Brain health is important to monitor especially as we age. In life, we may put things in our body that is detrimental to brain health and overall health in general.
To live a healthy lifestyle is essential as there are ways to naturally combat Dementia and Alzheimers before reaching our golden years. By exercising and consuming certain things with nutritional value, you will have everything necessary to improve your memory. So with that said, this article has been set up to provide details on specific exercises, food, and supplements for brain functioning.
Exercising
When it comes to exercising, yoga is the best form of exercise for improving our hearts with its emphasis on breathing steadily while holding yourself in strenuous positions. While Yoga promotes flexibility, it also reduces stress and anxiety which can take a toll on brain health.
Chronic stress can have a shrinking effect on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. While stress can shrink the prefrontal cortex, it can expand the size of the amygdala, which can make the brain more receptive to stress. Chronic stress can also lead to long-term anxiety and worsening symptoms, as well as other health problems.
Yoga is a science that harnesses the innate capability of the body to improve its powers and functioning. It can act as an instant cognitive boost to help relieve stress by enhancing how the brain functions. Also, breathing through the left nostril activates the right brain and vice versa.
Superbrain yoga is a form of yoga that has caught on among professionals and educators. For more information on super brain yoga, check out the video below for details.
5 Yoga Poses for Improving Brain Health
- Paschtimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
Benefits: This pose helps relieve mild depression and stress while also giving your shoulders a good stretch and activating your kidneys. Being that this is a seated forward fold, performing this would stimulate the spine and calm the mind to reduce headache and fatigue. This can also cure insomnia and high blood pressure. For details on performing this exercise you can check out the video below.
2. Bhramari Pranayama ( Humming Bee Breathing)
Benefits:- Bhramari Pranayama improves the ability to sleep as it calms the mind and is less strenuous than other forms of yoga poses. If you’re anxious or angry then this breathing exercise can help you release the negative emotions you may be experiencing. This simple technique with miraculous benefits can be practiced anywhere to relieve stress. For details on how to perform this pose, you can check out the video below.
3. Halasana( Plow Pose)
Benefits- Plow Pose reduces backache and also helps you fall asleep. To not be redundant, all of these poses help calm the brain and reduce stress so the following summaries below will detail how it benefits you in ways besides improving brain functioning. Below is a video on how to perform the Halsana pose.
4. Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
Benefits- While the headstand is good for reversing the effects of gravity on the body and rejuvenating the supply of blood to the brain cells, shoulder stands are a much easier pose leading up to it. The shoulder stand helps stretch your neck and shoulders while toning your legs, buttocks, and core. For details on how to perform this pose you can check out the video below.
5. Setu Bandhasana( Bridge Pose)
Benefits- As you perform the Bridge Pose, you will become more alert in both body and mind. This rejuvenating backbend will open your chest up and keep your spine flexible. For details on how to perform this pose you can check out the video below.
To stay up to date with Yoga poses and how to perform them, Click Here to Subscribe to the Yoga Channel.
What to Consume for Improving Brain Health
1. Pomegranate Juice- They say one glass of red wine a day can keep the doctors away, but pomegranate juice has all the components of what makes a moderate glass of wine healthy and more. For more information on how pomegranate improves brain functioning, click on the link for more information.
2. Fatty Fish- Salmon, Trout, and Sardines are all rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 deficiency is linked to learning impairments, as well as depression.
3.. Turmeric- Curcumin is an active ingredient in turmeric and studies show that it can directly enter the brain and benefit the cells there. Curcumin produces a growth hormone that helps the brain cells expand and may delay declining cognitive functioning as you age.
4. Broccoli- Broccoli is a healthy vegetable that is packed with plenty of antioxidants for maintaining overall good health. This veggie is high in Vitamin K and regular consumption can lead to better memory.
5. Dark Chocolate- Dark chocolate and cocoa powder provide a few brain-boosting compounds, including flavonoids, caffeine, and antioxidants. The flavonoids in chocolate gather in the areas of the brain that are important for learning and memory. Research shows that these compounds may improve memory and also help slow down age-related mental decline.
Supplements
Ginkgo Biloba is a supplement I once took for improving brain health. Studies show that ginkgo enhances cognitive function because it helps blood circulate to the brain and helps protect other parts of the brain from neuronal damage. For more information regarding Ginkgo Biloba and it’s health benefits, click here.
As far as supplements are concerned, there are plenty of products on the market that try to convince consumers that their product is good for memory loss and preventing Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Prevagen is a product being advertised as a supplement to provide positive results in regards to brain health. While there are plenty of supplements on the market, it is important to do your research and consult with a doctor before taking supplements for brain functioning.
Hope you enjoyed the article on natural ways to improve your memory and if you have any questions or feedback feel free to leave a comment in the section below.
Also,
Be the first to comment