Post by Baking_Bud on Jan 20, 2003 12:54:14 GMT -6
There are some simple exercises that doctors say will help boost your memory. So put aside that gingko and ginseng for just a little bit, and give these home remedies for building brain power a try.
Exercise your brain regularly. Do word puzzles, crosswords, riddles, and brain teasers. Keeping the mind active helps you always be ready to keep more facts in it. Also, writing down mundane things, like shopping lists, will help free up attention and focus for other, more
important facts.
Do routine tasks in non-routine ways. Doctors have recommended examples like showering with your eyes closed (I say NO thanks to this one, as I saw the movie Psycho! Tooks me months to even shower, preferring the bathtub which gave me a full view of anything coming!), eating with your opposite hand, having dessert before dinner (I LIKE this one!), taking a different path to work, or walking stairs backwards. (Be careful with doing this! Make sure your muscles are warmed up first, and that you 'carefully' step up backwards, while holding onto the railing! NO falls or pulled muscles are your goals!) Each twist on a normal routine helps your brain approach it in a new way, thus helping keep it on task and challenged.
Two other things that studies have shown help boost memory in the long term are regular exercise and stress reduction. Exercise increases the heart rate, which helps increase the brain transmissions and activity. Stress reduction helps your brain focus more on tasks and
items rather than your physical condition.
NOTE: MUCH is being written about the lack of B6 and B-12 in some older adults and their poor mental functions. Make sure that you take a good supplement containing these! And to the men on here, avoid those that contain IRON.