Brain Training – What is it and How do you do it?

Each brain is specific and works in different ways, and we all absorb a very large quantity of information with our senses. We recognize different images, tastes, smells and sounds. However, our brains can do even better than that. We can improve our memory and cognitive abilities and enhance our brain function with a few exercises.

It has been already scientifically proven that there are a lot of activities which enhance how our brain works and it wouldn’t hurt to try and train our brain once in a while.

So, what exactly is brain training?

Brain training can actually work, especially if you focus on cognitive training and if you do it right. It is known to improve the work and functionality of the brain and it aims to maximize its ability. After training your brain regularly you start to see changes in your brain function within your everyday life.

Of course, it must be taken in consideration that it takes time for effects to come in sight as nothing happens overnight.  It targets specific functions of the brain and trains them, after a while, this training becomes visibly effective and has a positive outcome in the life of a person.

So how does brain training have an effect?

In order for brain training to have an effect there are a few things that need to be taken in consideration.

• You take one step at a time

Brain training works on different parts of the brain, and all of them must be trained subsequently. You must train your concentration skills, your cognitive skills your memory skills and etc.

You will also train how to regulate stress and how to deal with different emotions. There are different techniques and technology that is made for improving these parts of the brain.

• You must train regularly

Namely, there can be a dose of your training. You must train about 15 hours per single brain function, and this should be practiced over more than 8 weeks for you to have an impact on your everyday life. With this being said, it is safe to say that the brain works like muscles on the body and it takes some time to get a result.

• The training must be adapted to your skills and abilities

This also means that after some time, the difficulty of your exercises must be increased. It also must be adapted to how you perform and it should require a lot of your attention too.

• You must continue to practice in order to get continued results and positive outcomes

Logically, you cannot brain train for 2 months of your life and expect to have the results after 10 years have passed. Just like any other exercise, isn’t it? In order to get continued results you must train throughout your life and only improve your abilities

So, how do you train your brain?

There are numerous ways to train your brain efficiently. By doing the exercises you will see the results in a very short period of time and your productivity will be increased.

The most effective way to brain train is by interactively with an expert – you should visit a brain training center where you would consult with a professional regarding your problem.

By consulting an expert you get an individualized program that is meant to improve your brain function according to your abilities and needs. However this can be rather expensive and time-consuming which is why many people opt for the technological programs.

There are also a large number of apps and other devices that can improve your brain function and train your brain, because the market is abundant of them. However, when choosing this way of brain training, try to find a program that has real scientific research and proven scientific results.

The rest brain training programs found on the internet or in books without scientific results are fun but aren’t helpful and effective.

What can you do at home to train your brain?

Sometimes people due to different reasons cannot get in brain training programs. That is okay because the science is so advanced and there are other solutions. Namely, aside from following brain training programs, there are a few things that can be done to train your brain in the comfort of your home:

• Boost your memory by remembering new things – there are numerous games with numbers and letters that can help you remember more efficiently
• Take an everyday activity and do it differently every time – cook on a different table every time using different tools, or brush your teeth with the other hand than the one you’ve been using, it makes your brain work more and better
• Learn a new topic – find something that you have zero knowledge of and try to get ahold of what it is, it can be the internet, electricity, sociology, history and whatnot, train your brain for the things you’ve found least interesting so far
• Train your body – training your body and working out can help you get rid of toxins and it can help your brain work better. This is because while you are being active, circulation to your brain is better and it helps it work more effectively
• Eat healthier and better food – your food intake must be healthy in order for your brain to be healthy and good working. There are numerous food items that help brain productivity – from almonds to dark chocolate in a moderate amount, your brain will work better

What are the benefits of brain training?

There are numerous advantages of following a brain training program and the results are visible after a very short period of time. Here are some of the most common and most satisfying moments of brain training programs:

• Your spirit will be brighter and you will feel better
• Your brain will process information faster
• You will improve your ability to recognize and process information and you will make it faster
• You will have clearer thoughts without disruptions
• You will remember information better
• You will be more productive

Conclusion

If you were looking for a way to improve your brain function and maximize your brain abilities, brain training is a revolutionized solution to your problem. By properly training your brain you will achieve better results and you will be more productive too.

All it takes is dedication and consistency. By improving your brain function like this, you will surely see the results and improve your whole life.

Also, you will be surprised by what your brain can process and how fast it can do it. Your life will be easier and you will experience less stress.

Train your brain and enjoy your better life!

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Brain Training Centers – Train Your Brain Properly With Their Services

A properly working brain is something many people strive for. Due to the stress and the overwhelming surroundings we have, our brains are often overtaxed and don’t work well. Sometimes this stress and anxiety leads to medical conditions and disorders, and in the easier cases, they lead to lowered productivity and concentration.

It has already been proven that training your brain regularly and effectively can increase your brain function and can boost your brain’s productivity.

After a few weeks of regular brain exercise, you can see the results as you get more focused and concentrated, and the solutions of your problems will seem much easier. However, brain exercise or more commonly known as brain training is not a simple process, it demands special knowledge and expertise.

It is known for using mental exercises and it targets the work of the brain as a whole, more commonly the cognitive skills. This area of the brain is important because with well-developed cognitive skills, the brain reads, learns, pays attentions, remembers and reasons well.

The cognitive skills are your abilities that determine your IQ too. For this reason, brain training is a noninvasive training and exercising of the brain. Because of the benefits of brain training and the specialty it requires, we will answer some questions regarding proper brain exercise in brain training centers for you:

Whose brain can be trained?

Namely, people of all ages can benefit from brain training. There are numerous brain-related health issues that can be dealt with if proper brain training is in place. This is why there are a number of brain training centers in almost any country. Moreover, brain training centers specialize in improving brain related issues and in enhancing the brain’s functionality.

Training the brains of children

Here are the ways in which brain training centers help children of different ages:

• ADHD
• Behavioral and emotional issues
• Developmental delays
• Improving learning abilities
• Children who face problems studying for school

Brain training adults

The specialized centers for brain training can benefit the adults in many ways too, here are the most common:

• Anxiety problems
• Those who suffer from depression
• Sleeping Problems
• Obsessions and feelings of being overwhelmed
• In some cases it can help with concussions, migraines or addictions

How does brain training benefit people?

Although these exercises should be done under supervision from a professional, they are quite simple. They enhance people’s abilities by making learning easier and faster. Also, it helps people process information faster by challenging the work of the neurons – the nerve cells that process the information.

Moreover, this means that after the training process is done, a person is able to learn faster and he or she will be able to think clearer than before. These exercises are done with a few activities, and if the process is done properly, the brain will be able to work better in the everyday situations of the person.

Additionally, professional brain training centers can help you reduce the levels of anxiety and if you are stress-free, your brain works better.

Lastly, it is safe to say that the process of brain training is an activity that will most likely lead to a more productive function of the brain, better results and in a further instance – better life.

Why should you choose a brain training center over internet alternatives?

It is true that there are possible alternatives like downloadable games and apps meant to improve brain function, however only a handful of these apps are made under supervision of people who actually know something about brains. Namely, they are made to reach general public and are quite fun and easy, which leads to them not being helpful too.

