An elephant never forgets, but we do as we age, right? Sometimes we forget things. Where’d I put my keys? Where’s the car? What did I come into this room for???????
As we get older, forgetfulness is natural. It’s not always a serious problem like Alzheimer’s or dementia. It could just be the result of having learned way too much over the last 60 or 70 or 80 years.
There are ways to make your memory as sharp as an elephant’s. You can start by eating the right foods which will keep your brain and your body healthy as you grow older. Leafy green vegetables have plenty of folic acid to aid in memory retention. Salmon, tuna and sardines all have Omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce inflammation, a potential cause of memory loss in adults. B Vitamin deficiency can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease because it increases memory loss. To replenish your stores of Thiamine or Vitamin B1 you can take a good supplement, but nuts like pistachios are full of thiamine, as are tuna, spinach, mushrooms and flax seeds.
Herbal remedies are effective and safe, with no adverse side effects. Ginkgo Biloba can inhibit the oxidation of the brain and increase the blood circulation, getting more information to and through the body. Huperzine A, a substance extracted from club moss (Huperzia serrata), helps to slow down acetylcholine breakdown. Acetylcholine is one of the brain neurotransmitters that is being studied with relation to Alzheimer’s.
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), (100 mg. daily) is an herb that helps increase concentration and also improves memory by stimulating the immune system. Rhodiola also helps to improve sleep and fight depression, enhance mental and physical performance, as well as stimulate the nervous system. Rhodiola has been shown to be an effective antioxidant.
Rosemary is called the “herb of remembrance” and is an essential oil used in aromatherapy to increase mental clarity and reduce poor memory, as well as increase concentration and decrease fatigue. Essential oil of basil can help to wake up a foggy brain and improve mental clarity. Peppermint essential oil also perks up the brain and helps you to remember.
And there’s a new extract of the periwinkle plant called vinpocetine that is being studied as a way to increase blood circulation and bring more nutrients like glucose and oxygen to the brain to help it work more efficiently so you can remember things more effectively.
Foods and herbs work great on memory, and so does exercise. Just as important as keeping your body agile and active, so is exercising your brain to keep it functioning at top potential. Play games with words and numbers. Do puzzles and mind exercises like Sudoku. Keep your mind working – after all, we know a mind is a terrible thing to waste!
