Clever Brain

There’s an old myth that has been going around for ages that says humans only use 10% of their brains. While the scientific community has been trying to dispel the said myth through countless research and the releasing of their findings, this statement still finds its way to make people believe it is so.

While it is true that all of the parts of the brain may not be functioning all at once at any given time, within a 24 hour period, many of the areas do work (much more than the said 10%) and are active though we may be conscious of it or not. Examples of these are when we are asleep or when we are bombarded with information through the different media channels. We may not be aware of what’s going on within our gray matters but as long as there are no neurological problems present, the brain cells or neurons (cells that transmit electrical or chemical impulses to and from other cells in the body) within them would be definitely working.

There are several tips on how to increase one’s brain power. These could include doing or not doing, physical or mental activities, depending on the activity and their effects; being aware of the beneficial and not so beneficial foods; or even taking food supplements.

Although there are many to mention, below are just some of the best known ways on how to increase brain power:

1. Take care of your physical body.

Much as you might not really be into it and would rather procrastinate on it, exercise is a good way to keep your body and brain healthy. It has been shown that doing regular exercises help in the formation of new brain cells and reinforce the connections between them. Another thing is that while you exercise, there is an increase of oxygen flow to the brain and there are findings that with the increase in oxygen, there is also an improvement in mental sharpness.

One other point comes up when brain power is discussed. It is said that since our earthly bodies deteriorate while we age and because of the aging, loss of brain function is inevitable due to the wearing out of the neurons. However, this is not so. And exercise is such an example. To see if exercise really does help maintain and improve mental ability even in the advanced years, research was done on the elderly populations which included those who were active and inactive. Results showed that those who led active lifestyles demonstrated better mental skills. According to research, exercise is also said to be one of the best ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Learn, learn, learn.

It is shown that as we learn new things and challenge ourselves, the brain grows as well. There are so many things to learn as there are different hobbies or interests one is into.

If you are into music and have always wanted to play an instrument but just didn’t have the time to do so before and you do now, this could be a good opportunity to pick up a guitar and strum, pluck or try a wicked riff (in due time) or play the piano to your heart’s content. Trying to study a new language also helps prevent the aging of the mind.

While we think that learning ends after we graduate from high school, college or any learning institution, life in itself is a long process of learning. And as we continue to do so, whether it’s even just to learn to cook a new dish, the brain gets much advantage from it

3. Be careful of what you eat.

Have you ever noticed that there are times when, after a meal, you either feel lethargic, have a difficult time to focus or your mental alertness doesn’t seem to be there? This is because the food that we eat does affect our brain function, concentration and thinking. It has been shown that fatty foods have a negative effect on the level of mental alertness and function.

So what are some of the foods that could be deemed brain-friendly? Brain healthy foods include walnuts, fruits like blueberries, apples and oranges, oatmeal and bran and milk among many others. Water is also a good way of helping your brain as drinking enough of it will prevent dehydration that raises stress hormones which in turn can cause damage to your brain.

What to be considered brain healthy to eat are those foods with a low glycemic index. Glycemic index or GI is the rate at which carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels and the higher the GI, the greater the chance of getting the sugar rush and the crash that goes with it.

You can also try food supplements to help increase brain power. As there are those that aid in lowering cholesterol or control diabetes, there are also those, so-called nootropics, that aid in boosting the power of your brain. An example of this is gingko biloba which not only act as an anti-oxidant but also improves circulation of blood through the brain.

4. Manage your stress and mind your thoughts.

Stress can have not only a bad but even leave a damaging effect on your brain. Studies show that a long episode of stress can result in impaired memory and brain cell communication.

Since stress is part of our lives and we can never really avoid them, it’s best to learn how to manage them by changing how we perceive and address them or having a break from them by relaxation or trying to do things that you enjoy.

As mentioned, these are just some of the ways in helping boost your brain power. By trying to practice and apply these, perhaps you might be able to see improvements sooner than you think. Anyone wants to try an IQ test?

It seems as if everyone is searching for ways to improve their memory and make them more focused. There are currently thousands of mind activities, games and exercises that will allow you to work on your memory building skills, thus resulting in the ability to hold memories longer. Many of these training exercises require a specific game. Even Nintendo has gotten into the memory improvement business with the games available for the GameBoy DS. These games and puzzles allow you to work on your memory skills, while providing enjoyment so that you do not actually consider it a task to build your memory.

Brain supplements are also available claiming to have the ability of improving your memory. Taking specific vitamins and nutrients could aid you in your quest to have a more youthful memory. Many supplements however, boast what they cannot deliver. So, how to improve your memory and boost your brain’s powers?

You can start by researching the different games, puzzles and training exercises that are designed for just this task. By spending a few hours each week engaging in these exercises you may see a significant improvement over the course of just a few months.

Remember that old game Concentration? This is a memory improving game, as you are forced to remember where the cards are placed so that you can match them with their counterparts. Children have been playing this game in schools for decades. The game was designed to improve memory in children at the grade school level. Many older children and even adults find the game compelling and use it to help their memory upgrades to be more fun and less of a boring task.

Other games and puzzles are also available that will provide you with memory improvement while giving you a fun and adventurous way to improve memory skills. Whether you are normally a game player or would rather read or maybe listen to mind power tapes, you can find just the right training exercise to help you with this quest.

Certain chemicals and/or minerals can also help you to improve memory, while also aiding in other aspects of your total health.

Dimethylamineothanol (DMAE), Citicoline, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Gotu Kola and Fo-ti are but a few of the natural chemicals produced by your body and natural herbs that have been proven to be very effective in memory improvement. These new “Brain Foods” have shown significant improvements in areas of the brain and memory including the reduction and reversal of age-related memory loss and supporting the fight against diseases that focus on the brain’s full functionality.

So, while there are many games, puzzles and training exercises that work to improve your memory and build memory skills, there are also brain supplements that are available that can help you to significantly improve the results of your memory building training. Taking just a few hours each week to work on improving your memory skills can help you to retain and recall information much easier and faster after just a few months. If you are already experiencing memory loss, these steps can help you to retrain your brain to get back those memories that you have been missing. For those who are still on the younger side of the scale, beginning exercises and training to improve memory now, will virtually guarantee that as you get older you will retain your sharp memory and focus.

Whether you want to improve your memory for studying or you are simply getting to the age that memory loss is inevitable, you can use these exercises as well as these supplements to support the help in improving your memory and give yourself a longer and healthier lifespan.