You probably don’t think about it often, but your risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia increases as the years go by. However, some age-related problems can be prevented by taking care of your brain today. The positive news is that there are numerous things that you can do — to protect your brain and keep yourself healthy as you age. With these practices, you will be able to continue living life on your own terms for as long as possible. Here are seven ways to help keep your brain healthy into your golden years.
Avoid Stress
Your brain is the most active organ in your body and requires significant resources to function properly. When you’re stressed, not only does your performance suffer — you could also be putting your health at risk.
Stress is one of the leading contributors to heart disease. Your brain does not handle stress very well, so it starts using its stored glucose for fuel. It is difficult for your body to get additional resources to your brain when you are under stress. That is why you might experience symptoms like chest pain and headaches during stressful situations.
It’s important to remember that being under stress doesn’t just affect your head and your heart — it affects everything in your body. Even if you don’t feel stressed out right now, you should be aware of what your stressors are — and take care of yourself when you will significantly increase your stress levels in the future.
Get Enough Sleep
When you’re not sleeping, your brain isn’t getting the rest it needs. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain doesn’t enter into that deep sleep state, which can impact cognitive performance and memory. To help prevent these complications, make sure you’re getting enough shut-eye per night. Most people need at least 7 hours of sleep each night in order to recharge.
Think about what you need to put a healthy bedtime routine into place, which could include lighting and sounds that help you relax at night; making sure you are able to block out any distractions; and even removing electronics from your bedroom if they’re going to keep you up at night. Attempt to get yourself into bedtime mode a couple of hours before going to bed — so you can get yourself into the right frame of mind to fall asleep easily.
Eat A Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is crucial for your brain health. Eating the right foods will help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which both can contribute to declining brain health.
Fruits and vegetables are not only good for your brain, but they’re also excellent sources of antioxidants. Some fruits like blueberries, strawberries, black cherries, and raspberries are considered superfoods because they’re high in antioxidants. Adding supplements, like those you can obtain at CBD stockist, can also help to boost brain health and overall wellness.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is one of the simplest ways to keep your brain healthy. It increases blood flow throughout your body, preserves cells, and stimulates your production of new neurons.
You don’t even need to start a vigorous exercise schedule. Simply getting out and about and walking in the fresh air for at least 15 minutes per day, five days a week, helps tremendously to support your physical and mental being — and boost your brain. So try scheduling regular physical activities like walking or jogging into your day. If you prefer to exercise with other people, then activities like hiking, swimming, or sports are all great sociable ways to keep active.
Stay Socially Active
It’s important to stay socially active as you age. A decline in social activity has been associated with cognitive decline and even developing dementia. Some ways to sustain social engagement include joining a community, volunteering at an organization, or going out for coffee once in a while with your friends.
Keep Your Mind Active And Engaged
To keep your brain healthy — you need to use it. Your cognitive skills operate on a “use it or lose it” paradigm, so it’s important to find ways to engage mentally. It can as simple from reading a book or playing a game to learning a new language — you should explore what piques your interests.
The key is using your mind as much as possible. Spend time on what you love and what interests you — because that will motivate you to keep your brain engaged and active. For example, if you enjoy gardening, take time out of your day — or schedule time on the weekend — to plant flowers or vegetables. You must keep your mind active to protect yourself from cognitive decline.
Monitor Your Mental Health
Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, which surprises a lot of people because they don’t think about the effect it can have on your physical health. If you have been feeling depressed lately, talk to your doctor. They will be able to provide you with the resources to address your mental well-being.
It is essential to take care of yourself and get treatment when you’re experiencing any kind of mental health issue. Mental disorders can have long-term consequences for both your mental and physical health. Here are some ways that can help your mind from entering into depressive moods:
- Talk to someone who cares about you
- Take care of yourself physically and mentally
- Manage the stressors in your daily life
- Get adequate sleep each night
- Practice gratitude
- Be mindful
- Consider meditation
Yes, it can be challenging to find the time to be both physically and mentally active as you age. However, there are many small changes that you can make in your life to support your brain health. It is possible to take actions that will protect your brain, so you can keep your mind active and healthy for as long as possible.
