How to Boost Brain Power

We've all seen stories of people whose minds were active and brilliant into their aged years. These are usually people who have lived a challenging life, and of necessity, had to use their thinking capacity every day to survive. But there are ways to boost brain power and keep the mind working to its maximum ability, no matter what your age or environment. The mind works like a muscle; with exercise it strengthens, without exercise, it grows weak and eventually atrophies. Here are some tips to help you exercise your mind muscle.

Play mind games. Play those games that challenge your thinking such as Scrabble or Boggle. Interactive, competitive word games are especially good, as they keep your mind continually on the move. However, even the daily crossword puzzle is a good exercise, if you use those that are challenging. Give your brain the workout it deserves.

Try new routes. If you are a person who habitually goes to and from work the same way, try something different. Use a map and plot alternating routes to get to the desired location. However, don't make a plan for doing certain routes on certain days. It's better to switch them around unexpectedly from time to time, so the brain cannot go into "sleep" mode while you're on the way to work.

Fuel your brain. A good analogy of this step is: if your car normally burns gasoline, would  you expect it to run on soda pop? Of course not. The same goes for your brain; there are certain foods that burn better and longer in your brain. Learn to eat and enjoy them more frequently. The old adage about fish being brain food is partially accurate; salmon and tuna are two fish that are very good brain fuel. There are others including walnuts, avocados, orange juice, broccoli, blueberries, chocolate (yes, in moderation), and green tea. Incorporating these into your daily foods can be easy and tasty.

Use an internet search engine. Brain boosts are also obtained during internet searching. This is an unexpected bonus in researching your interests on the internet, and can build cognitive strength over time. Using a computer keeps you in touch with world events, which is another form of exercising your brain.

Exercise the body. If you exercise the body, even just walking 30 minutes a day several times a week, the brain will also benefit. Exercise helps to ward off memory loss, keeping your mind sharp.

Wear a helmet. Protect your head from injury when partaking of any physical activity such as bicycling, skiing or riding a motorcycle or ATV. Moderate to severe head injuries have been shown to increase a person's risk of cognitive impairment.

Keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol low. Eating right, keeping your weight down, limiting your alcohol to two drinks daily, and taking steps to reduce the stress in your life will all contribute to keeping these three levels healthier for the function of your brain.

Do all these things, and your brain will benefit from a power boost long into your old age.