Do you spend most of your day in a fog?

 You know, where you can’t remember where you parked, or you walk into a room to get something but forget what it was? 

Or maybe you suddenly can’t recall the name of someone you know well, or you draw a blank on a word you want to use. 

Well, if you do these things, you’re not alone. As we age, we all experience such events — some worse than others.

But you don’t have to just accept that this going to happen to you.

In short, there are many things you can do to help your brain health. 

Here are 10 of them.

1. Eat your Micronized Purple Rice Powder!

Many of our Micronized Purple Rice customers have reported improvements in their brain health. In the Facebook Group you’ll see lots of testimonials from people saying they have less brain fog, improved memory, and greater mental clarity. And they are more calm, less anxious, and less depressed. 

That’s because this powerful food fuels the mitochondria (the cellular battery) with everything it needs to function at a higher level and produce ATP energy so the cells can do what they are meant to do.

Before we started eating the micronized purple rice—Charles was becoming fuzzy and forgetful.  Today at 75 –he is sharper than he has ever been!  I used to go rushing into a room to get something and then stop in my tracks wondering what it was I was coming to get—I haven’t done that in well over a year!

2. Get some exercise. 

That means some vigorous movement that gets your blood flowing. Increased blood flow is great for the brain! This doesn’t have to mean spending hours at the gym. Just walking for half an hour in the sunshine and fresh air will do your brain a world of good. 

Don’t forget to get some mental exercise, too. That could mean crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or even brain training websites.

3. Remember, body and brain are not separate. 

You know how when you bite into something, you taste it right away? There is no delay while your brain contemplates what flavors it detects, or while it decides if what you are eating is healthful or poisonous. That’s because your brain is electrically connected to every spot in your body. 

So when you do something for your body, you do it for your brain, too. When you eat right and exercise, it benefits not just your abs and glutes, but your mind and brain as well.

4. Stay hydrated. 

I always start every day with a big glass of water. Why? Because it’s one of the most important things you can do for your health, including brain health.

Be sure to drink the highest quality water you can — no tap water! Most tap water not only has unhealthy additives like chlorine and fluoride, but it can even have drugs in it such as birth control, antidepressants, etc. that the water treatment facilities don’t completely remove.

To make sure you stay adequately hydrated, drink half your weight in ounces of water. So if you weigh, say, 150 pounds, then you’d drink 75 ounces of water per day. That’s a little over half a gallon.

Water is boring, you say? Try infused waters. All it takes is adding some fruit and herbs to your water to impart their flavor. You can read my blog article on infused waters to get some ideas. 

5. Eat colorful superfoods. 

Try to eat a rainbow every day! That could include foods such as blueberries, eggplant, tomatoes, orange bell pepper, banana, avocado, and some green leafy veggies such as kale.

 Colorful foods are loaded with phytochemicals, antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other substances that help improve our health overall, and our brains in particular.

6. Eat healthy fats. 

Did you know our brains are made up of 60 percent DHA? This healthy omega-3 fat is an important brain food, found in flaxseeds, walnuts, sardines, salmon, beef, and Brussels sprouts, among other things.

We need both DHA and EPA fatty acids to keep our brains in tiptop shape, and we need to make sure we get a healthy ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. Unfortunately, most Americans get way too much omega-6 and not nearly enough omega-3. That’s largely due to all the omega-6’s found in packaged foods.

7. Avoid processed foods. 

Sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, trans fats, and chemicals with names you can’t pronounce are all things that are bad for your brain.

That’s why it’s best to eat foods that don’t come in a box, can, or other type of packaging. Sticking with fresh, whole, unprocessed foods — ideally, organic and local — is your best bet for good brain health. Invest in the highest quality food you can get, and your brain and body will reward you richly!

8. Connect with other people. 

There’s nothing like a hearty laugh with an old friend to buoy your spirits. Human beings are social animals, and it does our brains good to foster connections with others.

This can mean making an effort to talk to and listen deeply and compassionately to others around you — not just your loved ones, but even strangers. Volunteering is a good way to get out and meet people, and showing compassion and love for others is good for your brain health as well.

9. Meditate. 

Being stressed out all the time ages your brain — and meditation is one of the quickest ways to bring your stress levels down.

You can meditate while sitting quietly, or put on headphones and listen to nature sounds or binaural beats to help entrain your brain. This will help your brain transition into slower brain waves and help to balance the two hemispheres. Be sure to turn off your cell phone!

10. Practice gratitude and forgiveness. 

Like meditation, this helps your brain to de-stress and become calm and centered. Practice loving kindness, think positive, and let go of past resentments. When you hold onto them, you hold on to stress in your body. Let it go!

Doing this elevates your mood and relieves anxiety. It makes you calmer and less likely to get angry. And these things make you more likable, which in turn helps to foster better connections with other people.

So, do your brain a favor and show it some love and TLC.

Now it’s your turn! Let me know, in the comments, what you are doing to help your brain health?