Defy Premature Aging by Keeping Your Mind Young

Copyright (c) 2008 Lynne Hagan

As we age, our bodies go through lots of changes. We begin to get wrinkles and fine lines, it's more difficult to lose weight, we can't sleep, our energy decreases, our muscle strength weakens,......I think you get the picture. What may be even more disturbing than all of these physical changes is a decline in mental sharpness. While some of us may think of this as a sign that we're getting older, we don't have to accept a decrease in mental acumen. There are ways to help our minds stay younger.

Live Healthy, Eat Right, Enjoy Life

Proper Diet

One of the more important things we can do for the body and the mind is to eat right. It's important to eat enough foods that are high in antioxidants. Like any other cell, free radicals can damage the brain cells. Including vegetables and fruits in our diet that are rich in antioxidants render the free radicals harmless. Another benefit of including antioxidant foods in our diet is the production of acetylcholine, a compund that transmits nerve impulses to the brain which aids in brain function.

Sleep

Sleep rebirths our brain, so getting enough of it is necessary for optimum brain function. While we sleep, our brains are busy storing and sorting through information from the day. Lack of sleep makes things disjointed and affects our moods.

Stress

Stress can be a big contributor to a decline in mental acuity. Studies have shown that if we get stressed easily, the risk of cognitive impairment increases. One thing we should do is to make sure that we have a way to handle stress, although sometimes that can be a little difficult. Exercising on a routine basis can be a great stress reliever. Yoga and meditation are another consideration. Yoga is good exercise and meditation can help improve memory and attention span.

Stay Active

As we get older some of us will suffer from a mental decline because we're not as engaged in life as we were when we were younger. Lack of stimulation to the brain increases the chances of not being as sharp as you were when you were younger. Staying active as we get older is critical. Volunteering and getting involved in different things that we enjoy will help keep those gray cells active.

Defy premature aging by keeping your mind young. We can turn back the hands of time by keeping mentally and physically active, eating a healthy diet, and enjoying life.