Remember when you were still young and mother would tell you to eat your vegetables, go to bed early, and do all those sort of stuffs which you dislike? It turns out that your mom (although she might be unaware of it) is giving you some ideal advice for a sharper memory. Let us recall some of them.
Mother used to say fruits and vegetables are good for you. Undeniably, they are. Studies reveal that blueberries in particular, aid to improve memory aside from giving health benefits to the body. Another berry, which is strawberry, is also good in memory retention. On the vegetable side, spinach and broccoli are foods for the brain. These fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that protect the body and brain against stress.
I bet you’ve heard of the same old “early to bed, early to rise makes a person happy, healthy, and wise.” What mom used to impress on you is indeed a good advice, particularly the portion about “wise.” When you’re asleep, the brain sorts information obtained during the day so that this information is stored for future use.
Quit smoking and cut down on caffeine. Researchers found that consuming a pack or more cigarettes a day can result to impaired visual and verbal memory, and this will further result to the brain’s poor ability to process information. As for caffeine (coffee and colas), it will make you feel agitated and irritated. This is contrary to a brain that performs at its best when relaxed.
Fish is food for the brain. Fish contains the polyunsaturated fatty acid DHA, which is the main contributor to efficient development of the nervous system and the brain. That is why some milk products for young children are supplemented with DHA. One of the best sources of DHA is cod liver oil. Oh, how you hated it when you were still kids, but actually it’s good for you. Aside from fish, other products that are memory enhancers due to the presence of choline are soybeans, eggs, and liver. Still another substance that is present in fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, and sardines is the amazing omega-3 fatty acid. It promotes good mood, aside from being a good memory developer. It also increases the learning capability because it enhances the capacity, speed, and efficiency of the brain. Researchers are still checking the benefits that omega-3 can give to patients with alzheimer’s disease and stress related disorders. If you can’t get enough of these fish products, taking supplements (about 600 mg) will suffice.
“Did you take your vitamins?” mom used to tell you this every morning. That’s because they are good for you, especially vitamins C, B12, and beta-carotene. Not only are they good antioxidants, they are good memory enhancers as well.
Get off that sofa. Get out and get some exercise. Seems like a complete drag but exercise, like it or not, is good in sharpening memory. It’s like jogging your mind to wake it up. Studies reveal that strenuous physical exercise gets the brain cells up and running, thus improving memory and creativity. Just half an hour of jogging can deliver astounding results to your body and mind.
Remember that you’re always better off with a sharp memory.