Nine nice and easy ways to boost your brain power.

More brain power is an essential key to success in nearly every area of life.  Your brain is much like a  muscle.  As the saying  goes; use it or lose it.  Many experts agree that you can grow your mental focus and intelligence quotient as much as you want.  Here are nine nice and easy to do tips to improve brain power:

1. Develop a regular exercise routine
Exercise benefits your brain cells by supplying high doses of much needed oxygen. When you exercise, the blood vessels in the brain begin to dilate. With the increased blood flow, more oxygen is transported to various parts of the body, but most importantly the brain. Physical activity and exercise not only allows more oxygen to flow, but  other vital nutrients as well. Toxins are more readily eliminated through sweating also. Beachbody Fitness is my favorite as far as fitness programs go because they have a huge selection and variety of workouts programs that you can do right in your own home.

2. Mind games
Since the brain is a muscle, it too must be used. Brain games of thought and concentration like cross word puzzles, word search, sukudo, or even a game of chess can  improve mental clarity and intelligence all at the same time.

3.) Deter the Distractions
On the other hand, distractions are an enemy to maximum brain power, so you must learn to calm your busy mind.  When you notice things that bother you, try to deal with them as soon as possible, rather than dwelling on them.  Whether it is a phone call, paying a bill, or writing things down on your to do list so that you won’t forget, just get it done.  Doing these things will come easier with practice, especially as your thinking becomes more sharp and your brain power boosts.

3. Eat (or drink)  the best breakfast.
Eating a healthy breakfast (one void of sugary carbs and high in protein) is one of the best things you can do for your brain.  Likewise, skipping one of the most important meals of the day will affect your brains ability to cope, reason and function. Besides breakfast, aim to eat (or drink) plenty of live raw fruits and veggies and their juices throughout the day.  Fruits and vegetables have the ability to detoxify the body and nourish your brain with important nutrients and essential antioxidants that help protect your brain from the harmful effects of free radicals. Beachbody also offers the most power packed nutritional drink called “SHAKEOLOGY the healthiest meal of the day” that is easy and delicious. See what the Doctors have to say.

4. Drink LOTS of water.
Besides fat, your brain is comprised of almost 80 percent water. This means that the brain is a lot like a sponge; when it is well hydrated it will perform more effectively.  Dehydration, even in the slightest amount can raise the stress hormone levels in the body, which can damage the brains tissues over the course of time.  A good rule of thumb is to drink at least 84 ounces of water a day. Pure clean water is best but if your like me you enjoy variety so you can  add a bit of fresh lemon juice and stevia for a delicious and nutritious way to stay hydrated. You can also drink herbal, non-caffeinated tea. White or green tea are packed with antioxidants and other phytonutrients that are very beneficial for health of the brain.

5. Keep journals and Lists
Writing down your thoughts and ideas are a great way to clear the mind of it’s clutter from the day.  When you write your thoughts onto paper, you are able to think  about them in a more powerful and creative way. Keeping a To Do list will also help you mind stay focused and less forgetful. This is a great way to improve your brainpower.

6. Think about things in a positive way.
Thinking positively is not some “pie in the sky” mentality. It is just another way to enable your brain to think more clearly and creatively.  When you are thinking about positive things, your mood and feelings will follow. This alone will allow your mind to function more smoothly.  Ask yourself questions like  What am I most grateful for right now?. The attitude to gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to boost brain power.

7) The beauty of sleep
Research shows that someone with sleep deprivation is equivalent to someone who is legally drunk. Make sure you sleep at least 7 hours of sleep. Research also shows that the best hours of sleep are from 10:00pm to 6:00am. Your body and your brain in particular, repair and rejuvenate during these sleep hours. Sleep also helps your brain to process new memories, practice new skills and solve problems.

8. Develop your creativity and your intuition.
Creativity gives power to your thinking. Raw computation can be done by computers now, but humans provide the creative thought that shapes our world. Intuition can be an important part of brain power. Einstein and others have relied heavily on their intuitive hunches.

9. Make a brain power commitment.
Studies show that it takes about twenty to thirty days of repetition to establish new habits. So be patient with yourself.  This means that you should plan to use these techniques such as exercise, eating healthy, staying hydrated and sleeping well for at least three weeks for the habit to form.

You can use many of the brain boosters here and get immediate results, but it is creating new habits that will give you the most brain power boost.

Mellisa McJunkin
Extreme Health and Wellness Activist

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