(Health Secrets Newsletter) Memory becomes a concern as we grow older. Lapses in memory that didn’t seem important when we were younger start to take on new meaning with the passing years. It becomes common to misplace things like car keys, eyeglasses and cell phones, to draw a blank on a friend’s name, to walk into a room and forget why we went there in the first place. Although we all have these experiences as we age, we tend to worry about what these memory lapses mean. It is important to realize that, contrary to popular belief, memory loss is not a natural process of aging. Our brains are capable of making new brain cells at any given age.
Memory loss becomes serious when it interferes with our daily activities
Examples of this are:
- Not being able to perform daily tasks, such as paying bills, dressing properly, or tending to daily hygiene
- Getting lost in familiar places, such as an immediate neighborhood
- Repeating the same phrases and questions in the same conversation
- Being unable to recall recent events
- Repeatedly misusing or garbling word
- Difficulty in making choices
- Exhibiting socially inappropriate behavior
In these cases, a diagnosis is needed to determine the root of the cause.
Often though, there is a physical reason for memory lapses. For example, there may be a nutritional deficiency, or it could be due to a faulty thyroid or, low levels ofestrogen or testosterone. Excessive alcohol consumption creates brain toxicity and increases the risk of such conditions as Alzheimer’s and dementia. By the same note, smoking can cause vascular disorders that can limit oxygen to the brain.
Keeping cognitive functions in a healthy state entails leading a healthy lifestyle
*Making sure the body has what it needs to remain in a health state includes:
*Regular physical exercise which decreases the risk of memory loss and encourages the production of new brain cells.
*Exercise for the brain that includes activities such as reading, working crossword puzzles, and playing strategic games such as chess or scrabble. These activities will lower the risk of mental decline.
*Proper nutrition that focuses on lots of fruits, vegetables and whole foods containingOmega 3 fatty acids. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables serve to help keep the brain healthy, and Omega 3’s help retain memory.
*Giving the body the rest it needs. Sleep is necessary for all aspects involving cognitive function. Sleep deprivation leads to poor memory, concentration and decision-making.
*Avoiding stress. Stress is a very common cause of memory loss. Stress dramatically increases the ability of toxins to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Also, prolonged stress results in high cortisol levels which results in impaired memory. Efforts should be made to alleviate stress. One effective way is by laughing. As opposed to emotions that affect only specific areas of the brain, laughter affects wider areas. After all, they say laughter is the best medicine!
Supplements that prevent and help to reverse memory loss
- Ginko Biloba has been used by the Chinese for thousand of years to treat memory loss
- Colloidal Gold improves memory, concentration and mental focus
- Acety L Carnatine also improves mental focus, as do amino acids such as L-Typtophan, 5HTP and Tyrosine
- B Complex vitamins help to prevent memory loss
- Inositol helps the brain to process information
- Choline helps in overall brain function
- Fortify your brain your brain with antioxidants which include carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and NAC (N Acetyl Cysteine)
For more information:
http://helpguide.org/life/prevent_memory_loss.htm
http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/stress.html