With the Baby Boomers approaching their 60s, more studies are being done on aging and do avoid the onset of diseases and conditions that often come with growing older. Findings show that there are many things people can do both physically and mentally which will slow the aging process and help people stay healthy and happy well into their retirement years.
Instructions
1. Walk as little as 30 minutes, three times a week and you will enhance your physical and mental health. Walking has be shown to help lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, maintain good blood sugars as well as fight depression and stimulate the creation of new brain cells. (Reference below)
2. Do crossword and sudoku puzzles daily. This brain stimulation helps with short term memory and information recall. Keeping the brain young is just as vital as helping your heart, lungs, and other vital organs functioning fully.
3. Learn something new every week. Whether it be learning a new language, a new computer program, or some new dance steps, challenging your brain to learn something new encourages the production of new brain cells and discourages the formation of plaque which can cause dementia.
4. Do usual things differently, such as brush your teeth with your less dominant hand, take a different route to a destination, order a new flavor of ice cream, or eat your dinner with chop sticks. Doing things differently makes you think differently and see things from a different point of view. Young people are open to new ideas and ways of doing things so stop thinking like a aging person and welcome novelty into your life.
5. Teach a class. If you have something you love, whether it be computers or butterfly collecting, offer a class in it through your local community college. The process of collecting the data, putting it into a teaching form and presenting it to a class works all parts of your brain.
6. Eat foods that are sources of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Try to include a fruit or vegetable with every meal, and snack on nuts and seeds. Have lean protein at breakfast and lunch and eat lighter at dinner. A cup of coffee in the morning, a square of dark chocolate in the afternoon and a glass of red wine with dinner are habits that will keep you feeling young.
Tags: brain cells, things differently, your brain