How annoying is it when you are leaving your house and you have to pause because you feel anxious you have forgotten something? Everyone experience this type of anxiety in their life because we all rely on our memories to help us function. If we are lucky we only have minor issues with our memory, and if we are really unlucky, well, we probably won’t remember that we have a problem in the first place.
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Types of Memory
There are two different types of memory. Short-term memory is used for information you need to know for the immediate future. A telephone message is a good example for short-term memory. Long-term memory is used for information that is important to you. Your long-term memory stores: names, faces, addresses, how to do activities, etc. Both types of memory are vital for us to function properly. How many times do you want to learn how to walk or that if you touch an iron it is going to hurt?
How can we make sure our memory is working properly? One major reason why people struggle with their memory is an insufficient nutrient supply to their brain. Our brains make up about 2% of the mass of our bodies, yet they require a huge portion of the nutrients we consume.
Diet and Memory
Does it matter what we eat? Yes. The brain is surrounded by a protective barrier that only allows certain nutrients to pass through. To make matters worse when we consume too much cholesterol and triglycerides we essentially clog the protective barrier so very few nutrients can pass through. After being clogged for a while the brain can become malnourished. Once your brain has reached that state forgetting information may be the least of your worries.
Change your Lifestyle
Having a malnourished brain is not cool. Let’s talk about the lifestyle required to maintain a healthy brain and a good memory. Getting enough exercise is always important because physical health and mental health go hand in hand. If you don’t use it, you lose it. There have been countless studies done that support the idea that if you are always challenging yourself to learn new things, your mind will rise to the occasion. You should read regularly, learn new hobbies, study a new language, and play games that challenge your intellect. There is a reason grandpa and grandma always spend time trying to solve those cross word puzzles.
Do not smoke! If you smoke you deprive your brain of the vital oxygen it needs to function.
Eat a well balanced diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants. The major players in a well balanced diet include: grains, fruits and vegetables, and raw foods. Raw foods have nutrients, when we process food we take a lot of the nutrients out. Eat processed foods in moderation because they contain too much salt and sugar and too few nutrients. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation or not at all. Studies have been done that suggest a good amino acid complex helps memory issues.
Keep your brain happy by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and food routine, and you won’t have to pause every time you leave home to wonder if you have remembered everything.