Paulette Avery
TO YOUR HEATH

Brain Fitness

By

Paulette Avery, RN, MSN, IBCLC

As I began doing research for this column, I soon learned that there is a huge amount of information available on brain fitness.' I also found that working to exercise my brain can be lots of fun, and I had to refocus on my task instead of continuing to play some of the many brain games now available online.' Read on for a summary of the information I found.

Most of us can relate to sometimes forgetting where we put our keys or not remembering the name of someone we just met.' But as we age, these so-called "senior moments" can become frustratingly frequent. ' The brain ages along with the rest of the body and just as we tend to lose muscle cells as we get older, we also lose brain cells.' At some point, enough cells are lost that the brain does not function the way it did when we were younger.' The death of brain cells results from less oxygen and glucose getting to the brain, according to David Wallace, director of the Center for Integrative Neuroscience at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.' Considering that today our lifespan has more than doubled from what it was 200 years ago, keeping our brains healthy is more important than ever.

So what can we do to slow brain deterioration?' Fortunately, a growing body of research provides answers to that question.' Here are five strategies you can use.

Eat well.' The brain needs glucose, unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins.' Fernando Alvaro, a founder of' HYPERLINK "http://www.SharpBrains.com" www.SharpBrains.com says that although the brain is only two percent of our body mass, it requires 20 percent of the nutrients and oxygen we take in.' Load up on the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables and eat less junk food.

Reduce stress.' Stress makes it harder for the brain to function.' Meditation and relaxation techniques help the brain to function at its best. '

Get enough sleep.' Fatigue and sleep deprivation interfere with good brain function, so aim for getting eight hours a night whenever you can. '

Get regular physical exercise.' It helps maintain both the body and the brain in better health. One study reported on Web MD, indicates that men and women over 65 who exercised at least 15-30 minutes at a time three times a week were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Exercise your brain.' Doing so can both decrease mental decline and help generate new brain cells.' Learn new things and travel to new places, even if that simply means driving a different route to the store.' Check out the many brain fitness games available now.' Two good sites I found are' HYPERLINK "http://www.prevention.com" www.prevention.com and' HYPERLINK "http://www.sharpbrains.com" www.sharpbrains.com. '

So go ahead and get busy building a better brain!

Paulette Avery is a registered nurse and a freelance writer specializing in health issues.