Whether you workout with me in person in Houston, TX, or opt for the online option, you know I focus on looking good, while getting fit and healthier. One good side effect of a healthy lifestyle that helps you look your best is improved cognitive functioning. Not only does exercise enhance your brain power, there are foods that help boost your memory. You don’t have to be old to want to improve cognitive functioning and memory.
While genetics plays a role in the aging process, lifestyle plays a far more important role in many cases.
I get people of all ages that use my program remark that not only do they look and feel better, they actually feel mentally sharper and find it easier to recall information quickly. Part of it is regular exercise, which many studies show improves blood flow to the brain and even lowers the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. It affects the hippocampus area of the brain that controls memory and recall. A healthy diet can also make dramatic changes.
Preventing inflammation helps your entire body, including the brain.
Atherosclerosis, for instance, comes from cholesterol accumulation caused by inflammation, thickening arteries and slowing blood and oxygen levels to the brain. Consuming food that helps prevent inflammation, such as tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fruits like blueberries and fatty fish can help reduce inflammation and prevent the arteries in the brain from blockage.
Eating healthy can help prevent obesity and obesity is linked to memory loss.
Eating healthy, avoiding sugary treats and processed food can lead to weight loss, which is good for your brain. Studies have shown that people who are obese are more at risk to cognitive decline and dementia. Studies showed it reduced the amount of gray matter, where neurons are located, while also increasing the amount of two proteins in the hippocampus that can cause memory loss. Eating healthy to lose weight can improve your memory, too. It’s noted that not only does a high BMI indicating obesity affects memory, people who are severely underweight had the same changes.
- Cut out sugar! You can protect your memory and cognitive functioning, as well as improving your attention span by eliminating added sugar. It elevates glucose levels in the blood that can cause harm to the brain and have a big impact on memory.
- Improve your intake of vitamin D to make your brain healthier. Safe sunning without sunblock for short periods is one way. So is eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel. Also egg yolks, beef liver, mushrooms and cheese contain smaller amounts of vitamin D.
- Opt for organic food that are free from pesticides. If you want to save money, buy organic if it’s on the Dirty Dozen list, but it’s not necessary to choose vegetable and fruit that are organic on the Clean 15 list.
- Good news! That cup of coffee in the morning can actually help your memory. So can food like blueberries, dark chocolate, nuts and seeds, oranges and green tea.
For more information, contact us today at Reggie C Fitness