Do These “3” Things To Stay Mentally Sharp As You Age #aging #health #healing
- Regular physical activity: Exercise is good for your heart, blood vessels, and brain. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. You can also strength train muscles on two or more non-consecutive days per week.
- Healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet can help protect your brain health. This means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limiting your intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, and saturated and trans fats.
- Mental stimulation: Keeping your mind active can help reduce your risk of dementia. This includes activities like reading, puzzles, games, learning new skills, and taking classes.
- Social engagement: Staying socially connected can also help protect your brain health. Make time for friends and family, and participate in social activities that you enjoy.
- Get enough sleep: Sleep is important for overall health, including brain health. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can damage your brain cells. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature.
- Control blood pressure: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for dementia. If you have high blood pressure, work with your doctor to control it.
- Don’t smoke: Smoking damages your blood vessels and can increase your risk of dementia. If you smoke, quit.
- Limit alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase your risk of dementia. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.
It is important to note that these are general recommendations, and you should talk to your doctor about what is right for you. They can help you create a personalized plan to reduce your risk of dementia.