On the other hand, professional brain training centers have a number of employees who specialize in neuroplasticity and brain-function. What you get by visiting a professional training center is full attention and a brain training program that is individualized according to your needs.

Additionally, a brain training centers specialize in different brain-related issues and can provide actual help for your problem. Although it might be easier to download an app, consulting a professional about your problem is more effective. You are much more likely to get results by seeing a person who has the knowledge and the tools to help you.

So, what is exactly a good brain training center and which services can you expect there?

It is clear – good brain training centers are institutions in which there are professional brain scientists who have the knowledge and expertise in brains. Aside from knowledge, they also have tools and the technology that is needed for giving the proper help to your problem.

Often, they have numerous programs for different brain related health problems – such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression and so forth. These different programs aim to train your brain due to your specific issue. The most common services you can find at brain training centers are the following:

• Enhancement of a person’s cognitive abilities – it often includes exercises regarding memory and also logical reasoning
• Exercises for faster processing of information
• Issues regarding attention and ADHD
• Help regarding autism and other syndromes
• Professional help for adults about their career and students of most ages
• Help regarding reading issues like dyslexia
• Help for adults who suffer from memory loss
• Help for those who suffered TBI and recovery from it
• You receive a program that intensifies and improves your brain function
• You are most likely to receive motivation and support when you have low confidence

In conclusion, it is safe to say that working with a professional and personal brain trainer can be much more beneficial compared to other alternatives. This is because by visiting a professional brain training center you get the attention you need and the proper solutions to your problems. Additionally, you are more likely to get the results of improved cognitive abilities and other issues.

By training your brain at a center you also get encouraged to get out of your comfort zone, of course by doing this you actually maximize the abilities of your brain and improve yourself. Lastly, you get a program that is individualized to your needs and you get the attention your needs require, which in the long run, again means that you get the better results by visiting a brain training center.

For these reasons, and many more – we strongly recommend visiting a professional brain training center rather than other alternatives!

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Steel Focus from Enervitus Nutrition

Many people have found themselves in a situation where they can’t remember things and their brain doesn’t work properly. This is because today’s life is pretty much overwhelming and there are a lot of things on our minds. Moreover, many people are looking for solutions on how to improve the functionality of their brain.

They have been using planners, notes, medicine and whatnot. Many of these solutions have been ineffective and students are still failing tests they studied hard for and busy people still forget a meeting or two.

This is why the popular manufacturer Enervitus Nutrition has gifted us with the Steel Focus formula. This is a product that can improve the way your brain works and it can also reduce your anxiety. The best thing about it is the fact that it is a supplement that is extracted from the nature and there is nothing harmful with side effects in these capsules.

So, if you are struggling with forgetting important information and you cannot seem to focus when you really need to, we strongly suggest the Steel Focus from Enervitus Nutrition formula as an easy and efficient solution to your problems.

Features

• The package has 30 capsules
• It comes in a package with dimensions of 2x2x4 inches
• It weighs 1.6 ounces
• It is a natural nootropic brain booster with the following ingredients:
  • Huperzine A which enhances memory and cognitive abilities of the brain, also good for elderly people who have memory problems due to their age
  • Vinpocetine which improves the way your cognitive part of the brain works
  • Phosphatidylserine which eases the signs of depression and improves the mood, it also helps your brain function and your neurotransmitters movements
  • Acetyl-L-Carnitine- which does a great job in converting choline into acetylcholine which improves the transmission of any message to the brain
  • Ginkgo Biloba – which does a great job in helping people focus and keeps them alert by improving the circulation
  • John’s Wort: which is excellent in easing signs of depression and improving bad moods, it also reduces anxiety and stress
  • Bacopa Monnieri which is used in a lot of medicine because it enhances concentration abilities of the brain

Pros

• It improves concentration
• It is excellent for those who are studying and are suffering stress due to short deadlines
• Your brain works properly more hours than usual
• It is really helpful for those who are suffering from anxiety, stress or depression
• It brings more oxygen in your brain and it helps it function better and faster
• It can help you recover your memory, both short and long term
• It can increase your productivity
• It is natural and healthy
• It makes you feel stronger and more alert, thus being more confident and productive
• You only take one pill on a daily basis
• It is effective after a short period of intake

Cons

• There could be a bigger amount of St. John’s Wort and Bacopa Monnieri to improve the effects of the capsules
• It is only for people over 18 years
• It is not a medicine for diseases
• It cannot be bought from retail shops

Summary

There are so many benefits from the intake of the Steel Focus formula that we don’t know where to begin. If you are a student and you really want to ace your tests and finals – the steel focus will help you remember everything you studied and you will not face any problems with your memory, you won’t be affected by stress as you were before too.

Additionally, you will be more concentrated as the ingredients work their magic. You will see and notice that your brain will start differently as it goes more efficient. Taking one pill a day will also improve the way your brain works on a daily basis – now you will easily remember all the names of relatives and acquaintances.

You can be a better parent now and you won’t forget any of the things on your to-do list too. Regular and responsible consummation of the Steel Focus will lead to you being more alert and you will also be more productive.

Also, what you will notice after a few weeks of taking these capsules is that your brain will be able to work even in the late hours of the evening. This means that the intake of the capsules will lead to you being more productive throughout the day too!

Lastly, by taking these capsules, you will be calmer and you will not be so affected by the stress the surroundings bring to you. This is because these capsules are very helpful in reducing anxiety and depression signs.

Possible Alternatives

Compared to non-natural brain boosting supplements, the Steel Focus is excellent because not only is it not harmful to your body, but it is also much more helpful. The thing about it is that there is no way you can get an addiction or any side effects unlike other medicine you can find on the market.

It helps you in achieving mental clarity and it improves your concentration without damaging any part of your body along the way. The natural ingredients like Ginkgo Biloba or St. Johns Wort have proven to help your brain function and we guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that the Enervitus Nutrition Steel Focus can be very beneficial to you and your brain function. If you were looking for a way to get the best out of your brain, this supplement is just for you!

It is very healthy and has no side effects, and it provides you with a great memory and mood. You will feel better about yourself, your anxiety will be reduced and you will definitely be more productive. More oxygen will go to your brain and this will also make it work better.

It is safe to say that you can say goodbye to all those times you forgot important dates, meetings and names because Steel Focus will make you remember everything without a problem! Life will be less overwhelming and much easier with it, and you will see the changes in no time!

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Best Brain Supplements

Based on intensive research, taking supplements for your brain can give you a lot of benefits. It can help improve your memory, cognition, boost your performance, make you more alert, and so much more. It can also be a great way to prevent mental diseases in the future.

