Enhance your memory

Can’t find your keys? Do you often forget where you’ve parked? Do you miss appointments and dates, and forget when your bills are due? Do you have a hard time remembering names, terms, dates, and numbers? Welcome to the club. But take heart because it isn’t quite Alzheimer’s yet. If you feel like you have a memory that is sort of challenged, then it’s time to do something about it.

Food For Thought

Believe it or not, what you eat and drink affects the sharpness of your mind and how well you remember. Nutritionists and brain specialists say that you can actually improve your memory power by adding memory-enhancing foods to your diet. Your brain needs building blocks that enhance brain cell growth and development. You will need a regular healthy dosage of the following to help maintain a sharp mind and a “well-oiled” brain:

• Omega-3 fats. The brain cell’s structure is made up of healthy fats. For proper brain growth and repair of neurons, you need omega-3 fatty acids. You can get a good dosage by eating fish like salmon and tuna. Canola and flaxseed oil, eggs, soybeans, wheat germ, and — would you believe — walnuts are good sources of omega-3 fats.

• Water. The human body is about 75-percent water and so you need lots of water to hydrate the brain and your whole body for good health, proper circulation, and well-being. Dehydration dulls the brain, decreases mental energy, and impairs memory.

• Antioxidants. As we age, free radicals in our bloodstream break down our brain cells, causing age-related memory loss and mental haziness. Food and drinks high in antioxidants help improve memory. Good antioxidant sources are green tea, berries, red grapes, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, spinach, carrots, whole grains, and soy.

• High-proteins. To properly function, your brain needs neurotransmitters to carry impulses from one neuron to the next. Tryptophan, an important component of neurotransmitters can’t be manufactured by the body so they have to come from what you eat. Tyrosine can be made by the body but still require the right foods in your diet. The best neurotransmitter-enhancing foods are seafood, meat, eggs, soy, and dairy products.

• Vitamins and minerals. The most important vitamins for efficient brain functioning are vitamins C, B12, B6, B-complex, and  E. Iron and calcium help establish better learning and retention. It is best to take a daily dose of multivitamin supplements and at least 1,000 mg of vitamin C.

Attitude and Bad Habits

For optimum brain and memory functioning, having a positive mental attitude definitely helps. A well-organized life with less stress, worry, and emotional baggage helps maintain clarity of mind and memory. Unnecessary distraction (mental, emotional, and disease) should be avoided for mental energy, alertness and concentration. Alcohol, nicotine, and high-inducing drugs can dull the mind and even cause forgetfulness or loss of memory.

Use It Or Lose It

Your brain is a tool, which when not used can deteriorate and get “rusty.” To sharpen your mind and improve your memory, exercise your brain continuously. Learn something new daily and solve mathematical problems, puzzles, and brain teasers. Learn to link thoughts, ideas, names, and data by association; write down reminders so you won’t forget things, appointments, and schedules. Practice memorizing to improve your memory skills; and while you are at it, improve your reading speed and hone your speech and articulation proficiency.

How sharp are you?

Take this test and find out how bright and sharp you are:

If “24 H in a D” means 24 hours in a day, what do the following mean?

1) 7 D a W; 2) 12 M in a Y; 3) 2 W of a B; 4) 9 L of a C; 5) 3 H of a C; 6) 7 D of S W; 7) 9 M of P; 8) 8 T of an O; 9) 7 C of the W; 10) 10 Y in a D; 11) 28 D in F; 12) 6 S of a H; 13) 10 C in a M; 14) 7 W of the W; 15) 5 F in a F; 16) 366 D in a L Y; 17) 7 C of the R; 18) 60 S in a M; 19) 26 L of the A; 20) 4 C of a S; 21) 12 A of C; 22) 3 C in the F; 23) 4 H of the A; 24) 14 D in a F; 25) 52 W in a Y; 26) 4 Q of the M; 27) 2 S of a C; 28) 12 D of C; 29) 4 T S of a P; 30) 10 C of G.

(For the answers, turn to Page E-2.)

If you have answered five correctly, you are below average; if 15, you are average; if 20, you are above average; if 30, you could be a genius. Enjoy!

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For your comments, e-mail deroseminar@yahoo.com. Answer the test first (don’t cheat!) then go to page 2 for the answers.