cognition

Health Tip for Today ~ Up Your Brain Power

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While most of us know that what we eat affects our bodies, eating a healthy diet also affects our brain. The foods that you eat regularly can help keep your brain healthy and may also improve memory and concentration. While there is no magic pill – or food – that prevents cognitive decline, a healthy dietary pattern which includes lots of plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, and healthy proteins and fats like fatty fish and olive oil can help support brain health. And many of these same foods are also good for the heart. Add the following foods to your plate to promote brain health:

The brain-boosting foods can help ward off dementia and improve your brain health.

  • Fatty fish.
  • Blueberries.
  • Leafy greens.
  • Nuts and seeds.
  • Eggs.
  • Broccoli.
  • Coffee and tea.

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Health Tip of the Day ~ Exercise Enhances Brain Cognition

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Exercise to Think Better

Part of the reason exercise enhances cognition has to do with blood flow. Research shows that when we exercise, blood pressure and blood flow increase everywhere in the body, including the brain. More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better.

Another explanation for why working up a sweat enhances our mental capacity is that the hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for learning and memory, is highly active during exercise. When the neurons in this structure rev up, research shows that our cognitive function improves. For instance, studies in mice have revealed that running enhances spatial learning. Other recent work indicates that aerobic exercise can actually reverse hippocampal shrinkage, which occurs naturally with age, and consequently boost memory in older adults. Yet another study found that students who exercise perform better on tests than their less athletic peers.

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