Top 5 Healthy Habits to Living Young series fifth and final article – How to Sharpen Your Mind. Read more about my top healthy habits.
The Human Brain
The human brain is only about the size of a medium cauliflower once fully developed yet contains 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses. There is no other organ that can rival the complexity of the brain.
The brain is an integral part of running your body but the mind is subject to degradation over time. Use common sense and my ideas below to successfully flex your mental muscles as you age.
Humor bonds people together and relieve tension. Deep hearty laughter boosts the immune system and produces endorphins which are a natural painkiller. Enjoy a good laugh daily and send more oxygen to your brain.
Learn something new every day like; read personal development books, pick a foreign country to visit and study their language before traveling there, attend college and start MBA program or finish your undergraduate degree and research your passion and start a blog like I did.
Positive Attitude increases happiness and enhances alertness giving you the ability to receive new information. People who are optimistic tend to live longer and have lower risk of premature death.
Sleep loss by just one or two hours on a regular basis can impair the brain function. Key factors that can prevent good sleep include; medications, pain, certain foods, inactivity, caffeine or alcohol. Get some kind of physical activity in each day, avoid snacks after dinner and go to bed at a regular time.
Water consumption aids in the brain function by up to 25%. Too little water can cause anxiety and irritability. Stress can cause the brain to dehydrate slightly so extra water is needed when tired, worried or under pressure.
Tip: Continuing to learn and challenging the brain causes it to grow, literally regardless of age.
Top 5 Healthy Habits
Recap of my Top 5 Healthy Habits to Living Young {Check out Longevity}:
- Hydrate – begin your day with two 8-ounce glasses of water. Continue drinking water before meals and throughout the day until you have consumed half your body weight in ounces.
- Whole Foods – choose live foods; antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables such as berries especially blueberries, apples, carrots, tomatoes plus pecans and beans.
- Supplement – fill in your diet’s nutritional gaps with an antioxidant supplement to maintain healthy organs, immune system protection and cancer prevention.
- Activity/Exercise – use your body or you will lose it! Pick an activity or exercise that you like and will stick with such as; walking, bowling, biking, yoga, golf…
- Mind – challenge your mind and keep learning something new every day! Read, learn a new language, play card games with others, start a blog…
So don’t fall into the trap of only taking action when you are sick – be proactive, develop healthy habits and you will be delighted with the results!
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Cheers to a Healthy Day!
Lou Ann Donovan
I’m a Midwest gal who began on a journey to live a healthier life way back when I was in college. Now just like all of you, the twists and turns of my life have led me to where I am today. Passionate about healthy living, community and social media, I invite you to Live Young with me!
