challenge, stay consistent and eat the right foods. For you couch potatoes, I can hear your hearts beating rapidly all ready, “that sounds like too much work!” Well, unfortunately just sitting in front of the television will not improve your physical appearance or your mental prowess. So for those of you ready to sweat, here is the mental exercise regimen to whip your brain into shape! Over the course of several weeks I will be covering four important aspects of discipline to help those who desire to create a Mega Brain. In the following order you will learn about proper 1) Nutrition, 2) Memory Techniques 3) Brain Exercises and 4) Mood to enhance your mental performance.
How the mind processes new information:1) Pay Attention & Focus2) Concentrate on the Subject3) Recovery
Have you heard the information that you are trying to store clearly? Did you give your 100% effort? These are questions that must be answered with an unwavering “YES”!
Fixate your mind on the new subject that you are trying to learn for 10 seconds. If the first 2 steps are followed you have already given yourself an excellent chance of recovering the information from your brain.I know this seems like basic common sense but you would be surprised how many people miss this step. I know I have been caught daydreaming while listening to a tape and then wonder why later, “Hey I didn’t get any of that”!
Studies have shown that the brain needs at least 8 seconds to start the process of moving information to the short to long term memory bank. Now that you have transitioned the new information from short to long term memory, you can rest assured that it is stored in that good ole trusty noggin of yours. Organizing your mental storage like a file cabinet, makes it easier for you to access the information for later.
I. NUTRITION
I have outlined important nutrients that support the antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, mono-unsaturated fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals that your body may need to sustain mega brainpower. The closer we get to our golden years the more it becomes essential to establish a healthy habit of eating, as many studies have shown changes in diet may prevent mental illnesses. Again, this sounds very similar to the advice you may hear to attain an overall good bill of health, which should assure you that the mind to body connection is real.
Numerous studies have led researches to believe these vitamins known as antioxidants could help protect your brain cells from free radicals which can help deteriorate your brain. Most experts recommend a range of 400-1,000mg for Vitamin E and 500-1,500 for Vitamin C.
Antioxidants Vitamins C & ERecommended doses 500-1,500mg dailyVitamins C food sourcesmg per 100 gram of food portionRose hip extracts1000 +Blackcurrant200Guavaup to 200Strawberry80Lemon60Orange50 +Kiwi Fruit50 +Clementine40 +Grapefruit36 +Raspberry30 +Lychees30 +Nectarines30 +Peaches30Mangoes30Peppers70 +Spring greens70 +Brussels sprouts60 +Broccoli44Curly Kale70 +Gourd35 +Mange-tout peas30 +Cauliflower27Tomato20 +Green Cabbage20 +
Recommended doses 400-1,000mg dailyVitamin E Rich Food Sourcesmg per 100 gram of food portionSunflower oil49Cottonseed oil43Safflower oils40Hazelnutsup to 25Almonds24Wheat germ22mgRapeseed oil22Cod liver oil20Mayonnaise19corn oil17Soya bean oil16Peanut oil15Pine nuts13Popcorn11Samosas10 +Peanuts10Margarineup to 8Brazil Nuts7Marzipan6 +Other spreads2-6mgSweet Potato4.5Walnuts3Egg Yolks3 +Muesli3mgAvocadoup to 3Flapjacks2.8Sponge Cake2.4Battenburg Cake2.4
Mostly everyone knows what fiber is good for, but do you know that many experts believe fiber may help release toxins not just in your body, but in your brain as well? Many have claimed to feel the benefits of clearer thinking after waste release from their body.
Recommended doses 25 to 30g dailyFiber Food Sources(based on levels per 200-Calorie serving)Corn Bran 22gFiber Cereal 14gWheat Bran 12gOat bran 12gAll Bran Cereal 10gRice Bran 6g
Omega 3 & monosaturated fats are probably one of the most known fats for your brain. This is because Omega 3 & 6 are essential building blocks for creating healthy brain cells. Obviously brain power starts with your brain cells and this is a mandatory fatty acid you will need to promote cognitive brain function.
