Council on Aging Senior Guide 2012 - 40

COUNCIL ON AGING ORANGE COUNTY

Brain Fitness
Continued from page 39

yams), dark blue or red (blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries) are particularly good for you. If you eat dairy, choose low-fat or skim varieties. Beans, peas, lentils, and sunflower seeds are good sources of folate, which is essential to make and repair DNA. Fish is one of the best foods to eat and is recommended twice a week. Salmon is preferred because it has a lot of Omega-3s and wild salmon is recommended because many farmed salmon are said to contain PCBs, a type of toxin. Sardines are also recommended and are a good source of calcium. A number of studies have shown that regularly eating a small handful of raw nuts (especially walnuts and almonds) may have a protective properties against cardiovascular diseases. Try to get plain nuts, not roasted or salted or ones with hydrogenated oils. Also remember that nuts are high in calories so you’ll need to decrease the same number of calories by cutting down on fat and sugar from other parts of your diet. Remember to check with your doctor before you change your diet since some foods can cause irritation for some medical conditions and may even interfere with certain medicines.

lifestyle.Your doctor can also help you sort through the numerous health fads and studies that grab the media’s attention every month, and figure out which ones will actually benefit your health.

Don’t forget to floss.

Daily flossing and brushing aren’t just critical for healthy teeth and gums. They also might help keep your brain healthy. That’s because your teeth can be a major source of inflammation as well as infection, both of which may cause damage in the brain, heart, and other parts of the body. Some scientists believe that the inflammation caused by gum disease might increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Some studies have linked moderate-to-severe head trauma to two to four times the risk of Alzheimer’s. Protect your head and avoid activities that pose a high risk of brain injury, like texting while driving which has been found to increase the chance of a car crash by 23 times. Five major studies have shown that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. Don’t panic if you’ve already hit your head, there are a number of factors including what area was hit and how long you were unconscious for but take extra care to protect your head from now on. For more tips and to play brain stimulation games, please visit: www.Anti-AgingGames.com For a limited time, use VIP code COAOCVIP (no spaces) to get a FREE month of game play plus a better renewal rate than the general public gets ($9.95/month instead of $12.99 per month). © 2011 Anti-Aging Games, LLC. Reprinted with permission. To get free brain health content for your publications, newsletters, or website, please email us at Content@Anti-AgingGames.com Medical disclaimer note: Please ask your physician before starting any exercising, lifestyle, or dietary changes. AAG’s services, products, and content are not intended as specific medical advice, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment and are not a substitute for professional medical treatment or diagnosis. For full terms, please see Anti-AgingGames.com.

Protect your head.

Talk to your doctor.

Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise regime because changes, including supplements and foods may interfere with your medicines or aggravate certain conditions. For example, one study suggested that eating broccoli and cauliflower twice per week was linked to at least 20% less cancer (for some types of cancer) but both broccoli and cauliflower may not be good for some people with thyroid problems. It’s not enough to have a nice doctor or one who has been your doctor for a long time. A good doctor is proactive, understands the role of nutrition, stretching, exercise, and doesn’t rely on symptomcovering medicine and surgery only. Find a doctor who really understands preventative medicine, never skip your annual checkup, and always check in before making changes to your diet, exercise, or
Senior Guide OC 2012

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Council on Aging Senior Guide 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Council on Aging Senior Guide 2012