As a person who has been using the internet for many years now, I was particularly interested to hear that being online can enhance your brain ability. It makes some sense since if you want to find anything online there are a certain number of hoops to jump through. It could be compared to a thoughtful game of checkers or bridge. Quite simply you need to use your head.
There is much more we can do to keep our brains active and young besides endlessly surfing online. Understand from the outset, changing one or two lifestyle choices to achieve lasting mental acuity will not reverse the years of abuse many of us have committed to our bodies and brains…remember the sixties and seventies?
The good news is there is now research that suggests we can preserve some brain alertness and increase mental acuity by taking some straightforward measures. It sure cannot hurt t give some of these a try.
Browsing On The Internet
Idly strolling through the online universe can be good for your brain’s dexterity. UofC researchers evaluated the brains of midlife candidates who hardly ever surfed the net with those folks who were habitual browsers but were also similar in other aspects.
Following a week of searching the internet for an hour each day, regions of the prefrontal cortex, that section of the brain that regulates learning and decision making, was livelier in those who took part in online searches.
Enjoy A Hot Chocolate In The Evening
It seems a cup of hot chocolate before bedtime may be a good thing. It has been shown that chocolate contains flavanols, these are phytochemicals found in plants and are plentiful in dark chocolate. They have the capability to ward off fatigue and enhance mental alertness. It is believed this occurs due to the blood vessels expanding, allowing for more blood streaming to the brain
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In trials, individuals were required to test in a range of mental math testing prior to and following a flavanols laden chocolate drink, the drink showed it could augment the functionality of the brain and increase ability.
Increase Your Aerobic Exercise
Enthusiasts of heart pounding aerobics have been saying for years they feel much younger when they get their heart pumping. The fact that working up a good sweat can increase your brains functionality is no surprise to these people.
A study conducted in Sweden recently backs this theory up when it showed that any type of physical training that gets you winded would improve your IQ results in examinations. The scientists hypothesized that the increased oxygen levels into the brain could conceivably stimulate the growth of new brain cells.
Meditation
Allow your brain to relax and move into a state of semi consciousness – a level of relaxed awareness familiar to those who practice self hypnosis – for only a few minutes at a time. Your brain will feel rejuvenated and alert. A study conducted at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind out of University of Pennsylvania has found this to be true. Experts discovered that individuals who meditate experience increased brain functionality – that included a better memory.
A further study showed people who meditate did better than those who did not when taking part in a number of mental dexterity evaluations.
Try Standing On Your Head!
No kidding, this has been shown to develop better overall brain fitness because it increases blood streaming to the brain. Though it is not an easy position to achieve for those of us at the age where we could really benefit from the practice, there are methods that exist for us to do this safely. Just try dangling your head off your bed or couch at home for several minutes, or you could lay on the floor with your feet stretched up on a wall above you.
Maintain Your Dental Hygiene
It is becoming ever more obvious that the health of your dental region has much to do with your overall physical health and a study now exhibits how it is also related to our brain health as well. British scientists discovered that persons with periodontal disease did not do well on cognitive ability testing.
The researchers reasoned that those people suffering periodontal [gum disease] inflammation might also be harming the white matter within their brains, consequently having slower mental function.
Tie The Knot!
Yes, if you are midlife and have a stable relationship then the likelihood that you will contract dementia is cut in half when compared to those people who live alone.
According to a Swedish study, there is an established association here due to the continuous banter and interaction between married spouses. Simply chatting about your day or what is happening in the news means we thwart any communal or cerebral isolation. Our spouses keep us sharp due to chattering. It also does not hurt that couples will partake in something else that is known to boost mental acuity, boosting their brain power with sexual activity.
Try Singing More Often
Showering will never be the same again now that singing is known to increase the oxygen flow to the brain. It also helps that we try to memorize the words from the songs we enjoy singing so this gives the brain plenty of exercise. Some subjective research, supported by the Alzheimer’s Association in the UK, realized that singing was a viable means of communicating with dementia sufferers.
Tip Back Some Red Wine
A research team from Northumbria University arranged for some mathematics evaluations for men and women who appeared to do well after they were given resveratrol, a chemical element found in red wine and located just under the skin in various berries and fruits. It is theorized the ingredient increases the blood stream into the brain due to a broadening of the blood vessels
Just adding some berries to your other foods or mixed drinks can assist with getting enough of this intriguing nutrient.
An Apple A Day…
Having a couple glasses of apple juice each day may be another way to keep your brain fit. This is according to a report in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
It seems apple juice can decrease the quantity of a particular protein [APP] or amyloid precursor protein, medical experts believe is the cause of the formulation of plaque that is located in the brains of dementia patients and impedes the memory, leading to Alzheimer’s disease.
Enjoy More Lovemaking
As mentioned earlier, I was serious, sexual activity will enhance the quantity of a chemical in the brain known as prolactin that seems to aid in production and takes care of new nerve cells within the brain, so says a research professor from Queensland University’s Brain Institute in Australia.
Try Being Different Or Varying Your Routine
Work on varying your normal daily activities as this will help you keep your brain fitness. Try to throw a ball for your dog using your other arm, brush your teeth with the opposite hand, reverse the way you dress each morning and swap the use of your knife and fork for a change. Take a different way home from your job or try doing something that will force you from a natural comfort zone. Small diversities in routine force your brain to become accustomed to novel activity and will create new pathways – keeping more brain cells busy.
Increase Your Java Intake
A study from Finland, displayed how a person can reduce their chances of contracting dementia by over sixty five percent if they simply drink from three to five cups of coffee a day, so says their report released in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease last year.
As we age, it is important to do what we can to keep our brains nimble and healthy. We can splurge on the latest anti aging supplements and remedies available to keep our bodies fit for increased longevity. However, unless we have the clear and vital mind to complement it, is it really worth it? Have fun increasing your brain functionality!
Tue, Jan 19, 2010
Anti Aging, Gerontology, Lifestyle