What if we told you that, with some small tweaks, you can see significant improvement in your cognitive health and performance? When you’re young and finishing up with school, part of the elation that comes from graduation is the feeling that you’re done, you’re finished with your learning.
As we grow older, we begin to better understand that learning never stops. There is a constant push to learn more, to grow, and to think better. A cognitive edge can get you that promotion at work. It can also keep your relationships strong and stimulating. With good cognitive health, you’ll deal with problems faster and avoid some of the health pitfalls associated with aging.
The brain is something that is or should be at least, always working. Cognitive health depends on things like the food we eat, the amount of sleep we get, and other strategies to keep our brains in the best condition possible. Follow these 5 steps to improve your cognitive health starting today.
Step 1 – Physical Health Comes First
It’s important to say, first on this list, that keeping your brain as sharp as possible as you get older will depend a great deal on your physical health. For people who have neglected their physical health for too long, that can be a bit difficult to hear. However, one of the best ways to stay sharp as you age is to stay physically active.
Get outside and go on walks regularly. If you’re up for it, engage in some harder exercise like some resistance training. As you put more effort into maintaining your physical health, you’re building the foundational blocks that will promote cognitive health for many more years.
Step 2 – Fuel Your Body with the Right Things
Eating a healthy diet is a huge component of cognitive health. If you’re always eating foods high in sugar, unhealthy fats, empty carbs, caffeine, and other stimulants, and other harmful items, you’re going to have a hard time with cognitive performance. Instead of the bad stuff, eat more leafy greens, healthy fats, protein, and other foods that are known to promote brain health and clear thinking. Save the stuff you know you should avoid for the occasional treat.
As you adjust your diet, you will start to notice that your mental energy is easier to sustain for longer periods. Healthy eating also will help you reach your physical health goals which will help long-term cognitive health.
Step 3 – Eat Your Vitamins
Vitamins that you can buy for a relatively affordable price online or at your local store are great for cognitive health. For example, Vitamin D is beneficial to nerve health to keep those synapses lightning quick. Co-Q 10 is rich in antioxidants that protect the brain. Vitamin B preserves brain health, helps your overall mood, and promotes healthy energy production.
All of these vitamins and more are easy to take and can become part of your daily routine. Now some services will ship you your daily dose of vitamins in small packages. You get a full month of supply at the start of every month and can take them when you wake up or with one of your meals. It’s so easy and such an important step.
Sleep More
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking sleep is only for the weary. Your brain needs sleep as well, and by the time you get to the point where you know that your brain needs a rest, it’s probably much further past where you want to push things. When you sleep, you’re letting your brain rest and rejuvenate. You recharge and wake up ready to go. All you have to do to know how important sleep is to cognitive health is to try and go without sleep for a prolonged period. You’ll start to notice you can’t process thoughts, you forget things, and stuff just gets hazy inside of your head.
Sleep is so important! Start making it a priority if you’re not getting enough sleep. Most adults should be getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night. And, it should be good-quality sleep to boot.
Research Peptides
In studies done on rats, it was discovered that IGF-1 also had several cognitive benefits in normal rats, not just animals that were older. It helped with things like learning and memory. The results were more pronounced in rats that were experiencing age-related cognitive dysfunction.
Further research needs to be done in order for the FDA to approve future medical possibilities.
Staying mentally sharp and maintaining cognitive health now and as you get older needs to be a focus. The more time and effort you put into keeping your edge will influence how things go down the line. Memory, your wit, and problem-solving abilities, along with many other cognitive abilities, can die on the vine if you let them. Finding the right mix of diet, sleep, exercise, and nutrition and supplementation is key to long-term cognitive health.
Start taking steps today to protect your cognitive health and stay on top of things as you age. Small things you do every day now will pay you back for the rest of your life.
