The “use it or lose it� theory applies to your brain in the same way it does to any other organ.
Eat right for your brain. Your brain requires healthy fats to function properly and efficiently. The body can’t produce these essential fats so your brain needs to get them from food sources.
Good sources of healthy fats include salmon, nuts, avocados and seeds such as flaxseed.
Work your body to work your brain. Improve your mental agility with a good workout.
Increased oxygen levels will help to make you feel more alert, while your feelgood hormones, serotonin and dopamine, will get a lift too.
Play brain games. Puzzles like Sudoku go a long way to improving your mental performance. Spending as little as 15 minutes a day on challenging and teasing your brain can seriously improve your mental fitness.
Master meditation. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that meditation not only boosted immune system function, it also increased activity in the frontal part of the brain too. Try a class or treat yourself to a CD to get yourself started.
Learn a new skill. Learning something new not only helps you to unwind, it also gives you a mental workout. Whether you’re helping the kids with their homework or assembling an Ikea wardrobe, your brain will benefit from the stimulus.
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