How to Exercise Your Brain And Keep It Healthy

Hallo....Read for our brain health..hehehehe..

Exercising your brain is as important as exercising the rest of your body.
Your brain improves and grows by interacting with your exterior world. The
brain is capable of adapting throughout your life and even in old age can
grow new neurons. As with the rest of your body it is a case of 'use it or
lose it' with your brain's muscle. Here are some simple ways of improving
your brain power, each and every day.
Step 1 
To prevent cognitive decline, as to prevent physical decline, you must
take part in physical activity. You truly cannot get enough physical
exercise when it comes to keeping both body and mind healthy and alive. As
you go through life, it is important to vary your physical activity. If
you are a walker or runner, vary your route. Learn new street signs, see
new sights, and meet new people. Learning a new activity or gaining a new
skill will benefit your brain. Joining a group activity will mean you will
be meeting new people and forming new relationships. Every new activity
you indulge in forces your brain to adjust and change.

Step 2
Starting a new group activity has a double advantage, you are improving
your brain power with the new activity and the resultant social activity
in a group further benefits your brain. Social exchanges force us to
think, respond to new topics of conversation and formulate new responses.
Discussion is food for the brain. Join a discussion group if you can find
one. Join a book club or any group where you cam hear new opinions and
respond to them. Talk with family. Talk with fellow commuters. Keep your
brain active, absorbing new ideas, and responding to them.

Step 3
Some activities that are especially good for your brain are learning a new
language, reading, games such as scrabble and bingo, and of course,
crossword puzzles and jig-saw puzzles. Sometimes we are uncomfortable
trying to learn new things but this discomfort is natural. It is just your
brain adjusting and learning. so carry on and do not be embarrassed if you
learn more slowly than others. The important thing is that you are
learning, and you are staving off the cognitive decline associated with
Alzheimer's and other conditions related to decreases in our mental
abilities.

Step 4
It is important that we use all our senses, all the time. Look, listen,
see, taste, and smell. These senses send different messages to the brain
and this is how we learn. Try using your senses in different ways. Close
your eyes as you dress a salad or get yourself dressed. You will then
depend on touch and taste, hone these skills and move ideas around in your
brain. Try to notice new things in your environment every day, changes in
the weather, new plants or animals and especially new people. Imagine how
you have learned things in the past, learning to write, tying your shoes,
any skill that you now possess. It has been proven that imagining
exercising can actually improve physical health. So, can imagining in your
mind, improve mental health. Never just sit. Think.

Step 5

Improve your diet. Good diet makes for a healthy body and a healthy body
makes for a healthy brain. Remember the brain foods like anti-oxidants.
Just as important as diet, are rest and sleep. As your body rests, so does
your mind. A good diet, rest, exercise, and stimulation all help the body
maintain itself. They do the same for the mind.

Step 6
As much as possible, eliminate stress from your life. If you have
problems, take action. Search for solutions. If you need help, seek it and
accept it. Keep your body moving and keep your mind moving. Your brain
will thank you.


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ZAHARAH MOHAMAD NOR
Head,
Training and Quality Section
Library, IIUM