Recommended doses 500-1,000g dailyOmega 3 fatty acid DHA food sourcesmg per 100 gram of food portionEel2100Lamprey2100Tuna1800Mackerel1673Rainbow trout fillet1251Salmon fillet1002Trout1002Herring salted953Sushi with tuna, without seaweed739Vendace salted lake fish708Red fish649Baltic herring529Halibut520Whitefish, pollan, lavaret493Mussel in water367Egg yolk315Zander, pike-perch301Pike217Lutefish216Cod195Egg, quail190Liver146Flounder133Shrimp122
Flax seeds
Fish Oil
Cod Liver Oil
Recommended doses 30% of your caloric intake per dailyMonounsaturated Fats(based on levels per 200-Calorie serving)Sunflower Oil19gHazelnut Oil18gMacadamia nuts17gOlive Oil17gCanola Oil16gVegetable Oil16gOlives16gHazelnuts15gMargarine16gPecans12gAvocados17gAlmond butter12gAlmonds11gCod liver oil10gCashew10gCoriander spices9gHalibut9gMustard seed8gPistachio8gPeanut butter8g
A few recent studies have led researches to believe that there are long term benefits of taking beta-carotene to sustain basic cognition and short term memory. Theories from numerous studies suggest that beta-carotene helps with free radical damage to the brain.
Recommended doses 15-50mg dailyBeta Carotene(based on levels per 200-Calorie serving)Peppers, hot chili63455mcgLettuce, cos or romaine, raw61469mcgLettuce, green leaf, raw59240mcg Kale, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt58388mcgLettuce, red leaf, raw56182mcg Spinach, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt54668mcg Dandelion greens52890mcgPokeberry shoots52195mcgCarrots51640mcgSpinach51100mcgMustard greens50096mcgTurnip greens45741mcgCabbage41200mcgPumpkin40836mcgCollards37880mcgKale36900mcgGrape leaves34821mcgWatercress34802mcgBeet greens34499mcgCilantro leaves34169mcgBeet greens34000mcgChicory greens29827mcgLambs quarters29295mcgParsley28079mcgBasil27323mcg
Folic acid has been embrassed by the medical community for its nutrients to promote proper brain health. A B-Vitamin that is used by the body to help form new cells, the lack of this vitamin has thought to induce moodiness and extreme mental disorders.
Recommended doses 400mcg dailyFolic Acid(based on levels per 200-Calorie serving)Soy Beans 330mcgSpinach 240mcgLentils 180mcgSunflower 152mcgPotatoes 140mcgEnriched Ready to Eat Cereal & Bread 135mcgAsparagus 130mcgBlack Eyed Peas 105mcgCarrots 100mcgKale 100mcgMushrooms 98mcgCollard Greens 88mcgOrange Juice 80mcgGreen Beans 71mcgEndive 70mcgCauliflower 44mcgBeets 42mcgOkra 37mcgCabbage 25mcgGrapefruit Juice 23mcgPineapple Juice 23mcgPeas 22mcgTomatoes 13mcg
I’m sure you have seen Resveratrol marketed all over the Internet as the next big fat burner to take America by storm. This antioxidant found primarily in plant based fruits offers many health benefits from weight loss, healthy skin, cholesterol and the list goes on, but it also is believed to protect body and brain cells. Recent studies have suggested that patients with brain injuries were faster to recover when Resveratrol was given.
Recommended dosages 100-200mg dailyResveratrol
Blue Berries1 cupPeanutsIn moderationCranberries1 cupGrapes1 cupRed WineIn moderation
Honorable mentions:
Selenium A mineral known for its powerful antioxidant properties, may increase cognitive function and improve mood. Recommended doses 80-200mcgAlpha Lipoic Acid A antioxidant created by the body found in cells. Believed to offer neuro-protection in the form of battling free radicals. Recommended doses 30-200gInositol Regulates proper cellular function. Recommended doses 12-18g
Of course there are other vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and so forth that are marketed as brain enhancing nutrients. However, i have covered the most well-known, proven, and those richest in content. Please stay tuned for my second chapter which will cover Memory Techniques.
The author Joe Easter is Co-Founder of Pascua Nutrition Labs LLC. A company responsible for the making the Worlds First & Only Complete All Natural Brain Supplement – MEMOSYNE. FREE TRIAL Visit Us At TryMemosyne.com
ScienceDaily published a recent article discussing a nutritional study from Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. This study was focused on how food and exercise affects the brain, going so far as to say they can stave off mental disorders.
