Being smart enough to read articles – like this one – about how to improve brain function says a lot about how well your brain is already operating. Intelligent people tend to seek out ways to get more mileage out of their noggins, so you’re definitely in the right place.
There are tons of tips online – everything from scientific articles, research studies, and even blogs written by your local college kid – covering the topic of enhancing our cognitive ability. Some of these tips are common sense, and others have been covered extensively – here are some unique methods you might not have come across or considered yet:
1. Eat apples
Quercetin, a chemical found in apples, has been suggested by some research studies to provide significant neuroprotection from free radicals, keeping brain cells healthy. We’ve all heard the saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but thanks to modern science, we’re now beginning to unlock and understand the vast benefits of this delectable fruit. To really benefit from this tip, however, you need to make sure you eat the apple as it is – don’t peel it, as the majority of the quercetin resides in the apple’s skin. Allowing your brain cells to remain active and healthy not only improves brain function, but it can also awaken dormant cells and help develop stronger neuroconnections.
2. Load up on leafy greens
Antioxidants are crucial in the fight against neurodegenerative disease and dementia, and few sources are as rich and abundant with these miracle workers as good-ole-fashioned leafy greens. Benefits can include protection from Alzheimer’s, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and more. You’ll also reap the rewards of a diverse range of powerful vitamins and minerals, allowing your brain to work at its full potential. Next time you’re in the produce section and looking for a nice complement to your main course, add some spinach, kale, and other leafy greens to the basket.
3. Use it or lose it
What should come as no surprise is that your brain, being a muscle, needs to be regularly exercised in order to get stronger. Maintaining boring, redundant routines or failing to adequately challenge your brain will not only hinder improvements in brain function, but might actually send you in the other direction. Your brain needs to be constantly engaged, ideally by maintaining high levels of mental activity throughout the day. Try some puzzles in your spare time, such as the classic and timeless crossword puzzle, or something more high-tech, such as a cognitive skill game on your smartphone.
4. Breathe better air
You’ve likely heard that certain practices, such as breathing-focused meditation or yoga – can have noticeable effects on your overall health as well as your brain function. What you might not have considered is that the air you breathe has to be clean and safe for you to benefit from breathing it in the first place. Breathing clean air is essential to sending healthy blood to the brain.
It’s a good idea to use some type of air purifier to cleanse the air in the space you spend most of your time. Depending on your exposure, you might need a carbon filter to eliminate smoke, or a HEPA filter to combat tiny airborne contaminants and allergens. Start by reading up on air purifiers to see which type will work best for you.
5. Remember your old phone number?
We live in paradoxical times, where we have vast technologies designed to make us better and more efficient, but which have the potential to inadvertently hinder our chances of increasing brain function. Can you recall the days when you used to know phone numbers by heart? How about addresses, directions, recipes, and even television channels? These skills are no longer as important these days, as we have devices to manage all this information for us. The result… lower brain function. Get in the habit of memorizing at least one new thing each day – try a famous quote, historic fact, recipe, phone number, song lyric, or similar. You’ll be amazed at the results after a few weeks.
6. Hide from sugar bandits
Treat those high-fructose sugars like they’re brain cell robbing bandits, out to steal your memory and impair your synaptic activity. Many studies have shown that diets high in sugar over an extended period of time can result in impaired concentration, lack of ability to think clearly, and alter your brain’s ability to remember important facts or acquire new information. Think about this the next time you’re biting into that sugary sweet – it’s not only detrimental to your blood sugar levels and physique, it may also be preventing your brain from functioning properly, with the potential to cause permanent damage over time.
7. Socialize
Strong social ties have not only been associated with a reduced risk of dementia, but may also result in a larger, more productive brain. Social engagements challenge your memory, keeping your brain growing and adapting. This may lead to not only a longer life expectancy, but lower blood pressure, which has been suggested to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Through what’s known as “transactive memory,” you can often be relied upon by others in your social circles to hold unique and important types of information, such as being good with driving directions or complicated recipes. These networks help improve brain function.
