A youthful heart and health secrets: A mental maintenance manual for keeping your mind sharp
An ageless heart
Older people often imagine that their physical condition is deteriorating year by year after each birthday, and they firmly believe that their mental capacity is also weakening and declining.
While mild memory decline is a normal part of aging, most people hope to maintain a good memory in old age. Memory decline doesn't come as early or as severe as we might initially think. As we age, the number and rate of brain cell death increase. Sometimes, hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of nerve cells are lost every day. By age seventy, we lose one trillion of the one hundred trillion brain cells. However, the good news is that we possess far more brain cells than are needed for memory and thinking. The number of brain cells doesn't affect memory and thinking ability; rather, the pathways connecting these brain cells and their chemical changes are the main factors influencing memory and thinking ability.
Our brains become sharper through frequent use; they are not worn out or depleted. As we age, we can take on new challenges to maintain mental agility. Scientists once believed that brain cells grew rapidly in early human development, slowing down only in the twenties and then remaining relatively stagnant. However, current science has confirmed that, in terms of growth, whether a person is seventeen, eighteen, or eighty, brain cells are not yet fully developed. As long as brain cells continue to be stimulated, they will continue to develop. The brain is a highly plastic organ, designed to meet human needs. Everything has two sides. Your mental capacity can be impaired by neglecting dietary control, or it can become sluggish due to infrequent use, leading to a lack of confidence and decline. Like other organs in the body, the brain is subject to the "use it or lose it" principle.
Maintaining and caring for your brain is your inescapable responsibility. Planning ahead now will prevent embarrassment in old age. Below is a brain-healthy maintenance guide for you.
Mental exercise can enhance memory and other intellectual abilities. If we know that memory, like a muscle, can be trained, then we can accept the fact that unused memory will atrophy, just like a muscle. The best way to train mental abilities is to cultivate creative flexibility, just as it helps maintain a youthful mind. It's generally accepted that creativity declines with age, and some studies do show that older adults are less flexible and creative in their thinking, significantly less so than middle-aged people. Indeed, some issues are troubling us; what exactly are they?
One study invited young and old people to participate in writing to explore changes in creativity throughout life. These essays were graded by professors based on their realism, liveliness, conception, structure, and humor. The experiment showed that younger participants performed better than older participants. Older people tend to rely on pre-existing knowledge rather than spontaneous creation. Creativity diminishes with age. This is because older people must earn a living, care for their spouses and children, and to achieve these goals, they don't need to spend time and energy on creative endeavors. The experiment also showed that everyone has different levels of interest in their work, suggesting that everyone should gradually cultivate curiosity and enthusiasm throughout their lives to maintain a continuous flow of creativity. Furthermore, television can indeed damage the brains of older people, turning them into veritable idiots. The more time spent in front of the television, the less creativity they possess.
Sports can make the body and mind younger and more energetic. As one marathon runner said, "When I get into the zone during a long run, many beautiful images will come to mind, like a stream of consciousness, constantly flowing into my mind, and thoughts will ripple in my mind."
Author John Jerome didn't start swimming until he was forty-seven, in order to maintain his physique and appearance. As he wrote in his book, his purpose in learning to swim was to keep his mind active, not just for fitness. You don't need to be a sports expert; exercising once or twice a week is enough.
Eating foods that enhance memory, such as eggs, liver, peanuts, and beans, can help improve memory.
Drinking alcohol in moderation is important, as alcohol can damage heart and brain function at any age. Alcoholics frequently become intoxicated, and chronic alcohol poisoning accelerates the decline of heart and brain function, which is usually caused by aging. Alcohol is a significant cause of gradual brain stagnation. What about those who drink occasionally and in moderation? A study on social drinking showed that excessive alcohol consumption impairs the brain's abstract thinking, information processing, and memory. Worse still, these abilities may not be fully recovered when they are sober. However, alcoholics performed quite well on memory tests four to five weeks after treatment, which may offer some reassurance. Of course, the degree to which alcohol affects the brain varies from person to person, and individual tolerance to alcohol intake also differs. Some people experience allergic reactions to very small amounts of alcohol, especially those who experience unconsciousness or mental confusion after consuming even tiny amounts, making them more susceptible to illness.
Relax and here are some effective ways to relieve mental stress.
Meditation encompasses a wide range of activities, from brief moments of inspiration to highly structured Eastern meditation. A study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry suggests that meditation can indeed slow the aging process. The study compared practitioners of supernatural meditation with non-meditators using three biological indicators of aging: hearing, vision, and blood pressure. Biological age was calculated for each indicator and then compared to the practitioner's actual age. The results showed that long-term supernatural meditators had a biological age 15 years younger than their actual age, short-term meditators an average of 5 years younger, and non-meditators an average of 2 years younger. No one fully understands how meditation makes people younger. Some studies suggest changes in the central nervous system, while others suggest it's a result of reduced neural circulation and improved mental efficiency.
If you don't enjoy practicing seated meditation or the Hindu Dharma style, you can try a simple Western-style meditation invented by psychologist Dr. Benson. His "relaxation response" technique is based on a syllable of the modern Dharma mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum." The meditator sits comfortably in a quiet place and silently recites the syllable twice a day. Dr. Benson says this simple practice can prompt the body to automatically release adrenaline and adrenaline to combat a crisis. As long as the increased hormones are converted into what the body needs for movement, this is a healthy response. If we cannot face a physical crisis and experience physiological symptoms such as increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and muscle tension due to fear, it can lead to physical and mental aging.
Biofeedback is the modern, technological version of meditation. In fact, bio-meditation can be thought of as "machine-assisted meditation." It uses devices to track and control brainwaves, muscle activity, or other bodily functions, allowing individuals to learn to control their heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, much like the effects achieved in Indian yoga. When the device alters biomorphic states, such as muscle tension, it provides immediate feedback, informing you of the changes. This technology can be used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and migraines.
Be wary of medication side effects; many drugs can insidiously damage your mental state. Unfortunately, older adults are more susceptible to adverse drug effects. They take more medications than younger people, but they are also the least able to withstand the harm caused by these drugs. Medications that can impair memory include barbiturates and other sedatives, tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, certain anticonvulsants, diuretics, and other tranquilizers. If you suspect a medication is harming your mental function, consult your doctor immediately or carefully read the instructions for use. Your doctor may reduce the dosage, switch to another medication, or discontinue the medication altogether.
Throughout history, humanity has been researching longevity elixirs, hoping to live to a ripe old age, but so far there have been no successful examples. However, some recent discoveries offer a promising future for treatment.
Dutch researchers have discovered that vasopressin, a drug that helps the kidneys retain water, has been shown to improve memory in students and the elderly. However, due to its dangerous side effects, it has not yet become a widely known and effective drug. Hydergine, on the other hand, is a drug that can neutralize signs of brain aging and is particularly effective in restoring memory. It can enhance the efficiency of brain nerve reflexes and may also help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps one day vasopressin and hydergine will be widely used as a treatment for physiological diseases, like aspirin. However, regular exercise, a proper healthy diet, and reduced stress are the driving forces behind preventing aging. These methods will help you make the most of your brainpower and maintain sharp thinking abilities.
Health Secrets
★Avoid improper diet------Do not abuse food
★ Maintain a good mental state – always be altruistic
★Having a harmonious family
★ Live each day with a calm and peaceful mind.