As you get older, you might feel that certain parts of your mind are starting to slip away. It’s not uncommon that you start a sentence and halfway through forget what you were saying. Or maybe you are losing your car keys on a daily basis. Casual forgetfulness happens to everyone from time to time, but small and recurring episodes that demonstrate the early stages of memory loss should be taken seriously. Follow these four proven exercises that will help fight memory loss in the years to come.
Choosing the Right Diet
The right diet is essential for maintaining a sharp memory and a healthy brain as we age. There are certain foods containing fatty acids that are medically proven to stimulate brain activity. For example, fish, avocados, nuts, and leafy greens have all been successful in helping prevent memory loss.
What’s more, there are physical benefits of eating these sorts of foods. The next time you look in a mirror and see your reflection, you might be surprised to find that you’ve lost some weight or have a healthier complexion.
Brain Teasers, Puzzle, and Games
Brain teasers are true to their namesake in that they will stimulate your mind and force you to do some mental exercise. By trying to solve complex equations, heavily-worded logic games, or strategic number games, you are bending your mind and creating new neural pathways. To put it simply, you’re giving your mind more room to breathe, expand and flourish. In the same way that cardio is good for your respiratory health, brain games are good for your mind, keeping it active and stimulated.
Staying Physically Active
Maintaining an active lifestyle is key to keeping your mind healthy and preventing memory loss. When you move your body, your blood begins to circulate more rapidly. This allows you to pump fresh oxygen into your brain and thus keep its tissue healthy and renewed. You don’t have to run marathons or play an intense game of soccer or football in order to reap these benefits. Physical activity might just be going for a walk or dancing around the house a bit. Whatever it is for you, do it for your memory’s sake!
Don’t Deprive Yourself of Sleep
This might be an obvious way to keep your mind sharp as a tack but a lot of people don’t prioritize sleep the way they should. Our bad habits start at young ages when we get used to going on 5-6 hours of sleep per night. While we can get away with it when we’re young, that lack of sleep over the course of many years will eventually take a toll on your brain’s health. When we sleep, our mind can regenerate itself at the same time our body does.
While certain parts of the aging process are inevitable, others you can avoid by taking the right measures. By prioritizing healthy habits, and attending regular doctor visits, you should be able to preserve your memory well into your older years.