Natural Ways to Boost Memory
By Sara Butler
Remember that time you blanked on your boss’s name in that big meeting? Or the time you forgot to get your child something they needed for a special day at school? There’s nothing funny about a poor memory -- for you or anyone else in your life! Temporary lapses in memory happen, but you can use your lifestyle and diet to improve your memory. Here are a few tips to help you boost your memory!
Cut Out Excess Sugar
If you eat too much added sugar, then it may be impacting your memory. Diets high in sugar have been shown to lead to reduced brain volume and poor memory. So, cutting back on sugar will improve your memory and your overall health!
Meditate
Daily meditation might have a positive impact on your health -- including your memory. Meditation is soothing and relaxing, helping to reduce stress, improve memory, and even lower your blood pressure. Some studies have even found meditation to increase the gray matter in your brain -- which is the tissue in your brain that houses your neuron cell bodies. As you get older you tend to lose gray matter, which is why cognition and memory tend to decline with age. So, make meditation a daily habit and see how it impacts your health and mind!
A Healthy Weight
It’s important to achieve and maintain a healthy weight for your overall health, but there are advantages to your mind too. Studies have shown obesity to be a significant risk factor for the decline of cognitive processes. Obesity can also lead to inflammation and insulin resistance and both of those things can have a big impact on the health of the brain.
Work to maintain a healthy body weight and it will have a positive impact on nearly every aspect of your health and wellness.
Sleep More
If you don’t get sufficient sleep each night, then you might just have a poor memory. Sleep is an important part of memory consolidation, a process that transforms short-term memories into long-term ones. If you’re sleep deprived, then it can have a negative impact on your memory.
Drink Less
Too much alcohol can also have an impact on your memory. Alcohol has neurotoxic effects on the brain, which means that the parts of the brain essential to memory can be damaged while drinking -- especially if you binge drink. Having a drink or two every once in a while is fine, but you should avoid excessive alcohol use to protect your mind and your overall health.
Try these healthy habits and see if they help your mind be the steel trap it once was!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mansfield, Tex.