Since brain supplements are extremely helpful and creative, a lot of companies have created their own brands of it. To help you decide easier on which one to choose, we have rounded up the best brain supplements available today:

NeuroIgnite: Extra Strength Brain Supplement for Focus, Energy, Memory & Clarity

This nootropic supplement, NeuroIgnite, is from the brand Havasu Nutrition Company. It is a company that prides itself in providing products made from all natural ingredients and are FDA approved. NeuroIgnite is the #1 best seller on Amazon.com. To know more about this wonderful products, here are some of its features:

• It increases alertness
• It boosts mental performance as well as energy
• Improves mood and it can enhance memory
• Helps improve concentration
• Its ingredients consists of Ginko biloba, St. John’s Wort, Phosphatidylserine, L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine, DMAE, Huperzine A, BacopaMonnieri, and Vinpocetine
• Slows Cognitive Decline
• Formulated and manufactured at an FDA registered facility
• Has GMP or Good Manufacturing Practice standards
• They have excellent customer support

Pros and Cons

This incredible nootropic has its own highs and lows. Let us start with the qualities that we like about NeuroIgnite:

• It is caffeine-free
• It is very effective and makes it easier to cope with stress at school or at work
• It can also enhance one’s willpower
• You will become more motivated and accomplish tasks easier
• They have a 100% money back guarantee
• Can be helpful for those that has ADHD because it has DMAE – an ingredient that enhances focus
• Helps improve mood and avoid depression and anxiety

Its many positive attributes makes it no wonder why NeuroIgnite is the #1 best seller on Amazon.com. But just like any other product, it still has some downsides:

• It can cause some side effects like headaches, vivid and lucid dreams, upset stomach, dry mouth, fatigue, and restlessness
• It may not show effects to some people even after a few weeks of using
• It has St. John’s wort that has been reported to cause some side effects dizziness, vomiting, and anxiety to some people

Nutrition Essentials Neuro Clarity

This best seller nootropic supplement from Amazon.com is one to beat. It has natural ingredients which are guaranteed safe and made in an FDA approved and GMP certified lab. To know more about Neuro Clarity, here are its features:

• 60 capsules per bottle – good for 1 month
• All-natural ingredients
• Contains: St. John’s Wort, Glutamine, Vinpocetine, Ginkgo Biloba, BacopaMonnieri, DMAE Bitartrate, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Magnesium Stearate,Dicalcium Phosphate, and Gelatin
• Helps eliminate brain fog
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Increases focus and mental clarity
• Enhances cognitive function
• Caffeine-free
• Helps you concentrate more
• Expands memory retention

Pros and Cons

The Neuro Clarity is without a doubt a great product with all-natural ingredients. It definitely has a lot of positive qualities that would most definitely convince you to try it. Here its list of pros:

• It does not contain caffeine like other nootropic supplements
• It is gluten-free
• Can drastically help with stress and anxiety
• Improves your mood
• It can enhance your ability to focus
• Great for both short term and long term memory
• The key ingredients are listed on the label
• Very affordable

With positive qualities comes with negative ones. Here are some of the things we didn’t like about Neuro Clarity:

• Some people have reported getting a headache
• The manufacturer of this product does not have an official website which can raise concern to consumers
• No information regarding the clinical data about the supplement
• The effects of this supplement is too subtle for some
• Does not show effects to some people
• Some consumers find that the pill is too big to swallow

Neuro Peak

This supplement is from the company Zhou Nutrition. They aim to provide high-quality supplements and vitamins at an inexpensive price. They make their products with safe and natural ingredients. Here is a list of Neuro Peak’s features:

• Scientifically-formulated
• Contains the following ingredients: DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol), St. John’s Wort, L-Glutamine, Phosphatidylserine 4% complex, N-Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL, Ginkgo Biloba, Huperzine A, BacopaMonnieri, Vinpocetine
• Helps lower anxiety and stress levels
• Improves focus, clarity, mood, alertness, memory, and mental accuracy
• Contains 30 capsules
• Healthier brain cells
• 100% money-back guarantee

Pros and Cons

Any product has its own positive qualities and negative attributes. Let us start with the positive ones:

• Does not have serious side effects
• Can really reduce stress levels
• Improves concentration
• One pill a day
• Highly affordable
• A great alternative for people with mental health issues who uses Adderall
• Can help you keep up with school and your workload
• No jitters
• The ingredients are all properly listed
• Can help people sleep better
• Makes you feel energized
• Great customer service

Neuro Peak certainly has a lot of positives. Here are some of the not-so-great qualities it has:

• Not suitable for pregnant women
• Like any other nootropic, this might not work for some people
• It is not recommended for people who are under 18

Conclusion

Taking care of our brain should be a priority to all of us since it is the most important part of our body. Without it, we will not be able to function and do anything. Having a good diet is sometimes not enough. Even if we eat the right food daily, it will not be able to penetrate the brain that effectively.

A great way for us to help improve our mind is by taking brain supplements. Most brain supplements promises to improve one’s memory, concentration, mood, reduce stress levels, focus, and alertness. The most common ingredients found in brain supplements are DMAE, L-Carnitine, Ginkgo Biloba,BacopaMonnieri, and many more.

The top 3 best brain supplements today are NeuroIgnite, Neuro Clarity, and Neuro Peak. However, every person has different reactions to certain products so make sure to explore your options carefully so you can achieve a healthier mind.

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Best Brain Vitamins

One of the most important parts of our body is our brain. Without it, we won’t be capable of doing anything. We will not be able to think, feel, react, have memories, and so much more.

The brain helps us function overall as a human being. With that being said, we should do our best to take care of it. There are a number of ways that we can do to ensure our brain’s health.

An example is that we should eat healthy foods especially those that are enriched in Tryptophan, Vitamin C, L-glutamine, Choline, and more. Try to avoid foods that have too much fats, those that are processed, cured meat, and foods that has too much salt. Next is to exercise. Exercising is known to help us healthy, not only physically, but mentally as well.

If we exercise regularly, we can prevent awful diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Another way to take care of our brain is to get enough sleep. For adults, we should sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours every night. Not getting enough sleep will make it harder for us to concentrate and perform tasks. It can also improve our memory.

The last example is to take brain vitamins. Taking brain vitamins is a great way to take care and even enhance the performance our brain. There are a great variety of different supplements from different brands available today. To make you decision making a little bit easier for you, we have listed the top 3 best brain vitamins:

HCF Happy Calm Focused Brain Supplement

HCF or Happy Calm Focused AminoScience aims to provide the highest quality brain supplement with the best price in the market. The ingredients they use are guaranteed safe and pure. Here are a list of features to know more about this vitamins:

• 1 month supply which contains 90 easy to swallow capsules
• Hypoallergenic: does not contain preservatives, sweeteners, dairy, gluten, nuts, yeast, calories, enhancers, and fragrance
• FDA and cGMP certified
• Fueled by F&Q
• Contains the following ingredients: DL-Phenylalanine, L-Glutamine, VITAMIN A, VITAMIN E, VITAMIN B1, VITAMIN B2, VITAMIN B6, VITAMIN B3, VITAMIN B5, VITAMIN B12, Folic Acid, Biotin, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, and Chromium
• Supports hormone balance
• Enhances focus, concentration, and attention
• Makes you feel happy and calm
• Improves alertness, memory, and learning abilities
• Keeps you energized
• Improves sleep cycles

Pros and Cons

Like all products, HCF Happy Calm Focused Brain Supplement has some positives and negatives. To start it off, here are the pros:

