Swanson Health Products - Daily Tips

Play Games to Keep Your Mind Sharp

There is a growing interest in what impact video games (and other games, too) have on your mental health. Most people think playing video games just makes a person fat and lazy. Well, like most stereotypes, that may not be true. Researchers are investigating whether games that involve strategy, problem-solving and other mental stimulation may actually help slow the natural progression of cognitive decline as one ages. Memory loss is a natural part of the aging process, but scientists are hoping that keeping the mind stimulated will help keep those brain cells young and vibrant. So if you’re worried you’re losing your mind, pick up a game and challenge yourself.

 

Stimulating Memory with Music

Music has been found to enhance and stimulate memory. That should come as no surprise since when we hear a familiar song it may well trigger a recollection from the past…another time. However, it’s not just reverie and nostalgia at work here. An actual memory connection has been found in the medial pre-frontal cortex of the brain that can actually track chord and key changes. Perhaps this is why a popular recommendation for keeping the brain active and the memory intact is to take up a musical instrument, or resume playing an instrument from one’s youth.

 

Cognition is richly enhanced by the intricacies of music whether playing or merely listening to it. As author Oliver Sacks points out in his book Musicophilia, “The aim of music therapy in people with dementia…seeks to address the emotions, cognitive powers, thoughts and memories of the surviving “self” of the patient, to stimulate these and bring them to the fore. It aims to enrich and enlarge existence, to give freedom, stability, organization and focus.” While that is profound, the average person just wanting to keep mentally sharp could listen regularly to music, be it classical or country—and maybe dig out that piano book from the 4^th grade as a special memory challenge.

Brain Food

Eat with brain nutrition in mind—foods that reduce Age-Related-Cognitive-Decline, dementia, Alzheimer’s and stroke. Wild salmon is an especially brainy food. It’s a great source for Essential Fatty Acids—the Omega 3s in particular—while being low in saturated fat. It’s very high in protein too, good for mood and good for synaptic connections. The salmon must be fresh-caught though, not farm-raised. Another brain food rich in Omega 3s is the popular Acai Berry, which is also richer in antioxidants than either blueberries or blackberries!

 

In terms of vitamin content and brain health, a deficiency in B12 can lead to poor memory. In fact, it has been reported that many people who have been put in nursing homes for memory problems turned out to be deficient in B12. Foods rich in this vitamin include meat, fish, poultry and eggs, in addition to dairy products like milk and cheese. Yet another source of brain food is nuts and seeds, which are rich in vitamin E. Studies indicate that people who get enough vitamin E are as much as 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

 

Staying Mentally Fit During the Mature Years

Consider the brain nutrient: Phosphatidylserine, also known simply as PS, which is biochemically know as a phospholipids. In plain terms, it is a vital lipid that works in the nerve cells known for boosting memory. It is well documented in Dr. Parris Kidd’s book: “PS: Nature’s Brain Booster.” Studies indicate that it may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Research indicates that PS can not only improve memory, but learning as well, and it is also known to improve mood and ease anxiety.

 

Add to that some “smart herbs.” There is an herb called Vinpocetine that comes from the leaves of the periwinkle plant that has a reputation as being a “brain rejuvenator.” Research shows that it improves memory retention and the power of concentration. And then there’s Ginkgo Biloba, an herb used in China for over five thousand years as a memory enhancer. Rich in antioxidants, Ginkgo appears to increase dopamine, which in turn increases mental alertness and memory retention.

 

Iron Supports Cognitive Function

Sometimes we question our own thoughts and judgment. Well, here’s something to think about…iron levels in your blood may help or hinder cognitive function. Women with sufficient levels of iron in their blood experienced significant support for healthy cognitive function, according to a study undertaken at Pennsylvania State University. Researchers noted that maintaining healthy iron levels is very important for women of reproductive age and designed their study “to examine the relation between iron status and cognitive abilities in young women.” A study was conducted in women aged 18-35 of varied iron status who were randomly assigned to receive iron supplements or a placebo. Cognition was assessed by using eight cognitive performance tasks (from Detterman’s Cognitive Abilities Test) at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment. Researchers found that iron-sufficient women performed cognitive tasks better and completed them faster. Reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study concluded: “Iron status is a significant factor in cognitive performance in women of reproductive age.”

