6 Quick Tips to Increase Brain Power

Upgrading your mental performance don't always have to break the bank.Just follow these proven tips and be on your way to Brain 2.0

Have you had times when you wished that you had a better memoryor the ability to think faster? Fret not. Many people experienced a decline inmemory and mental function as we get older. But that doesn’t mean you shouldjust sit there and let your brain waste away. In fact, our brain is highlytrainable and is responsive to trainings as well as commonsense care which manyhave neglected. And here are some proven ways to keep your brain health inprime condition.

1. Eat a HeartyBreakfast

·         You’ve probably heard the famous line: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper“. Indeed, afterfasting for 6 to 8 hours the night before, breakfast is the most important mealin any day. If you want to make sure you’re ready to tackle anything that comesyour way, never skip your breakfast. Studies have also found that eating in themorning may improve short-term memory and attention, provided you don’t gooverboard. A high-calorie breakfast doesn’t just threaten to increase yourwaist line, it can also make concentration more challenging.

2. Feed onBrain Boosting Foods

·                                Popular fare like chocolate, red wine and salmon are yummy brain foods that provide brain-boosting nutrientslike the flavonoids in cocoa, resveratrol in a glass of merlot and DHA, EPA & DPA in oily fish. These brain nutrientshelp to keep the brain functioning in tip-top condition and also contain potentanti-inflammatory or antioxidizing properties that help to protect us fromdeveloping brain diseases and heart diease.

Recent research has discovered that magnesium may also enhance brain power. Young aswell as old rats which were given a magnesium boost in the form of supplementshown an improvement in learning and memory over those which didn’t. If youprefer to increase your magnesium without pills, look to foods like spinach,black beans, cornmeal (1 cup each), pumpkin seeds (1 oz), almonds and cashewnuts (2 oz each).

3. Chew for aBetter Brain

·                                An interesting research conducted in 2002 found thatparticipants who chewed gum had a 35% boost in memory than those who did not.No one knows why, but scientists suspect that chewing elevates heart rate andthus supplies more oxygen and nutrients to our energy-hungry brain. Anothertheory says that the act of chewing on something (pretending you’re chewingdoesn’t count) releases insulin which in turn stimulates the part of the greymatter that controls our memory. Regardless of the reasons, chewing does seemto improve brain performance. So don’t take chewing for granted. Chew mindfullyand slowly for your next meal. Not only will you feel fuller with lesser, yourbrain will also thank you for it.

4. KeepStress Low & Manageable

·                                Chronic stress cancause neurons in certain parts of the brain to shrink, leading to reducedlearning capability and sub-par memory. While short-term stress helps us todeal with emergencies effectively by giving us an adrenaline rush, long-termexposure to stress hormones wears out our gray matter and increases oursusceptibility to neurodegenerative conditions.

5. Learn Something New EachDay

·                                After finishing formal education, most of us would stopactive learning altogether as we concentrate on other more important things inlife, like Sex & the City. But research has found that learning promotes brainhealth, helping to keep brain cells working at their best. And that’s not all.Staying mentally active also helps to slow down age-related memory andcognitive decline. To keep your brain on the edge, you can work on a differentsudoku each day, pick up a foreign word, memorize your grocery list, use yourbrain instead of a calculator, or train your left hand (or right if you’releft-handed) to use a pair of chopsticks. 

6. Take CatNaps

·                                If you want to have a better memory, include siesta in yourdaily schedule. We long know that sleep is crucial for normal memory and mentalfunctions, but a recent study saysthat a power nap in the afternoon is even better, provided you dream. The studyfound that students who took a nap fared better in maze tests than those whostayed awake. But among the nappers, those who dreamed about the maze performed10 times better than nappers, who were dream-less. That’s one useful researcharticle to forward to your boss.