Simple ways to keep your brain active as you grow older

Different studies have highlighted that women are more likely to suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's than men. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that you must care for your brain so that the chances of developing these debilitating conditions are reduced. Here are a few ways to keep your brain active as you grow older:

Balanced Nourishment
A nutritious and balanced diet is excellent for your brain. Choosing the ingredients and the produce carefully will not only make you aware of what is healthy, but also keep you happily engaged. Increase the intake of vegetables and salads as it is also good for gynaecological issues. Michael Pollan, the American author and activist says all that he has learned about food and health can be summed up in just seven words: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." A balanced diet full of vegetables, fruits, dry fruits and some amount of meat will keep your body weight normal. A lean diet rich in nutrients helps your brain stay active.

Regular Exercise
The benefits of exercising regularly are many. Physical exercise improves all bodily functions and keeps the brain healthy. Exercise makes a positive difference to the efficiency of the human brain. As you get older, you are likely to be more sedentary. However, it will only lead to health issues. Therefore, it is important to undertake some suitable form of exercise. A morning or evening walk for at least 3-4 days in a week will give a boost to your body and mind. It will maintain healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Exercise also reduces stress which helps your heart and brain to remain healthy and active.

Play Games!
The human brain is happy to indulge in a stimulating activity. The human brain weighs about 2% of the total body weight but it consumes 20% of the body's energy. A mentally-engaging activity is a perfect workout for the brain. It increases neurological plasticity. Solving a crossword puzzle or playing a game of chess stimulates the brain and helps the brain to generate new cells. As you get older, you get more time to spend with your family and friends. It is a great idea to utilise this time to play mentally challenging and enjoyable games with your loved ones. Playing games keeps your memory sharp.

Social Networking
Growing older means getting wiser. Your increasing age need not slow down your brain if you use your experience to network actively. The older, wiser and stronger you can open a new chapter of social networking in your life. Meet like-minded people at your usual hangouts or through the social media platforms. Being socially active helps create a positive state of mind and stimulates the brain like nothing else. Women can enjoy activities like meeting old friends, spending more time with loved ones and forming new friendships. Women often neglect hobbies because of their busy lifestyle. As you grow older, you can pursue your hobbies or get engaged with a public cause through social networking. The new activities will help you stay energetic and as a result, keep your brain active.

Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco
Addiction to alcohol and tobacco is dangerous at any age. Smoking causes one in every five deaths in the United States each year. Getting older necessitates a healthier lifestyle. Alcohol and tobacco affect your body negatively. As you get older, the habit of consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes can lead to serious damage to your health which includes impairment of vital functions of the brain. Excessive drinking and smoking can lead to long-term damage to your wellbeing. It is advisable to stop smoking to keep your brain healthy. Drinking must be kept under check as you get older. A healthy diet and regular exercise will show great results only if you avoid consuming alcohol and tobacco.

Reduce Stress
A stressful life is injurious to your mind and body. Stress takes away mental peace and causes the brain to feel burdened. As you get older, it is important to engage in activities that relax your mind. A meditation retreat or regularly practising yoga can do wonders to your mental health. A healthy mind and a healthy body are interdependent. Therefore, it is important to reduce getting involved in stressful situations. You can learn the simple technique of deep-breathing to calm your mind. Keeping yourself occupied with planning a healthy diet and charting out your exercise routine will considerably reduce stress and keep your brain active.

Sleep Peacefully
Sleep is a remedy for most of our worries. An uninterrupted sleep of 7-8 hours is great to keep your brain happy and active. Sleeping lesser than required can lead to mental fatigue. Irregular sleep-hours can disturb your bodily rhythms. Allow your mind and body to follow the natural clock of day and night. It is vital to get good sleep to keep your brain fresh and memories sharp.
As you get older, you need to take more care of yourself. Your brain will be healthy if you follow a good diet and a stress-free lifestyle. For any woman, advancing age need not lead to a fatigued brain. You can keep your brain active and sharp with a healthy diet, exercise and mentally stimulating activities.

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