It is no secret that our cognitive functions deteriorate as we age. This makes performing daily tasks like remembering things and understanding instructions a hassle, greatly affecting one’s quality of life. Many people wonder how to maintain a healthy life and prevent the onset of cognitive decline. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent or reduce the risks of cognitive impairment, and all you need is a few lifestyle adjustments. Recent studies have shown that having multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors will be more beneficial in preventing cognitive impairment in loved ones as compared to one. Here are the four ways to stay healthy while preventing cognitive decline.
Eat Healthily
You know how the saying goes – you are what you eat. Having a healthy diet will help to ensure you have the right nutrients to support your daily activities. Many studies suggest that following a Mediterranean diet will support cognitive health amongst other health benefits. This diet focuses on plant-based foods and moderate amounts of poultry, seafood, red meat, and dairy. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Consume more fish and poultry instead of red meat and use healthier oils for food. Avoid foods that are high in sugar, fat, and sodium in your diet too.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly can benefit our cognitive functions as it stimulates the mind to keep it sharp. It is recommended to have a balance between aerobics exercise, balance training, and muscle strengthening for a period of 75 to 150 minutes at least once a week. Aerobic exercises will help to improve heart health and can be done by walking, running, or cycling. Muscle strengthening and balance exercises will help with the power and endurance of the muscles and can be done by resistance training or yoga.
Socialize
Engaging in activities involving socialization will help to reduce risks of cognitive impairment as it helps to keep you grounded. Frequent conversations will help to stimulate the brain and promote the formation of new cells. You can go out with your friends to catch up on life, or even challenge yourself to go out of your comfort zone and make new friends. There are so many opportunities for you to socialize with people, and the easiest way is by joining a class that you are interested in. Joining clubs or other hobby groups are also great options, while some would prefer to volunteer at their local churches and organizations.
Monitor Your Health
While all of the previous tips will help you maintain a certain level of health, it is important for you to monitor any pre-existing conditions that you may have. All your healthy diets will help reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease which affects cognitive impairment. You should go for regular health checks to monitor your risk for heart diseases. If these health conditions already exist, regular checks will allow you to further understand your condition so that you can make adjustments to your lifestyle, ensuring you can live your best life.
