Healthy Aging and the Brain

There are different ways to achieve healthy aging, and one of these is to keep the brain healthy. The brain is the body's central processing unit. It controls all bodily activities, from the molecular level to the external actions we do. It is essential to keep it in tip-top shape so that healthy aging is possible later.

Healthy Aging By Feeding The Brain Right

A healthy brain is one that is fed with proper nutrition, continuously engaged in healthy mental activities, and is not subject to abuse like too much or constant worrying, unrelenting stress or sleeplessness.

Our diet sustains or destroys our bodies, depending on its quality. The brain is not exempt from malnutrition. It is essential that we eat a healthy, predominantly plant-based diet, in order to keep the brain, and the rest of the body healthy. Fruits, nuts and vegetables have a lot of anti-oxidants that can destroy free-radicals ? those toxic cells known to start tumors and cancer.

Aside from fruits and vegetables, eat also fish as it is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, to protect the brain from aging or degenerating. Eat also foods rich in B vitamins, a certain group of nutrients that are proven to prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease ? two of the most common brain-related ailments of senior people.

Brain cells are the only cells in the body that cannot be replaced. The way the brain works can be re-wired, but any lost or damaged brain cells cannot be regenerated. It is important, to keep the brain in tiptop shape through proper nutrition, if we want to achieve healthy aging.

Healthy Aging By Maintaining Mental Sharpness

Mental sharpness is developed and maintained by continuous healthy mental activities. Learning is a life-long process. It does not end when we finish university or when we retire. Ideally, we should go on learning for as long as we live. This is one way to maintain good health for the brain and to achieve healthy aging.

If we want to achieve healthy aging, we should engage in hobbies like reading, poetry, mind games or the arts, to keep our brains alert and sharp at all times. Mental alertness makes life more productive and healthy aging possible.

Healthy Aging By Treating The Brain Right

Stress, worry and sleeplessness are some of the brain and the body's worst enemies. When we are under stress, the brain goes on an overdrive to direct the whole body to respond appropriately. The flight or fight reflex causes the brain to release stress hormones like adrenaline to spur the whole body to action when confronted by danger. This is a survival mechanism which is not meant to last for more than a few minutes. Adverse consequences to our health, including our brain, follow if we allow ourselves to be stressed over a long period of time.

The same goes with worrying and anger. These are emotions that should be fleeting and few and far between, as they are harmful to our over-all health, especially our mental health.

Sleeplessness deprives the brain and the body of the opportunity to regenerate, renew and refresh. We should allow ourselves ample sleep so that our immune systems can do their work in restoring our health and brain on a daily basis. Then, we are a step nearer to achieving healthy aging.

The price we have to pay for stress, unhealthy emotions and sleeplessness will all be paid in our old age - if we ever reach that stage. If we want to achieve healthy aging, we should avoid these as much as possible.