According to the study, UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological science Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, has spent years studying the affects that food, exercise and sleep have on the brain. Considering how we tend to feel after eating too much, sleeping too little or falling out of shape, Gomez-Pinilla’s interest in this makes sense.
He found that omega-3 fatty acids helped to improve memory, learning and protected against depression, mood disorders and even dementia. While you can find omega-3 in pill form, the scientists state that you will receive more benefits from actual food that contains this valuable nutrient. Some of these foods include flax seed, salmon, walnuts and squash.
Omega-3 fatty acids help with the plasticity of your synapses – and considering the damage that is done to these vital parts of the brain by a TBI, this study may be worth paying attention to. We’ve already discussed how a brain injury often worsens with time and can lead to dementia, but with active preventative measures such as an improved diet and increased exercise, you may be able to help prevent or stall this deterioration.
Gomex-Pinilla said that “The brain and the body are deficient in the machinery to make DHA; it has to come through our diet.” The DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid, and is in foods such as salmon.
An interesting addition to this is the suggestion that a lower calorie diet may also help with the brain’s overall health. Too many calories can increase cell vulnerability to free radical damage and also decrease the flexibility of your synapses, leading to memory and learning problems.
Another especially beneficial supplement is folic acid. It has been proven to help with the effects of antidepressants and to prevent the mental decline that comes with aging. If it helps with aging…perhaps it will benefit a damaged brain?
Our lesson from this study seems to be smaller portions with higher nutrient values. Not always the easiest shift to make in our fast food oriented society, but one worth making if you value your mental health!
Brain and Spinal Cord Injury is a comprehensive site devoted to the study and decimation of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury information.
Imagine going to Vegas and actually winning! Imagine hitting the jackpot on your vacation!
The heck with imagining though. You want to hit Vegas and make it real. No slot machines for you. Your chances of winning at the slots range from slim to truly pathetic. Likewise at Roulette, where you’re basically throwing good money after bad.
You want to play a card game where your skills give you a better chance of winning—where you take some control of your chances of success. And what skills give you a better chance of winning? Your memory skills.
Think about it. Where do the expert gamblers go? They hit the Blackjack table. There, good concentration and memory skills give them a decent chance to beat the House at its own game. And you? If you apply concentration and improve your memory, you’ve got a chance to win a small fortune!
Train Your Brain for Memory Skills
If you were training for the Olympic triathlon, how would you start your day?
Would you watch TV while munching on potato chips, and playing video games? Probably not. More likely you’d work out in the gym, on the track, in the pool, and cycling. You’d work on general fitness and special triathlon skills. You’d also follow a healthy diet.
Your memory skills work in a similar way. They need constant brain workouts in order to get sharp and stay sharp. Playing cards requires cerebral robustness. Most people aren’t born that way—it comes from a deliberate training program. If you decide to improve your memory by undergoing regular brain workouts, the results will show up in your card playing.
To start with, put your brain on a steady program of difficult puzzles and crosswords. Yes, you can actually have fun while you train your brain! Don’t settle for the simple puzzles. Tackle those New York Times Sunday crosswords and deadly level Sudoku. The harder the brain workouts, the sharper your brain will become. And, of course, the better your memory will serve you when the other players lay down their cards.
As for diet, research shows that your memory function thrives on certain kinds of brain foods. Sure, you say—you’re a sceptic. But it’s true. Blueberries sharpen your concentration and intellectual alertness. And you’ve always heard that fish is brain food. Well, it’s true. Research shows that fatty acids like omega-3 optimize brain health. And here’s a nutty idea…sunflower seeds and nuts are also super foods for keeping your brain in shape.
Exercise and good food. At first it seems that these two ideas have little to do with memory skills. But give them a try for a while. You’ll see the results when you actually learn card-playing memory skills.
Andre Thunestvedt has been studying the human memory for years, and has written many articles on the subject. He is well-versed in ways to improve memory and has his own website
How-Improve-Memory.com Go to his website or click on the link now and get ten expert tips on improving memory.
