|
  Some of us are social butterflies. Some of us are couch potatoes. Others fall somewhere in between. But did you know that talking on the phone or meeting a group of friends for coffee may actually help your brain’s cognitive functioning?
A recent study led by Oscar Ybarra, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, concluded that socializing and mental exercises are similar in terms of their effect on improving brain function.
Ybarra and his team collected data from 3,600 people aged 24 to 96 on how often they talked on the phone with friends and family and how often they got together with the same groups of friends. They found that the more socially engaged people were, the higher their cognitive performance was on a mini-mental exam given to them.
To prove that socializing actually causes the improved brain functioning and not vice versa, Ybarra conducted another study on participants aged 18 to 21. Ybarra’s team put them into three groups—a group to have a social discussion, a group to work on crosswords puzzles and a group to watch a 10 minute clip of Seinfeld. Those in the first two groups did better on cognitive tasks than the movie watchers—after just 10 minutes.
According to Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, “Being with others is great for your health and your brain.” Social isolation can lead to stress and depression, both of which have a negative effect on the brain.
The next time you are invited to a party or for a cup of coffee and you are feeling inclined to say no—reconsider—staying socially connected is great for your brain.
|
|
|
  If you have heard the Korean word jangsaeng before and wondered what it meant, you are not alone. Jangsaeng translates, roughly, as “longevity.” In Korea this suggests not only living for many years—as it does in America—it also suggests living those years in a truly vital way.
According to Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, “Jangsaeng people carry a youthful vitality into their older years that may be otherwise missing in their peers. To have jangsaeng, you must have much more than long life.”
Ellen Peters, senior research scientist at Decision Research and the University of Oregon claims that by 2050 the number of people over 60 years of age will outnumber those 15 and younger for the first time in history. This is just one of many reasons why you should start creating your jangsaeng lifestyle now.
To create a jangsaeng lifestyle, put yourself first. Make yourself happy. Use your body and brain to create a healthy and youthful life. With the demands of business and daily life, it is easy to put your personal happiness aside as you take care of others and work to pay the bills. But living your life so that you are happy is more important. It helps you live longer…and healthier.
According to a report by Deborah Danner, a psychologist at the University of Kentucky, nuns that expressed the most positive emotions in early adulthood (using words such as “thankful” and “joy” in journal entries) lived up to ten years longer than those who had shown fewer good feelings.
By doing things differently today, things that make you feel fulfilled and happy, you are on your way to creating a jangsaeng lifestyle for tomorrow.
|
|
|
  Studies show that exercise leads to healthier and fitter bodies. But did you know that your body weight might actually affect the rate at which your brain ages?
A study conducted on a group of participants showed that overweight and obese individuals, people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25, had several abnormal brain biochemical deficiencies in both the white and gray matter.
According to Dr. Dieter Meyerhoff, professor of radiology at the University of California, “[The] results suggest that the brains of people who are overweight or obese age faster than the brains of people of normal weight, and thus these individuals are at increased risk of developing dementia.”
However, this can be prevented with proper diet and exercise. According to Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, “Brisk cardiovascular exercise brings rich, oxygenated blood to the brain. You should get at least 30 minutes of heart-pumping exercise three times a week.” And don’t forget strength training, which also produces more energy for the brain.
With an estimated 150 million Americans now classified as overweight or obese, it’s more important than ever to keep your weight normal and your heart pumping. Not only will it keep your body in shape, it will also keep your brain in shape—and young.
|
|
|
  Are you one of the people who like to say: “I perform better under pressure.” If you are, here’s something you should consider. Too much pressure can lead to stress. Too much stress can lead to high blood pressure. And high blood pressure is bad for your brain, especially if you are older.
Doctors, including Dr. Thomas Olabode Obisesan of Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC, used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to investigate blood pressure and its relationship to cognitive function. The report shows that high blood pressure is associated with lower brain function in people aged 60 and older. Normal blood pressure, less than or equal to 120/80 mm Hg, was linked to the best cognitive performance in those aged 60 to 69, while those aged 70 and older showed poorer cognitive function in relation to elevated blood pressure.
Dr. Obisesan and associates concluded: “Optimal control of blood pressure may be beneficial in attenuating the risk of cognitive decline as the population ages.”
