How to Sharpen Your Brain, and Other Health Tips
You were relating a story about one of your favorite books, and sure enough, you cannot remember the author, or the title, or the main character, or all three! Frustrating, but so common. You worry it’s aging, you’ve read that it could be lack of estrogen as you progress through menopause, and both could be the issue. The end of a long day, preoccupation with other things, or even plain old not putting enough effort into those word, time or place associations that help our memory was probably at fault.
Great New Year’s Resolutions are to add in health behaviors that will freshen up your life! 8 hours of sleep, reapplying sun screen, more flossing, check the basement for radon, and disinfecting your cell phone, go for a walk it’s 5 times more likely to improve short term memory as brain games; and yes, these are quick simple health fixes as well as helping your mood which benefits thought processing and clears brain fog.
Literally there are hundreds of things you can do, but here is a list of simple things that women can do to enhance their everyday health:
When did you last sterilize your nail tools, or vacuum your mattress, beat your down comforter, or switch the baking soda box in your fridge? Health is not just avoiding too many sweets and fats, increase exercise, drink more water, and take vitamins as simple home remedies, there are other everyday tasks that make us healthier and smarter.. But many women are missing opportunities to do simple things that can increase their overall and their brain health as well.
1. Do not use aerosol sprays or if you use, use in open spaces, this includes not spraying kids with sun screens, it’s not a good idea, you can get particles in your lungs and we already have a lot of lung disease having been exposed to air pollutants over time in our cities.
2. Change your pillow at least every 1-2 years (accumulates germs), for more on sleep go to sleep organization
3. Own masks and gloves so that you can use around chemicals, or offer to ill friends who might insist on coughing non stop when visiting
4. Do not keep medications past expiration dates
, but don’t worry too much about ‘green’ cleaning, most of it is not exactly necessary
6. Keep pets well washed and groomed
7. Check house plants as hidden sources for mold and if you find mold treat accordingly which probably means new healthy soil
8. Mix your own: what ever you can salad dressings, veg dips, anything you have has preservatives that are good to avoid
9. Read cooking books and think about new and varied diets, each food has it’s own mix of nutrients and basically there are no end to suggestions on this topic!
10. More sex, it makes our endorphins high!
11. Work out! High levels of lean muscles both reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and are associated with better scores on cognitive tasks in those without any abnormalities in thought processing.
Things that don’t work: avoiding chocolate for prevention of acne, not verified in health studies!
11. Stretch after exercise to avoid DOMS (Delayed onset muscle soreness)
12. Nibble chocolate, dark is healthiest for your heart, but white chocolate does have about 50% of the coco and can be a delicious treat if eaten in moderation!
13. Change your diet, the two we suggest are the Mediterranean Diet or the MIND diet.
For some menopausal women, however, there are other medical issues.
It turns out that if you think you are on your game, then you are. The research from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study showed that 60% of women in the menopausal transition report decreased memory function over the past few years, including forgetfulness. The Decision at Menopause study was also relied upon for some of their findings. Yet their studies also revealed an effect on perception of your function as it actually correlates to your memory function. Positive attitude again comes through as an important indicator of success. Of course it’s easier to have a positive attitude if your gyno confirms that is warranted, so don’t skip the yearly visits, she has things to say to your about how to keep sharp and keeping positive!