Certified nutritionist Cheryl Wheeler Duncan shares her top 5 back to school brain foods with KVVU-TV in Las Vegas Video Rating: 0 / 5
The improvement of our brainpower is not a one off effort, but requires a long term commitment. It is not something that can be fixed from one day to the next. However there are a number of methods that can be applied straight away and just have to be kept up on a day by day basis. The idea is to stimulate the brain correctly by challenging the parts of it that have gone rusty. Here are a few ways to do this:
Use all your senses: most of the time we only implement two of our senses, sight and hearing. Try to imagine what would happen if we were to block out either of these. I will tell you what happens. Our brain will try to compensate for the lack of information coming in from one of the sources of information about our suuoundings by working harder with the remaining senses (you’ve seen the movie Daredevil). Joking aside, blocking one of our senses at a time will indeed stimulate the brain to make an extra effort and thereby make the remaining senses more powerful.
Provided you’re not doing an activity in which you are putting yourself or others in danger like driving or operating machinery, you can try to do some of your every day activities blindfolded or with blocked ears. You might want to do these things while alone as to not look like a crazy person. Try doing simple things like eating blindfolded or playing video games with ear plugs. You will find yourself straining the remaining senses in order to complete the tasks properly. Mainly, the more time you spend doing these exercises, the better you will become at them as your brain improves to make you proficient with the new handicap.
Normal objects, new use: This is another great exercise for the brain with which you will reap great rewards in terms of creativity, and completely for free.
This is how it is done: choose a single everyday object on which to focus.
Once the item is identified you want to start making a list of other uses that can be carried out by that object.
Obviously the aim is to not go for the obvious like writing with a pencil. Have a go at making up other ways of implementing that object such as poking a penguin with the same pencil. Don’t stop at one or two alternative uses. Aim for 10 or 20. Don’t stop until your creative muse has run dry. When this happens, move on to the next boring object to revamp.
Sample with the senses: Over time we have become so focused on visual stimuli that all the other senses are left to one side, their development stunted. What this ends up in is mental stagnation. In order to keep our mind on top form we need to try and get the other senses activated to a greater extent. Here are couple of ways to do this:
The next time you go to the supermarket buy a range of different products of the same element. Try a range of five chocolates, milk brands, bread, etc. Then, at home, try blindfolding yourself and trying to tell the product apart by smelling, tasting and/or feeling them.
The whole idea is to challenge all the parts of our brain that have been left alone without being offered to flourish to their full potential. This exercise is especially easy while travelling as we will encounter new foods all the time and will be able to make more educated decisions when it comes to our meals if we apply this technique once or twice a week.
Do you feel frustrated by the lack of your child’s or students’ progress? Have you spent large sums of money on trainings, products, and programs to help your struggling child or students, but see no great gains from all your efforts? Did you know that differentiating instruction through using brain-based Superlinks learning style methods has proven to help struggling learners from grades pre-K-12 or college in regular or special education, ELL, or those with ADD/ADHD improve in any subject in the shortest possible time? Children who have trouble learning through an auditory lecture approach may be kinesthetic, tactile, or visual learners. Is your child a right-brain learner living in a left-brain world? Are you ready to end your frustration with their learning struggles now? Read on to find out how to get quick solutions to end your frustration with struggling students!Failing Schools Raised Reading Scores on ISAT State Reading Tests (Illinois) and the California Standards Test in Months-Not YearsStudents who used brain-based Superlinks learning styles and brain styles methods increased an average of 2-5 years above their age in reading within six to eight months. Every school or district who used differentiated instruction through Superlinks (the Linksman Learning Style Preference Assessment and the Linksman Brain Hemispheric Preference Assessment) and methods that had previously not met state standards on ISAT reading tests in Illinois or the California Standards Test met or exceeded state standards within six to eight months.Failing Students Went from D’s and F’s to A’s and B’s within a Few WeeksStudents went from D’s and F’s to A’s and B’s within a few weeks. How? They were taught in their best Superlinks (learning style and brain hemispheric preference).As students self-esteem and motivation went up, discipline problems dropped. In-school suspension officer, Mr. Pinnick said, “When students were taught in their best Superlink style we went from a school where students were bouncing off the walls to a school that looked like each class had engaged learners. This included our special education classes. Dscipline problems dropped so dramatically that I grew lonely in my office with hardly any behavior referrals!”88-99% of Students in Special Ed or Who Had ADD or ADHD Reached Grade Level and Beyond in Less than a School YearSpecial Education students and those with ADD or ADHD improved in learning through differentiated instruction using each student’s fastest and best way of learning.Differentiated instruction can be used for RTI whereby interventions save time and money because learning problems get solved quickly and easily.Special Education teachers use differentiated instruction to meet requirements of the students’ IEP’s by teaching in the way their students learned best.ELL Students Can More Quickly Learn to Read EnglishPrincipal Gwendolyn Miller, of Dieterich Elementary School, in East Aurora,stated, “With 83% of our students in ELL classes, we met state standards and scored third highest in our district, using Superlinks learning style and brain hemispheric preference assessments and its teaching and learning techniques.”Differentiated Instruction Raised ACT Scores to Give Students a Competitive Edge for CollegeStudents who have taken ACT test preparation courses improved their scores ten points in reading comprehension within two months using Superlinks learning style and brain hemispheric preference methods of studying.How to Access a Free Checklist of Tips and Have Your Questions Answered on Differentiated Learning
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It’s the cells in the brain from the hypothalamus gland that regulates when you should eat and not your stomach scientists have discovered. Food will trigger your brain to remember the way food tastes, smells and will excite chemicals in the brain to eat.