• Transparent: all the ingredients they used are stated on the label
• A great mood enhancer
• Will keep you energized for a long time
• Helps you focus
• You will feel at ease and relaxed while doing work
• Keeps stress manageable
• Will make you feel positive
• Minimal side effects
• Their F&Q formula is very unique and effective
• Does not contain unnecessary nootropic ingredients

There is no doubt that HCF Happy Calm Focused Brain Supplement have great benefits. Let us now break down the downsides:

• You may experience slight headaches
• A little expensive compared to other supplements that can offer the same or even more benefits
• Some effects may take a few weeks before it appears
• It acts more of a multivitamin
• May not be that effective to some
• May cause heartburn
• The effects on some people may wear off after using it over time

Neuro Health

Made by the company Huntington Labs which uses natural ingredients to produce high quality products. Its ingredients are safe and effective, and are made from natural extracts. To know more Neuro Health, here is a list of its features:

• Contains the following ingredients: Green Tea Extracts, Huperzine A, L-Glutamine, Vitamin A, Folic Acid, and BacopaMonniera
• 60 capsules
• Increases blood flow to the brain
• Improves mental alertness, mood, memory, focus, and concentration
• Helps reduce cravings
• Keeps you energized

Pros and Cons

Each product has its own positive and negative sides. Here are some of the great benefits you can get from using Neuro Health:

• Can show result even after one use
• Increases your energy
• Will keep you awake and alert
• Boosts the health of your brain
• The increase of blood flow can help enhance the effects of the pill
• Helps you concentrate better while studying or working

Now, here are the qualities that are not so great about Neuro Health

• Not suitable for pregnant or nursing mothers, and individuals who are 18 and below
• Some have been getting migraines when using Neuro Health

BRAIN SUPPORT PLUS+

BRAIN SUPPORT PLUS+ is from the company USANutra. USANutra has a wide range of health and fitness supplements. They manufacture high-quality American made products for categories like anti-aging and sports. Here is a list of features the BRAIN SUPPORT PLUS+ has:

• Improves mental clarity, focus, alertness, and memory
• Contains nootropic ingredients: DMAE, Bacopa, Huperzine, Glutamine, DHA, Choline, and Phosphatidylserine
• A balanced blend of brain vitamins and amino acids
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves mood
• Enhances alertness, memory, mental clarity and focus, and leaning perfocmance

Pros and Cons

BRAIN SUPPORT PLUS+ has a lot of great features that we can surely benefit from. Here is a list of the benefits we can get from using BRAIN SUPPORT PLUS+:

• It is gluten-free, sugar-free, GMO-free, and caffeine-free
• Helps nourish the brain
• Keeps you more energized throughout the day
• Contains a lot of vitamins
• It has anti-aging properties
• Improves your mood and makes you feel positive
• Helps control stress levels and anxiety
• The effects will increase over time with daily use

Since no product is perfect, BRAIN SUPPORT PLUS+ has its own share of downsides too. Below is a list of its cons:

• Some have reported that it does not show effects
• May cause fatigue to some users

Conclusion

As we all know, the brain is the most important part of our body. Without it we will not be able to think, to move, or to feel which is why it is imperative that we take good care of it.

There are a lot of ways that we can take care or even enhance the function of our brain and one of them is by taking vitamins. Each brand has its own differences so make sure to explore each one so that you can decide which one is the perfect fit for you.

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Brain Gym Activities: Everyday Ways to Improve Your Cognitive Function

Are you trying to sharpen your mental ability, or concerned about how aging might affect your mind? Do you feel like your work has you in a deadening routine? Just like your muscles or any other part of your body, your brain needs regular exercise to keep it fit and in shape.

Whatever your reason for being concerned about your brain’s health, the things that you can do to exercise it are quite simple and often enjoyable, too. This article focuses on some specific suggestions for putting it into practice.

Read on for a list of some simple activities with which you can make your life much more cognitively stimulating without even having to take a lot of time out of your day. These small tasks will turn your everyday life into a brain-gym of your very own!

Change Your Commute

Let’s start with the simplest tactic: go down a different street on your way to work. That’s right, changing your commute forces your brain to problem-solve and navigate, and stimulates your senses with new sights and situations. It will take very little time out of your day, but it will repay you by making the time you spend anyway driving or riding the bus into something that benefits your health.

Turn Something Upside Down

Looking at familiar objects from a different angle activates different parts of your brain, particularly those that process new experiences and situations. Turning objects from your everyday surroundings upside down or repositioning them helps keep your mind alert and active.

If you want to get more serious about this, redecorate! It will stretch your spatial imagination and make you get reacquainted with your space. And it might give you motivated to put up those pictures you’ve been meaning to frame and hang!

Do Something with Your Eyes Closed

Try showering, sweeping, or taking out the trash with your eyes closed. Navigating familiar places with a different set of senses makes your mind perceive things in new ways, and uses different parts of your brain. But, be safe! Don’t try this where you could fall and hurt yourself, or with a task in which you might scald, cut, or injure yourself.

Count Your Change

Studies show that the brains of the blind, who must rely on other senses to navigate their world, learn to use different parts of the cortex to interpret stimuli. Just like when doing a familiar task with your eyes closed, using your sense of touch to identify objects will activate different parts of your brain for the task of interpreting your world. One way to practice this is to count the change in your pocket without looking at it; see if you can tell the difference between quarters, dimes, nickels, and cents without a glance at their shiny surfaces.

Memorize a List

Nowadays, we rely on our smartphones and other devices to remind us of everything that we have to do or buy. To mix things up, try a new way of organizing your day, like writing down your list on paper, or try to memorize it and recite it from memory. This will exercise your long- and short-term memory (depending on how long you need to remember your list for) and test your ability to recall.

Cook a New Dish

Sign up for a cooking class or just make yourself a new meal from a recipe. Counting, measuring, imagining how flavors work together, and plating your dish will activate the parts of your brain used for math, spatial reasoning, and synthesizing information, while the act of cooking will stimulate the sensory centers for sight, smell, touch, and sound. Bonus: you get a delicious meal when you are done, and you’ve learned something new!

There Once Was a Man from Nantucket (Write a Poem!)

Try putting together a few lines of rhyming verse. Try a limerick! It can be fun and funny, too, and it will exercise the parts of your brain that recall words and sounds and associate ideas. You can visit one of the many online poetry magazines, like the Poetry Foundation, if you want some inspiration.

Do Crossword Puzzles

Most local newspapers come with these, but if you don’t get one, you can findplenty online! Just print one out and work over it with your morning coffee.

Draw a Map

After you’ve gone somewhere, draw out a map from memory, by hand, of the route there from your home. Do this each time you visit a new place, and keep the maps. At the end of a few months you’ll have a nice little stack of maps, and you can look back and see all the different places you’ve been! For an added challenge, draw the map with your non-dominant hand.

Hand-Eye Coordination

Whatever happened to the days when grandfathers would putter about in the shop and grandmothers would crochet and knit? Whatever your gender, switching off the TV and putting some time into learning a tactile hobby like knitting or carving will forestall aging and keep the brain centers that deal with hand-eye coordination and spatial imagination alive and well.

Speak and Sing!

