Keep Your Brain Healthy

Dear Friends,

Our memory plays an important role in the process of our success. We all know the fact well that the memory forms and stays in the brain. Therefore, along with the health of the body, we also must be conscious about the health of our brain. All the things that improve our brain health, have a positive effect on our memory, and thus indirectly improve our overall performance.

Here are a few tips we should regularly follow to generate new brain cells and new neural connections that keep our brain healthy as we age.

• EXERCISE – “When we exercise the body, we exercise the brain.” Brisk exercising for about 30 minutes improves blood flow considerably to the brain.
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• SLEEP – Researches have proven that getting sufficient sleep (at least six to eight hours) is also crucial for keeping the brain healthy.
• DIET – Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the brain. As much as possible, we should try to get vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids naturally through our regular dietary rather than getting them as supplements in the form of tablets and capsules, unless urgently required. A brain boosting diet includes fish, soya bean, walnuts, peanuts, spinach, broccoli, kidney beans, whole grains, green tea, grapes, flax seed oil, etc. Fruits, vegetables and green leafy vegetables are best for healthy brain. We should avoid diets rich in saturated fat like red meat, butter cheese and whole milk. We must shun smoking and avoid heavy drinking.
• NEW THINGS – Try incorporating new and challenging things in your daily routine. Even if it is a small change (for instance using chop-sticks instead of spoon or fork while eating), it counts immensely in the above purpose. We can also try various brain games, chess, Sudoku, crossword, learning a new language, a new sport or a musical instrument, developing a new hobby like photography or anything that interests you like cooking new dishes or reading new books and like. This is a good practice for the formation of new neural pathways in the brain. Sometimes we can use our left hand to perform an action usually we do with our right hand.
• INTERACTION WITH OTHERS – Socializing has many memory boosting benefits. Joining a club, making new relations/friends and interacting with others may work wonderfully for refreshing the brain.
• AVOID STRESS – Stress hormones destroy brain cells and affect memory. Meditation, yoga, prayers, visiting new places, social interaction, exercise, etc., may help us immensely to keep the stress away.
• LAUGHTER – Remember, laughter is the best medicine for the brain. Having fun and spending some time with jovial people is good for the health of your brain.

 --Dr. Kamran Khan