Advice on physical health tends to focus on muscles such as the heart and lungs and less on our brain. A little time spent understanding how you can help your brain do its job will help you get the most out of your brain for years to come.

Here are some simple things you can do to keep your brain functioning at its best:

Move – running, dancing, swimming, walking, cycling, and regular exercise help improve blood flow to all body and brain parts. Keeping fit also benefits overall muscle, heart and lung health.

Eat – nutritious foods, including fatty fish, blueberries, turmeric, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, and nuts, provide specific nutrients to assist brain function and keep it in good working order.

Sleep – plan to get around seven to nine hours of sleep daily to help your brain rest and repair. Sleeping helps your brain process what you have experienced and learned during the day so you can remember it later.

Relate – build strong and positive relationships; this triggers the brain’s reward centre and can help reduce stress levels and improve mood.

Extend – stay mentally active by challenging yourself. Doing mentally hard things helps to strengthen connections between brain cells, improving understanding and reasoning skills.

https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/p/proven-ways-to-keep-your-brain-healthy/