Finally, if you have the time to invest in a more ambitious approach, start learning to play a musical instrument or learning a new language. Even if you can’t afford formal classes, there are YouTube tutorials and free apps that will teach you a few words every day of a foreign language.

Studies show that sustained engagement in learning new skills—learning something new and at least somewhat complex over an extended time—helps prevent the usual effects of aging on the mind and keep it agile and able.

Whatever your age, doing these simple things every day as you go about your daily routine will exercise different parts of your brain, helping you keep your mind fit and healthy and increasing your problem-solving, creative, and imaginative faculties in tip-top shape long into life. Good luck and happy thinking!

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Irwin Naturals Organic Brain Support Diet Supplement Review

Are you concerned about keeping your cognitive function quick and sharp? Are you looking for a product to help you support your brain health? Whatever your concern, you probably should be thinking about proper nutrition.

What you eat affects every aspect of your brain function and helps determine whether your mind continues to grow late into life or, like an atrophied muscle, begins to shrink and fail. The problem, of course, is that it’s not always easy to get exactly what you need, every single day: fresh veggies and leafy greens, nuts, and omega-3 oils. But, there’s good news!

There are supplements that help ensure that you get what your brain needs, whether you’ve had time to buy it and prepare it or not. The information here will help you evaluate the pros and cons of one of those supplements: Irwin Naturals’ Organic Brain Support Diet Supplement.

Features

Irwin Naturals’ Organic Brain Support Diet Supplement comes in a package of 60 nutrition-filled organic capsules. These capsules come filled with six key active ingredients:

• Organic grape powder
• Organic Asian ginseng powder (of the root and rhizome)
• Powdered organic blueberries
• Organic ginkgo leaf powder
• Organic ginger powder
• Organic papaya powder

These ingredients, like blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants, all help preserve brain function long past the time when dangerous free radicals begin to attack the nervous system and causedegeneration.

The resveratrol in grape powder also acts as a powerful antioxidant.Of these ingredients, others, such as ginkgo balboa, have a myriad of positive effects. Ginkgo balboa has been used to treat afflictions as diverse as altitude sickness, autism, blood pressure disorders, clogged arteries, and erectile dysfunction.

But, most important for our purposes, ginkgo balboa is used to help support cognitive performance. Studies also suggest that gingko can help alleviate a number of disorders of the brain, such as dementia. It can even help fight memory loss.

Pros

The most effective (and well-roundedly beneficial to health) effect of Irwin’s Naturals Organic Brain Support Supplements is simply the way that they can help fill in for the robust consumption of colorful, leafy fruits and vegetables.

Each of the ingredients is supplied by Irwin Naturals’ Supplements without having been extracted or highly processed. As a result, these capsules keep you close to the source of your nutrition. They are filled almost entirely with just the powdered fruits, berries, and roots that have been shown to aid in supporting your brain’s health.

These capsules are also vegan (made with potato starch instead of gelatin or other animal products), gluten free, organic, and guaranteed to deliver the nutrition that they advertise directly to your digestive system, from which that nutrition is able to support and help develop your cognitive capacity.

The polyphenols in blueberries, in particular, have been shown to cross the blood/brain barrier to help protect the brain itself from free radicals. Papaya and ginger are the exception; they are included to help support digestive health.

Instead of employing refined chemical versions of the nutrients your body needs, these pills are straightforward and simple: they provide you with powdered versions of the fruits that supply key nutrients themselves. In a world in which most of us are too busy to hunt down organic fresh grapes, ginseng, ginkgo leaves, blueberries, or ginger for an afternoon’s snack, such a composite supplement is becoming rapidly more important.

Cons

These pills are big and hard to swallow! Also, exact percentages and daily values of the nutrients contained by the powdered fruits and vegetables that these capsules are filled with have not been calculated. As a result, you are not advised to use them as your primary vitamin supply. Instead, these pills are meant to supplement a healthy diet. When paired with these other factors,however, they should boost your mental acuity and your general cognitive performance.

Summary

The Irwin Naturals Organic Brain Support Diet Supplement will help you round out an already healthy diet to make sure your brain gets the nutrition it needs. They contain organic, antioxidant- and flavonoid-rich fruits and herbs, ground to be easily digestible and delivered in a convenient vegan capsule that you can take on your way out the door to work when you simply don’t have time to whip up a full meal rich in the nutrients that support brain health.

Comparison

Irwin Naturals sells a lot of other products that are designed to provide customized, specific benefits to their users. For example, the company sells “Ginkgo Smart: Maximum Focus & Memory Dietary Supplement Liquid Gel Caps,” which mainly just contain ginkgo balboa and carob extract and are specifically targeted to help support concentration, awareness, and memory.

If the benefits of the Brain Support Diet Supplement aren’t quite what you’re looking for, it’s worth looking into some of these other, more specifically targeted options to find what works just right for you.

If you find that these other options, along with the grape powder, ginseng, ginkgo, blueberry, ginger, and papaya powder combination of Irwin Naturals Brain Support supplements aren’t quite exactly what you need, it’s also worth checking out some of the other brands on the market. For example, BioScience Nutrition’s BrainBoost supplements are another feasible alternative for the Irwin Naturals’ pill.

These are perhaps not quite as good a value, but their 41 herbs and vitamins are readily absorbable for the consumer. Also, you know exactly what you are getting: every nutrient in them is clearly labelled with its own percent daily value.

Verdict

Irwin Naturals Organic Brain Support supplements are a more streamlined, lighter-weight option than some of the more aggressive brands out there. It’s hard to say if this makes them better, since they haven’t been tested for their exact nutritional composition, but if they’re in your price range, these supplements are probably the choice for you!

Coupled with a healthy diet, they should give you most of the nutrients you need to stay on task and focused, no matter what your work or life throws at you.

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Jarrow Formulas Methylcobalamin (Methyl B12) Review

Being healthy can mean a lot of things. This can mean that you regularly exercise in order to maintain a toned a fit body, you have an extensive diet that you follow, or drink vitamins to get that extra nutrients that we do not get from food alone.

Sometimes, when we think of healthy, we only think about the physical aspect of it. We tend to forget that we have to keep our minds healthy too as well. Our brain is the most important part of our body after all. So what can we do to make sure that we have a healthy brain? Here are a few examples:

• Eat foods that are great for the brain such as whole grains, green leafy vegetables, fish like salmon and tuna, berries, and avocado
• Stay physically active
• Do games that can challenge your mind like puzzles or even video games
• Always try to learn something new
• Do not forget to relax every now and then
• Read as much as you can
• Take brain supplements

Brain supplements, or what they call nootropics, have been made available in order to enhance the function of our brain. It gives us an extra boost and will help us reach our brain’s full potential.

It can help us focus more on our work, lifts our mood and stress levels, improve our memory, and helps keep us energized throughout the day. As much as we eat the right food, it will not be enough. When it comes to choosing the best brain supplement, you would have to consider what you want to achieve when you take them.

Do you want better concentration? Enhanced memory? Or improved mood? Or all of it? There are many different brands that provides some if not all of these benefits. A great option is Jarrow Formulas Methyl B12.

