How many times have you gone into a room to get something and then stood there wondering what it was you wanted? Have you ever totally spaced on your co-worker’s wife’s name? Do you engage in an endless hunt for your cell phone?
A bit of forgetfulness is totally normal. And you probably assume you have years until old age and memory loss hit. However, you’ll be surprised to learn you are already in the midst of forgetfulness; memory loss can begin as early as your 20s! Unfortunately, it will only get worse as you age.
Luckily, there are several easy ways to prevent memory loss and increase brain function. Better yet, we’ll give you tips on how to spread these activities throughout the day – keeping your brain sharp from sunrise to sunset.
Eat Whole Grains for Breakfast
Cutting out carbohydrates is bad for your memory. A recent study concluded that participants who cut carbs from their diet entirely performed worse on memory-based tests than those who consumed a healthy amount of the nutrient. The body converts carbohydrates into glucose; the brain needs plenty of glucose to function properly.
When planning your breakfast, choose whole or complex carbs. These take longer to digest, meaning your brain will receive a constant stream of glucose.
Exercise Before Heading to Work or School
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. With the extra blood comes much needed oxygen and glucose. Another recent study showed that participants were able to memorize vocabulary words 20% faster after engaging in an intense workout.
For an even bigger brain boost, try dance, kickboxing or any other activity that requires you to remember a routine.
Switch the Font
Do you have a go-to font you use for your email correspondences and other document writing? Try using a different font. Look for one that is slightly more difficult to decipher. You’ll make your brain work a little harder, improve long-term memory retention and increase your memory recall.
Do Online Research
What do you do during your lunch break? Engage in mindless chatter with classmates or colleagues? Instead, use that time to boost your brain power.
Studies show an hour of online research each day can stimulate the brain, increasing short-term memory. Surfing the internet forces your brain to use decision making, visual/spatial, and verbal skills. However, don’t just mindlessly browse the net (ahem…Facebook); instead, have a purpose for your search.
Drink in Moderation
It is a well proven fact that excessive alcohol consumption can increase memory loss. However, moderate alcohol consumption may increase memory retention. A recent study showed that people who drink seven or less alcoholic beverages per week have a lower chance of memory impairment compared to those who didn’t drink at all or drank in excess. Some researchers point to alcohol’s anti-inflammatory element. Sip on a glass of wine at dinner and you’ll improve your memory.
Floss Your Teeth
If you don’t floss, your gums will become inflamed. This makes is possible for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation, which could affect your brain. For best results, floss twice a day. At the minimum, floss before going to bed; otherwise, this undisturbed bacteria will have at least eight hours to inflict as much cognitive mayhem as possible.
There you have it – memory boosting tips to fill your day. From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep, there are plenty of ways to enhance your memory and improve cognitive skills. Maybe now you can remember where you left your cell phone!
Guest author Galen Adams has a vitamin B12 deficiency. He recently learned this deficiency is correlated to Alzheimer’s disease. Now, in addition to using his vitamin B12 injections from Trim Nutrition, Galen also does everything he can to improve his cognitive function.
Citations:
Robin Kanarek, PhD, Tufts University psychology professor
Sandra Aamodt, PhD, co-author of Welcome to Your Brain
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, journal
Cognition, journal
Gary Small, MD, University of California, LA
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jonathan B. Levine, DMD, New York University associate professor
