Your brain is like a muscle—the more you use it the stronger it gets and the more fit it will remain. Many people believe that memory loss, or decreased cognitive function, is a normal part of aging. The truth is there are many factors affecting brain health which, if properly managed, may help keep our thoughts clear and our recall strong. These less commonly recognized factors include stress, free-radical damage, bad fats and high homocysteine. Start maximizing your concentration and preserving your memory by using these anti-aging and protective tips.

Bad fats

Our brains are 70% fat. Over-consumption of animal fats or unhealthy fats like those in chips, fries, muffins and pastries are harmful to the brain and inhibit cellular communication.

Solution: Increase your intake of good fats by ensuring you take fish oils daily. Fish oils have been proven to be useful for depression, memory loss and anxiety and to increase the IQs of children when taken during pregnancy.

High homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid which is normally found in the blood. Elevated levels have been linked to heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. A safe level of homocysteine is considered to be less than 7. People with high blood levels of homocysteine may also face memory loss and an added health threat to their brain function, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Those with the highest homocysteine levels were twice as likely to develop brain-function problems compared to those with lower levels. Moreover, during an eight-year span, those with consistently high levels of homocysteine also showed a higher tendency toward reduced brain function.

Solution: Good nutrition. A diet high in leafy, green vegetables; fruits; nuts; seeds and other sources of B vitamins and folic acid is an effective way to decrease homocysteine levels. Taking a vitamin combination to specifically lower homocysteine is also a great way to correct elevated levels of the amino acid. I also recommend a product called Homocystrex by Douglas Labs, available through our online store.

Continual stress overload

When we are under continuous stress our bodies produce the hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been found to be particularly damaging to the area of the brain involved with memory. Studies have confirmed that individuals with depression or a history of it actually have a decreased ability for recall. This is related to high cortisol levels commonly noted in depression and anxiety.

Solution: Manage your stress through exercise, deep breathing, regular sleep or massage. If you are unable to utilize any of these methods because of time or lack of planning, start taking supplements like lecithin, phosphatidylserine or acetyl-L-carnitine to protect the brain from the negative effects of stress and aging.

Free radical stress

All of our cells, including our brain cells, are at the mercy of free-radical stress. Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes immune system cells purposefully create them to neutralize viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors, such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides, can also spawn free radicals. Free-radical damage is one of the primary causes of aging.

Solution: Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating one of their own electrons, ending the “electron-stealing” reaction. The antioxidant nutrients themselves act as scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue damage that could lead to cellular damage and disease. Normally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants which protect the body against the destructive effects of free radicals.