Features

Methyl B12 is a #1 best seller on Amazon in the category of Vitamin B12 Supplements. It is from the Los Angeles, Californa based company Jarrow Formulas who aims to provide high quality, superior nutritional supplements.

This supplement’s main ingredient Methyl B12 is the best type of Vitamin B12 as it can be absorbed easily in the body. This supplement has a lot more features to discuss. To know more about them, here is a list:

• Maintains brain health
• Helps enhance mood
• Protects nerve tissues and brain cells
• 60 cherry flavored chewable lozenges
• Comes in two more flavors: lemon and tropical
• Helps improve sleeping habits
• Keeps you energized
• Contains the following ingredients: Methylcobalamin (Methyl B12), natural cherry flavor, stearic acid (vegetable source), Xylitol, cellulose, silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate (vegetable source)
• Contains 5000 micrograms per lozenge
• Promotes healthy homocysteine levels, active coenzyme form, and neurotransmitter and neuron support

Pros and Cons

Methyl B12 certainly has a lot of features that we can sure benefit from. Below is a list of positive qualities this supplement has that can possibly convince you to purchase it:

• It is a herbal supplement that can be used as a remedy for a number of diseases such as Bell’s palsy, diabetic neuropathy, sleeping disorders, and can be an effective treatment for anemia
• Can be consumed by vegans
• Makes the body and mind alert
• Keeps your stress levels low
• Enhanced energy levels and mental focus
• The main ingredient, Methyl B12, is the most effective kind of Vitamin B12 because the body absorbs it easily
• Keeps you awake and alert the whole day
• No gluten, dairy, egg, wheat, soybeans, shellfish an and fish, sugar, and nuts
• The cherry-flavored lozenge tastes great
• Reasonable price
• It is caffeine-free
• Can act as a great anti-depressant
• Having the lozenge dissolve in your mouth can make your body absorb the vitamin better

No product is perfect. No matter what type of product it is and what brand it is, there are still some qualities that some people may not find appealing. This is due to our differences in preferences and experience with the product. Below is a list of cons the Methyl B12 has:

• The lozenge takes up quite a while to dissolve so you may end up chewing it which reduces the absorption of the vitamin
• In can cause side effects on some people like mild headaches to migraines, shortness of breath, hard time of falling asleep, and hearing problems
• Does not show significant effects on some people
• Leaves a chalky aftertaste that some people may not find pleasant
• Some people find the lozenges to be too big and uncomfortable to be left to dissolve under the tongue

Conclusion

Taking care of ourselves and ensuring that we are healthy both physically and mentally is very important. When it comes to health, it does not only mean that we have rocking abs and a well-toned body. It also means that we have a healthy mind.

As we all know, the brain is the most important part of the body because it is the organ that makes us function. In order to take good care of our brain, it is advisable to stay physically fit, read as much as you can, have a well-balanced diet, play games like puzzles or even video games, keep our mind active, and to never stop learning.

There is another way to unsure our brain’s health and that is by taking brain supplements. Brain supplements have become very popular throughout the years because it enhances our brain’s functions.

It keeps us focus in school or at work, it boosts our mood and stress levels, keeps us energized throughout the day, help us improve our memory and concentration, and it even works as a remedy for a number of diseases. When choosing a brain supplement, it is important that you consider a number of things: its ingredients, your needs, and the price.

A great option is the Methyl B12 from Jarrow Formulas. It has a lot of great qualities that you can surely benefit from and just like any other product, some downsides too. Just make sure to keep an open mind when selecting the best product for you.

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The Mind Workout: Taking Time to Exercise Your Brain

It’s common for people to spend hours every week working out their bodies in the gym. What’s more unusual, though, is for them to pay the same attention to the strength of their minds.

Yet people are living longer than ever before, and it’s increasingly common for bodies to remain healthy and strong long after minds have begun to deteriorate.

What can be done? Well, thankfully, there are a lot of ways to keep stretching your mental abilities, keeping your brain from losing cognitive capacity as you age and even increasing your acuity.

Just as with bodily health, of course, the first and most important factors include good nutrition and adequate sleep. But there are also small things you can do every day to give yourself a mind workout and keep yourself sharp!

Reading, Writing, and Language Learning

Spend time everyday reading. Even just short newspaper articles help, but if you read at a level that you find just a little challenging, it will force your brain to get used to new ways of thinking and speaking.

The language and reasoning centers of your brain are strengthened by puzzling through new ideas, by learning new vocabulary, and by encountering even everyday things being said in new ways.

You will also exercise these parts of your brain by taking the time to learn and memorize new vocabulary words, whether in your language or another. And speaking of other languages, learning one is perhaps the very best way to strengthen your mind.

Not only does it force your brain to form new pathways for expression, but it helps you see your own language differently, making you aware of how it fits ideas and words together. You can even practice new languages a little bit everyday with readily available apps for your phone or tablet.

Finally, writing every day, whether it’s poetry, a blog, or a journal, will exercise both your fine motor and cognitive skills, giving you the opportunity to keep in practice articulating and expressing your thoughts—a process that helps develop the skills of thinking themselves.

Mind Games

Playing the little brain-games that come in your daily newspaper or are readily available online, from Sudoku or crossword puzzles to chess, gives you practice in logical thinking, geometrical imagination, and understanding how things fit together.

This doesn’t always have to take linguistic or mathematical forms. Chess involves both strategy and thinking ahead to imagine different spatial configurations of the pieces; other strategy games also improve your reasoning ability.

There are even lots of websites that offer small, quick games and puzzles that you can play on the subway or on your lunchbreak at work that are designed by cognitive scientists to help improve specific reasoning skills.

Arts and Crafts

It may sound corny, but learning and practicing the arts will stimulate the emotional and nonverbal parts of your brain, whether you like painting, sculpture, music, or pottery. It also exercises your ability for spatial reasoning, whether by grappling with the complexities of perspective while composing a painting or photograph or trying to fold a tiny origami creature.

Art pushes your brain activity into new patterns and activates the parts of it that are perceive colors, shapes, textures, and sounds. It requires very different thought processes than the linear, often very automatic ones that you use to get through the day at work or school.

Vary Your Routine

Your brain comes alive when it has to grapple with new places, sights, sounds, textures, and situations, while habits let muscle memory and routine thought processes take over. Find small ways to vary your daily routine will make different parts of your brain switch into high gear, experiencing things or figuring out how to do things in new ways.

For example, you can try writing or even brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand to challenge your fine motor skills and coordination, making your brain re-learn basic processes and navigate new situations.

You can try entering the subway from a different direction or driving by a different street on your daily commute. Similarly, changing the arrangement of the things in your bedroom or house will force your brain to keep learning new patterns and interpreting new set-ups.

Memorize Something

Whether it’s a song, a poem, or a grocery list, memorizing something will test your recall and force you to exercise your memory.

This is a set of cognitive skills that gets neglected all too often in a world in which our personal electronic devices keep track of all of our phone numbers and appointments, as well as allowing us to look up the answer to any question we want.