 

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 85(3):778-787, 2007

If You’ve Lost Your Focus, Go Play

Back when you were young, what did your mother make you do when you got a little rambunctious in the house? She made you go outside and play, right? Well that little spark of wisdom may be far brighter than you might think. Not only is going outside to play a whole lot of fun, it can help you clear your mind and refresh your thinking. If you’re stuck on a project at work, staring at a blank screen or just can’t seem to figure out a solution to a problem that has been nagging you for some time, take a break, get up and go outside for a walk. This little bit of exercise refreshes your whole body and gets the blood pumping again (to your brain especially). Don’t fight the child instincts in you that are leading you to get up and get out. Instead, follow these instincts and come back to work more focused and tackle your project with a fresh set of eyes.

 

Memory Loss – How to Fight It!

We’ve all heard the old adage, “My mind isn’t what it used to be.”  Though that may be true, it doesn’t mean we have to sit around and accept it!  There are many natural supplements out there these days that can help you keep your mind fresh.  Try refreshing your mind with these useful natural supplements: ginkgo Biloba, omega-3 oils, phosphatidylserine, and more.

Although these supplements may not return our minds to the quick wit we once had, they sure can help us to maintain, and in some cases slightly improve our focus on what’s important today.

You're Never Too Young to Start Supplementing Your Diet

If you're walking around with brittle bones at the age of thirty or forty, you may as well forget trying to look young. Say bye-bye to those high heels and forget taking up any cool new sports like snowboarding or jet skiing. You might break your hip doing those things! Do you really want to live like that? If your answer is no (and it should be!), it's time to start thinking of your health.

Unfortunately, it's human nature to wait for the last bell to sound before we finally decide to take our health into our own hands. Take responsibility now by supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals like calcium and magnesium. Multi-vitamins and essential omega-3 oils (available in krill oil) are the kinds of things that pretty much anybody can use.

Natural health is a lifelong process, not something you try to bandage up with quick fixes after it's too late. By taking things that like krill oil and ginkgo biloba now, you just might help keep Alzheimer's, arthritis, and possibly depression at bay later on in life. There's no guarantee that you'll never be touched by disease or illness, but by taking responsibility for your natural health now instead of later, you'll be in much better shape in years to come.

Taking Care of the Eldery with Natural Health Supplements

If you’re currently caring for an elderly parent who is showing signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, consider discussing the possibility with his or her health care provider of supplementing their diet with ginkgo biloba, green tea, vinpocetine and other antioxidant or memory-supporting supplements. This can be a bit tricky because some health care professionals are not open to "alternative" or holistic medicine. The good news: research from reputable sources continues to reveal the health benefits of key nutrients (often available in supplement form) for age-related health issues. Plus, most health care providers at least recognize the benefit of taking a multi-vitamins and essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3’s from krill oil.

Certain dietary supplements, combined with a low fat diet, regular exercise and a diet high in antioxidants, may prevent or delay the onset of these conditions. So, if you’re caring for an elderly parent, friend, or relative, the sooner you talk to the doctor about natural health supplements the better. Supplements like ginkgo biloba and krill oil shouldn’t be used as last minute treatment plans. Instead, they should be used as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

Natural Health Supplements that Treat the Whole Body

Sometimes we forget that our minds and bodies work together, and it’s that harmony that contributes to overall health and wellness. Your brain doesn’t work independently of everything else in your body. It’s the central headquarters for everything that goes on in your body. That’s why it’s so important to take care of the whole body, not just one symptom of a single condition.

The beauty of taking dietary supplements is that they tend to provide a whole spectrum of benefits to the body, not just one specific thing. For example, you might be having a little trouble with fatigue and memory so you start taking ginkgo biloba supplements. Suddenly, you might start feeling more energetic and wake up one morning realizing that your knees aren’t hurting so badly, or that old tennis injury isn’t acting up as much. That’s because vitamins and supplements like ginkgo biloba work holistically within your body, sometimes producing added benefits like reduced joint pain.

Of course, all supplements work differently in the body. Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications could affect the way certain supplements like ginkgo biloba work within the body. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to talk to your holistic healthcare provider to learn about any interactions. Just don’t be surprised if you start feeling benefits beyond what you originally intended to treat.