When the body needs food or nourishment, neurotransmitters are released.One neurotransmitter called Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is important in sending messages to various parts of the brain.
Ghrelin and glucose: According to the theory, low levels of glycogen and low blood sugar levels stimulate a spike in ghrelin and NPY’s activity in the hypothalamus. As NPY is stimulated, your desire for sweet and starchy foods goes up. And when ghrelin rises, so does appetite.
While you sleep, your glycogen and blood sugar stores are used up, causing the brain to release NPY. Skipping breakfast increases NPY levels so that by afternoon, you’re set up for a carbohydrate binge. This craving for carbs is not the result of a lack of willpower; it’s an innate biological urge at work.
The leptin link: After eating, leptin levels increase and inhibit the firing of NPY, so you feel full. If it has been a while since you’ve eaten, your blood levels of glucose are low and therefore leptin is low, and ghrelin is high.
The circulating levels of ghrelin peak at different times depending on when you have your heaviest meal. People who eat big lunches show ghrelin peaks at a different time than people whose main meal is at night.
The galanin-fat connection: Galanin is released when fat stores need filling up. In the evening, galanin levels tend to rise, which may be nature’s way of making sure that people have enough calories to last them through the night.
CCK: When you eat, food enters and fills your stomach and then travels to the intestinal tract. As the food is digested and the body’s cells are fed, a chemical called cholecystokinin (CCK) is released, turning on feelings of fullness and turning off the appetite.
It’s all in the Brain, food craving’s and the desire for food come from the brain first, not the body.
Habits are what guide many people through their day-to-day routines and brain training is something you can use to help you stay mentally focused and sharp.
Your brain is a very complicated organ. There are key elements that anyone can do to help the brain remain in the best mental state possible.
When you are performing the same activities on a daily basis, your brain can become lazy. Each day you may feel as though you are on autopilot and you might even forget some of the things you did throughout the day. Your brain might need some stimuli to stay in the best shape possible and this is something that you can easily do each day at home.
When you are beginning a brain fitness regimen you might find that it can be hard to focus and keep your attention. This is a barrier that you will need to overcome in order to introduce your brain to new activities. Once you overcome this barrier you will be able to begin to start improving brain health and this can help you to begin to improve things like memory, and even motor control.
When you are looking for the right exercise it can be important to tie in things that are also familiar. This can help you to begin training your brain with things that are not familiar and also familiar. This is a key to focus and this can help you ease into the transition of learning new things.
You also need a commitment to the exercises that you perform. If you only complete your exercises occasionally, you would not see the results that you would if you do them on a regular basis.
Setting a time each week to focus and concentrate on improving brain function can be a key to learning.
As you begin to see the right changes occurring in your brain function, you can reward yourself for these new skills that you have improved upon. Positive reinforcement can keep you on the right path and help you to stay focused to do more in the future. Your daily life may be improved significantly and you will be able to remember much more then ever before.
Brain training can help many people with improvement in the way their brain functions. It is never too early too start!
Thomas Manner is a specialist in neuroscience and the brain training field in general.