By making yourself remember the exact words to something, you exercise both your long-term memory and your pattern-recognition abilities. Plus, if you memorize poems, songs, or even random facts, you might be able to dazzle your friends later—or shine at your local trivia night or karaoke bar!

Make New Friends

Speaking of dazzling your friends, it’s good for your brain to take the time to make new ones and speak to strangers. Such interactions draw on your cognitive, emotional, and linguistic abilities, as well as the patter-recognition and social areas of your brain that help you decode other people’s subtle social and emotional cues and navigate the pitfalls of conversation.

Thankfully, you don’t have to take as much time out of your day to give yourself a mind workout as you do to work out your body. Since you use your brain all day,just doing small things indifferent ways can give it the exercise it needs and keep it alert, active, and engaged.

But you can also enrich your life in other ways, as music, art, and making new friends tend to do. Whichever of these tactics you can fit into your day, paired with a balanced diet and lots of rest, will help keep you super sharp and ready for anything, well into your old age.

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SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy Vitamins: The Best Supplement for Children

As parents, our children’s health and needs are our top priority. We always want to give the best for them and help them reach their full potential. We always try to guide them to the right path and protect them for any harm. As we all know, school can sometimes be a drag.

With the many projects, homework, and tests, our kids may experience a lot of stress especially if they are not physically and mentally equipped to do their tasks. A great way to help our kids is to provide them with a well-balanced diet.

However, even if we do our best by giving our kids healthy food, some may have troubles eating them, especially picky eaters. Luckily, there are many multivitamins available right now that are formulated specifically for children.

They have created them to taste appealing to kids while containing essential nutrients for a healthy body, heart, and mind. One of the best multivitamins is the SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy Vitamins. Below, we will discuss its features and all the benefits your child can get.

Features

SmartPants has a line of gummy vitamins which who has been around for six years now. They provide an all-in-one vitamins that consists of Omega 3S, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, DHA fatty acids, and with a full multivitamin. They are also partnered up with an organization called Vitamin Angels.

Vitamin Angels is a non-profit organization who aims to help new mothers, pregnant women, and children below 5 have access to supplements. SmartyPants provides 1 nutrient grant to Vitamin Angels for every bottle they sell. Overall, they have made almost 4 million of nutrient grants to children and mothers in need.

SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy Vitamins is a multivitamin for children. It contain 13 essential nutrients and are guaranteed GMO-free. To know more about this product, here is a list of its features:

• Contains the following ingredients: organic tapioca syrup, natural flavors, citric acid, gelatin, organic can sugar, colors from natural sources (black carrot juice concetrate, annatto, turmeric), fish oil (from anchovy and sardine)
• Contains the following vitamins: vitamin D as D3, omega 3 fish oil, vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin, folate as methylfolate, vitamin A, vitamin E, biotin USP,pantothenic acid, choline and more
• Gluten-free and allergen-free
• Contains 30 gummies and has a recommended dosage of 4 gummies a day
• No synthetic colors, flavors, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, tree nut and peanuts, dairy, fish allergens, and high fructose corn syrup

Pros and Cons

This multivitamin is definitely a great products. Its features shows how healthy and safe the ingredients are for our kids. To see just how excellent SmartyPants Kids Complete gummy is, let us see its positive qualities:

• It uses all natural ingredients
• It is one of the best tasting gummies in the market that you and your children will love
• Helps our children focus more in tasks
• Can help kids with ADHD
• Does not contain allergens
• Naturally colored
• Excellent customer service
• Easy to chew which can be great even for 2 year olds
• No medicine flavor and weird aftertaste
• It has the most natural ingredients when it comes to gummy vitamins

SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy Vitamins surely is an amazing product. It has, without a doubt, a lot of great benefits. However, everyone’s body chemistry is different so some kids may have a different reaction to this supplement and each child has their own preferences as well. Below is a list of qualities that are not so great:

• The gummy is little big which makes it a potential choking hazard
• It is a little pricey since the recommended dosage is 4 gummies a day
• Contains fish oil which has a possibility of causing reactions to kids who has a fish allergy
• Some kids are not fond of the taste and the texture of SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy
• Because of the 4 gummies a day serving, some kids might get tired of eating them over time

Possible Alternatives

As great as the SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy Vitamins is, some people may not be convinced or are looking for something different. It may be the dosage, flavor, texture, or ingredients. Below we have provided a short list of alternatives:

Yummi Bears Organics Complete Multi-Vitamin

Yummi bears is an organic gummy vitamin that has 16 essential nutrients. It does not have any artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors and it is GMO-free as well.

This gummy vitamin is more affordable than the one from SmartyPants. It contains 90 gummy bears and a dosage of 3 pieces a day. It is free of allergens, dairy, and gluten, and are sugar-free.

However, that have been reports of children getting allergic reactions to this. Its consistency also changes over time and they tend to become too gooey.

Better Brain™

This multivitamin is formulated with Omega 3, 6, 9 Essential and DHA. These are great supports for the eyes, brain, and the heart.

It is also gluten-free and has no artificial sweeteners and flavors. Contains 60 gummies and has a serving size of 3 a day which is less than the dosage for SmartyPants. It is a great brain, heart, and vision booster which is can help your child excel in school and in life.

It can also enhance your child’s immune system and keep them feeling energized. What makes this gummy really great is that it is not coated with sugar unlike most gummy vitamins. This multivitamins is also great for kids with ADHD and eczema.

Conclusion

If you are a parent, it is without a doubt that your child is the most important person for you. You would want the best for them, keep them happy, and help them achieve their dreams. When taking care of our children, their healthy is our top priority.

Unfortunately, even if we do get them to eat healthy foods, it may not be enough since all of the nutrients in it are not absorbed well by the body. Not to mention that a lot of kids are picky eaters so they might not be getting enough nutrients.

Thankfully, with the help of multivitamins, you won’t have to worry anymore. With just a few servings of SmartyPants Kids Complete Gummy Vitamins a day, you will be able to give your child all the nutrients that they need to become physically and mentally fit.

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What Vitamins Help Your Brain and Memory: Eating Well for Brain Health

If you want to keep your cognitive function sharp and alert well into your life, you should know that your, brain, like any other organ, requires proper nutrition!

Whether you’re a college student trying to keep yourself in the best possible shape for each week’s battery of tests, assignments, and papers, or a retired person working to keep your mind active and prevent the effects of aging, you need to give your brain cells the nutrients they need to do their work and keep themselves in the best possible shapev.

Though we usually think more about body fat and clothing size when we plan out our diets, making arrangements to support our brain’s health with proper nutrition and care is another key and important part of our overall physical and mental health.

Omega-3s

Just as muscles can atrophy over time, your brain can shrink, with less-used parts of the cerebral cortex in particular losing functionality. However, omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish and in several vegetable sources, can help slow several kinds of age-related deterioration in memory and brain health as well as keeping your brain robust at any age.

For example, they help improve the brain’s nerve-cells’ communication; they help you concentrate; and they may even fight inflammation. These fatty acids also help maintain simple brain volume. This is especially important for age-related issues. Alzheimer’s, for example, has been linked to shrinking brain size in the elderly.

