Have you ever walked into the room and forgotten why you went in there, or forgot where you left your keys? Most likely this has happened to you from time to time as there are times when we all forget things especially when times are busy or we are in a rush. This can be completely normal but at the same time very frustrating.
Research has
shown that genetics play a role in memory loss, particularly when it involves conditions
like Alzheimer’s disease, but your diet and lifestyle can also have a big
impact on your memory. The good news is there are some natural ways to give
your memory a boost.
How did this happen?
There are
some changes you can make to your daily diet to help improve your memory.
Firstly, you should eat less sugar as too much sugar has been linked to memory
loss. A diet high in sugar has been shown to reduce brain
volume in the area that stores short-term memory leading to cognitive loss.
Cutting back on your sugar will help to make your memory a bit sharper.
Do you crave carbohydrates? Pasta?
Pizza? Potato? Cakes? Cookies and white bread? It has been shown that eating large
amounts of refined carbohydrates like these also impact on your memory. This is
because these foods have a high glycaemic index, namely convert straight into
sugar in your body and are digested quickly causing a spike in blood sugar
levels. Studies have shown that refined carbohydrates are linked to dementia
and cognitive decline. On the other hand foods that have anti-inflammatory
effects are rich in antioxidants and may help to improve your memory.
Low levels of vitamin D have been
linked to a reduction in cognitive function. So, make sure your vitamin D
levels are high enough. Alcohol in large quantities can be bad for your health
in many ways and can also negatively impact your memory. Binge drinking is a
pattern of drinking that raises your blood alcohol levels to 0.08 grams per ml
or above. Studies have shown it alters the brain and results in bad memory.
Obesity is also linked as a high-risk
factor for cognitive decline. Being obese can actually cause changes to
memory-associated genes in the brain, negatively affecting your memory.
What to
use
Curcumin is good for helping to improve your memory. Curcumin has been known to reduce
oxidative damage and inflammation in the brain and also lower the quantity of
amyloid plaques. These gather on neurons and cause cell and tissue death. This
may also cause memory loss.
Cocoa is not only delicious but also nutritious. It may help stimulate the
growth of blood vessels and neurons and increase blood flow in parts of the
brain involved with memory.
Fish oil is a great supplement to take if you are looking to improve your
memory. Fish oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid and
docosahexaenoic acid. These fats are important for overall health and have been
shown to slow mental decline.
There are also many other herbs and
supplements that can help your memory improve – like Brahmi tea. Brahmi tea has a full rich flavour and
is a nice warming cuppa on any day.
Aside from that there are games you
can play which will keep your mind mentally active. Also make sure you get
enough sleep and try some meditation and mindfulness practice. Learning to
meditate and focus your mind will improve your concentration and in turn your
memory.
All this of course will lower your
stress and frustration levels but it is not an easy task to do on your own.
Seek out a trusted natural holistic therapist that can help you put your mind
and body in tune with each other, bring about more harmony, assist you in
gaining more peace of mind and you will soon find your memory begins to
improve. Even if you can’t repair all the cells any repair is better than none.