12 Ways to Keep the Brain Mentally Fit Healthy and Happy

Mental decline as you age isn’t inevitable, there’s plenty you can do to keep mentally fit throughout your life. Here are 12 steps happy healthy brain!

1. Drink more water! We’ve heard it all before but remember, your brain is 80% water. Scientists suggest we should all drink the fluid oz / litre equivalent to half our body weight in water every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds you should drink 75oz or just over 2 litres of water each day

2. Get enough sleep – at least 7-8 hours per night, and remember that quality is better than quantity. Fragmented sleep as opposed to restorative sleep can cause a lowered metabolism and increased levels of the hormone cortisol.

3. Move! And I don’t mean move house (although studies have shown that a change in environment can stimulate the brain!) Participating in sports, especially ones that require complex movements like aerobics and those that require co-ordination like table tennis can also improve your brain function. Studies show that exercise will help prevent Alzheimer’s and boost your energy, mood, metabolism, and the ability to create new brain cells.

4. Protect your brain . Head injuries are common in sports such as cycling, cricket, basketball, skateboarding and of course extreme sport of any kind. Sadly, many sports head injuries lead to permanent brain damage or worse. So protection is key.

5. Practice GRATITUDE. Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude tend to be happier and less depressed. They showed greater neural sensitivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, the brain area associated with learning and decision making.

6. Break-Fast. Eat a healthy breakfast and keep your blood sugar balanced. Eating a healthy breakfast can jump start your brain and help boost your productivity and focus throughout the day.

7. Maintain a healthy weight. Studies show that as your weight goes up, the size and function of your brain goes

down.

8. Eliminate toxins. Eliminating toxins from the body improves brain function. So avoid processed foods. Reduce alcohol. Stop smoking. Eat more antioxidant and super-nutrient food to protect your brain from free radicals.

9. Keep learning. Your brain is like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Learn a new language, play chess, challenge yourself mentally… and keep it up!

10. Brain Train. Practice stress/anxiety management techniques, such as meditation and self-hypnosis. There are plenty of online brain games designed to boost emotional control and stress resilience.

11. Remember not to forget! Look after your brain! Learn more about the health of your brain and strive to improve it.