Omega-3s are fat-soluble nutrients, not water-soluble ones, so you don’t need to eat them every single day, but having a regular intake of them is important.

The easiest way to get your dose of omega-3s is to eat fish. Fish fats, which are especially highly concentrated in the belly meat, are extremely high in these fatty acids.

For omega-3 rich fish, try herring, sardines, mackerel, salmon, halibut, and trout. Salmon bellies, which you can sometimes find brined and smoked, are one of the most delicious sources. (Fish also containsselenium, vitamins A and D, phosphorous, magnesium, and iodine, which are all important!)

But, if you don’t have time to cook yourself fish on a regular basis, you can supplement your omega-3 intake by taking fish oils likecod liver oil, which are sold as nutritional supplements.

If you are vegan or just don’t like seafood, you can also try one of the many vegetable sources of omega-3s: flaxseed, Brussels sprouts, spinach, arugula, kale, and watercress, as well as chia seeds and walnuts.

Antioxidants

One of the most damaging natural enemies of your brain’s health is the negative effects of free radicals, which are more famous for causing cancer but also damage nerve cells by causing what is called oxidative stress.

The primary workhorses of your brain’s daily activity, tissues composed of nerve cells, are vulnerable to the negative effects of this process.

Thankfully, however, there are nutrients called antioxidants that prevent and may even help reverse some of the effects of free radicals by, among other things, absorbing them before they can do you harm.

Of the many kinds of antioxidants, the ones that thus far have shown themselves most promising for promoting brain health are flavonoids and Vitamin E.

Vitamin E is a well-known free-radical fighter that protects your cells from being damaged. While the specific link between it and brain function or brain diseases like Alzheimer’s needs much more study, it’s certainly good for you and good for your brain in its own right.

You can get more of it in your diet by eating any number of Vitamin-E-rich foods, but some of the best include leafy greens like spinach, swiss chard, and dandeliongreens, as well as almonds, pecans, hazelnuts,peanutsand peanut butter, and sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and oils like safflower oil and soybean oil.

Nuts also contain alpha linolenic acid and help reduce inflammation. They also increase circulatory system health and oxygen flow to the brain.

Flavonoids

The tried-and-true way to add flavonoids to your diet is to add more color to your dinner plate. In particular, foods that are packed full of these necessary nutrients include berries like strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, leafy green vegetables such as watercress,spinach, and kale (which also have Vitamin E in them!) and other colorful vegetables like butternut squash, plums, and avocados.

You’ll also be well served to buy red grapes, whose skins are full of the flavonoid compound resveratrol. And if you feel like indulging yourself and not just eating veggies every day, you’ll find lots of flavonoids in coffee, dark chocolate, and red wine.

Tea

Along with your occasional coffee, drink some green tea. The amino acid theanine, which is present in green tea, may help concentration and attention span. Green tea is also full of antioxidants; you’d do well to drink it daily.

Rest and Exercise!

This isn’t directly a matter of nutrition, but of course, one of the most important factors for replenishment of your cells’ health is proper rest (and sleep).

You should sleep 7-9 hours a night if you are an adult, 8-10 hours if you are a teenager, and 9-11 hours if you are a child. You should also exercise regularly, especially aerobic exercise, which strengthens your lungs and heart to get your brain tissue the oxygen and nutrients it needs.

This is particularly helpful in the morning, when it gets your blood flowing and helps you remain alert and well-oxygenated for a long day of whatever kind of work you find yourself engaged in.

Space Out Your Meals

Having meals at regular times throughout the day will also help keep your brain well-fueled. Regularity and proper timing are also important for the absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients, because water-soluble vitamins (including many of the ones you get from green vegetables) stay in your body for a much shorter length of time. As a result, your body’s store of them needs to be replenished almost daily.

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Train Your Mind, Improve Your Brain

There's a theory on aging and memory that postulates that we don't get forgetful due to age but rather due to pruning of unused neural synapses and circuitry in the brain.

Pruning is, in essence, a sloughing off of unused or unneeded brain cells and connections. Every time we do an activity that doesn't require our full attention, we use patterning which is a very useful strategy employed by our bodies because it is metabolically less taxing than if we had to fully concentrate on each and every task we performed.

For example, looking back at your morning thus far, can you remember the texture of your breakfast, with arm you washed first or even the details of your car ride in? Probably not. We go on auto-pilot which is good for certain tasks but if our entire days are spent this way we end up doing more pruning than growing and we're bound to become more forgetful and worse at problem solving and critical thinking.

A Note on Patterning: Before I start talking about the importance of attending to tasks, I just wanted to briefly note the importance of patterning on athletic performance. As I mentioned above, patterning is a metabolically efficient strategy to perform rote tasks. For endurance sports, this is crucial! You don't want to be fully attending to every stride or stroke that you perform or you will be fatigued much sooner. This is one of the reasons why guided imagery and pre-race visualization works because even thinking about your race elicits activation in your motor cortex of the brain which over time will be re-wired to require less and less conscious attention and you will become more efficient. Conversely, there was a recent study that looked at people who performed physical activity while performing a cognitive task and found that once that cognitive task was removed, the participants performed markedly better. This is interesting in that adding cognitive challenges in practice while streamlining your performance with pre-race visualization and making activities as rote as possible during races may be a good performance enhancing technique.

Okay back to BUILDING the brain. Okay, so beyond the potential performance enhancing effects of not attending to tasks, for building a faster and more complex brain we want to attend. Attention promotes neurogenesis which pretty much means that the brain is growing more cells as well as the super highways that connect the various parts of the brain. So back to why we get more forgetful as we age: the idea is that each and every day we are exposed to fewer and fewer novel activities that don't elicit that full attention and thus not producing any new brain cells. The old adage, "if you don't use it, you lose it" doesn't apply just to muscles but also the brain. But don't despair! You can do one of two things to improve your brain's function.

            First, the hard one. Practice mindfulness throughout your day. Instead of reading the paper while eating breakfast, just eat your breakfast noting the texture, taste and feel of the food, how your breathing is affected as you eat and note how your body is responding to the food. When you're having a conversation with an individual, fully attend and listen to what they're saying rather than already coming up with a response. Studies on meditation and mindfulness practitioners have shown the immense brain circuitry that these guys have. It's just hard to always live in the moment.

           The second option is a bit more manageable, at least to start with, and that's to contrive novel tasks. Brush your teeth with your opposite hand. Read while standing on one leg. Learn a new language. Use brain games like Lumosity. Anything that challenges your brain and body and requires you to focus on the activity your doing is likely to result in some form of neurogenesis.

Stop reading this blog for a minute.








Did you stop? Hopefully. Now stand on your left leg and continue reading...

Remember: The brain is a part of your body, and you must exercise it if you want to have a sharp mind and memory. The connection between mental stimulation and dementia is strong and inversely correlated-meaning the less mental stimulation the more likely to develop dementia. Okay, you can put your leg back down. Hopefully this last paragraph helped stimulate your brain a bit more. And it got you standing, which we all now know is the better alternative to sitting.

So just as you train your body, make sure you dedicate some time to your brain as well. You'll thank me for it. If you remember.

Source: Train Your Mind, Improve Your Brain