Royane Real
Memory Tips You Can Use Today
Introductory comments
By Royane Real
Author of: “How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative”
If you want to improve your memory, is it more important to look after your brain, or to do memory exercises? If you start reading various experts on improving memory, you will see that some of them focus solely on learning new memory techniques, while others suggest to you that you should be improving your brain nutrition with food and supplements.
Which of these approaches to improving memory is right? Actually, if you want to improve the way that your brain works, and if you want to improve your ability to remember, you have to use both approaches. The reason you need to follow both approaches is because your brain is a part of your physical body.
When your body isn’t working at its best, your brain will also be affected. If your nutrition is poor, or if you are having a hard time sleeping, these physical events will affect the way that your brain works. You will find it harder to think straight, and it will be harder for you to remember things.
To improve your memory, you need to exercise both your mind and your body. It’s also important to have really good nutrition and to reduce stress.
In the following article, the author Steve Gillman provides some good tips to help you improve your memory. You’ll notice that the author suggests that you look after your body, and that you also take steps to exercise your mind.
( The above introductory comments were written by Royane Real, author of the popular book How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative Learn more about how to use your brain and keep it healthy. Download it today or get the paperback version at http://www.lulu.com/real )
Feature article:
Memory Tips You Can Use Today
By: Steve Gillman
The following memory tips are for all ages. Although memory loss often comes with old age, that does not mean it is a necessary result of aging. In fact, there are often specific causes, and a declining ability to remember things can be reversed in many cases. Here are some quick tips to get you started.
1. Avoid cigarettes. Smoking is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Even before there is a diagnosis, there may be reduced blood flow, and therefore reduced oxygen to the brain. That decreases brain function in general, and memory in particular.
2. Avoid toxic drugs. This includes most illegal drugs, but also many prescription drugs. The following have been associated with memory loss after prolonged use: Lithium, digitalis, reserpine, Inderal (propanolol), Aldomet (methyldopa), and Tagamet (cimetidine). Some high blood pressure medications have been linked to memory loss as well.
3. Relax. Chronic stress releases cortisol, which at high levels interferes with the part of the brain that handles recent memories. This part of the brain has even been shown to shrink after long periods of stress. Take several deep breaths through your nose several times daily, while letting the tension drain from your body, or practice regular meditation.
4. Get proper nutrition. There are probably many nutritional factors that affect memory. It is known that brain function can be negatively impacted by a deficiency in vitamin B-12, folate, and niacin. If you suspect that memory lapses might be due to deficiencies, you can have a blood test to check the levels of these vitamins in your system. Or you could try taking some good supplements to see if that helps.
5. Treat your head well. It is well known that severe head trauma can cause loss of brain function, but the evidence is growing that the cumulative effect of repeated minor injuries can do the same. Wear a helmet when bicycling or in any situation where you might hit your head on something.
6. Keep exercising that memory. This may be the easiest of these memory tips to put into practice. Just start learning something new, or start an intellectually challenging hobby. Even doing crossword puzzles regularly has been shown to slow the decline of age-related memory loss.
About the author: Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on Memory, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
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