You Docs; Feed your brain, not just your body, to fight age-related decline
February 14, 2012
You Docs
Before you find yourself searching to remember anything, like Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, take note. Really, take note! Writing things down is a big memory boost! Brain power can be maintained, even improved, when you hit the prime of life: 45 and older, and we You Docs want you to do so. (How else will you remember what we write in these columns?) All you have to do is pump up your brain power.
Your goal is to make your heart strong and your arteries open, the flexible rivers of nutrient-delivering blood. You’ll slow aging of thought-transmitting neurons. And grow — or regrow — your neurons with activity and some great foods. The result: A brain RealAge that even a Jeopardy! champ like Ken Jennings would envy. So try these:
• Eat brain-fuel foods. To slow age-related mental decline, dig into salmon and walnuts (for the omega-3s), blueberries (phytonutrients), kale (carotenoids and flavonoids), mustard (the turmeric turns on genes that clean up brain-cell poop) and eggs (selenium rolls back the brain’s RealAge).
• Amp up your physical activity. Go for at least 10,000 steps a day, and rev production of your brain cells’ own Miracle Grow, BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). You’ll end up with more brain cells and better neural connections. You’ll also control blood sugar and blood pressure. (Too high, and they beat up your brain!) Dr. Mike’s recommended numbers for BP are 115/75; Dr. Oz stays around 110/75.
So don’t give it another thought just act to better your brain’s power.
GOOD INTENTIONS, GREAT RESULTS
The road to “where” is paved with good intentions?
Not what you’re thinking. Not at all. Good intentions, it turns out, deliver you to the corner of happiness and good health, where there’s a load of pleasure, pain relief and good taste. And the You Docs are going to help guide you there — all it takes is optimism and positive thinking.
The University of Maryland Mind Perception and Morality Lab’s mind-probing studies show that while what you do may be important, it’s why you do it — your intent — that shapes your life and the lives of people around you.
For people on the receiving end of good intentions — even when the intentions go a bit awry — the world is more pleasant. For example, if your foot gets stomped on by someone intentionally, that really hurts. Same stomp, but a big mistake? The pain isn’t as intense.
Or in a test, if you slurp down what you believe is “Grandma’s homemade chicken soup,” it tastes better than “canned” soup — even if “Grandma’s” is from a can and the store-bought soup is actually made with love by your Nana.
How can you use this brain trick to make you healthier and happier?
Turns out if you want to enjoy food more and get the most pleasure out of life, act with good intentions and attribute good intentions to others. That will reduce your stress, and the harm that comes from tension and pessimism.
YouDocs Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen are authors of YOU: Losing Weight. Order it at StarStore.ca. Submit questions and find more info at RealAge.com
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