However, medications aren’t necessarily the answer to controlling blood pressure. Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, suggests that adopting healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise and a low-fat diet, can regulate blood pressure just as well. “A lower-calorie diet promotes better circulation and also controls weight, leading to lower blood pressure,” said Lee.
Other ways to lower your blood pressure include achieving a healthy body weight, reducing dietary sodium and drinking alcohol in moderation. The key, quite simply, is to live a healthier lifestyle. As a result your blood pressure will decrease and your cognitive function will increase, and your brain will operate at peak performance—whether under pressure or not.
|
|
|
  Energy accumulator
Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?” or “Where am I going?” And then thought, "I am in my 40s, and I still don’t have an answer…or at least not the answer I was hoping for..."
As veteran life coach Laura Berman Fortgang puts it: “A good life coach shows you how to change so that you can get the outside circumstances of your life and career to change. They will help you unlock your potential by showing you ways that you can grow and invest in your ability to achieve.”
However, according to Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, the only coach you need is the one you see looking at you in the mirror—no one knows you better than you.
Lee states, “[You need to] speak to yourself with total honesty…It is possible to view the transition periods of later life not as crises but as opportunities to redefine the person you are. Change is not always comfortable. But approaching it with courage is the key to happiness.”
The following exercise, energy accumulator, will help you to feel strong, grounded and centered. Through practicing this exercise you will grow the personal strength and integrity to find the “you” you are looking for.
From Ilchi Lee (Excerpted from In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging)
• Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and parallel. Make sure that your weight is distributed evenly so that it rests firmly over the soles of both feet.
• Gently tuck in your tailbone.
• Relaxing your upper body, raise your hands to chest height, and spread them apart about one foot.
• Imagine that you have a ball of energy between your hands and your chest.
• Concentrate on your lower abdomen and maintain this posture for about three to five minutes.
|
|
|
  It doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are, or whether you’re looking for a physical or mental edge, you will experience positive effects from regular exercise.
According to John Ratey, psychiatrist and author, “The ideal exercise plan would include both exercise that keeps you learning and [exercise that] keeps you moving—and keeps the challenge up.”
For maximum health you should include four major types of exercise: aerobic exercise, resistance training, flexibility training and balance and mobility training to keep your brain stimulated and your body vigorous.
1. Aerobic Exercise (cardio). Geared to get your heart pumping, it helps oxygen and nutrients flow throughout the body. It keeps your heart and organs healthy. Common aerobic activities include walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, running and dancing.
2. Resistance Training (strength training). Requires the body’s muscles to move against an opposing force. Over time it can reverse age-related muscle loss, lower the risk of diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis, as well as improve posture, balance and function of organs. Push-ups, using free weights, resistance bands or weight machines are all ways to train your strength.
3. Flexibility Training. Helps reduce muscle pain, improve muscle function, mobility (bending and reaching) and posture. Tai chi, pilates, yoga and martial arts are activities that train flexibility, as do bending, stretching and reaching exercises.
4. Balance and Mobility Training. A critical component of any exercise program, training for balance and mobility will help prevent falls and unsteady feet.
Before beginning an exercise program, you should always consult a physician to make sure you don’t have an existing heart problem or other condition. But as soon you get started your mind and body will feel better before you know it.
|
|
|
  Emotional inventory
As humans we have a wide range of emotions. Some are healthy and positive, others are not and can have a negative effect on our minds and bodies.
According to Lester Levinson, author and founder of the release® technique, people generally have three ways of dealing with an emotion: they suppress the feeling, express the feeling or avoid the feeling by turning to other distractions. However, Levinson believes, “there is another option for handling the feeling—you can focus on it, fully experience it, and then let go of it.”
Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, also believes that letting go of the negative emotional memories is necessary for a healthy self.
In fact, Lee states, “Negative thought patterns spring from memories of unhappy events that you have clung to in your mind. They exert influence on your brain, leading to unproductive habits of thinking, preconceptions, even biases, all of which all have negative effects on health.”
By focusing on negative experiences, negativity can quickly become habit. It is important to keep very positive images in your mind. The first step to letting go of the negative memories is to recognize them.
The following exercise, emotional inventory, is recommended for becoming aware of your emotional habits. It is one of Lee’s self-reflection exercises.
From Ilchi Lee (Excerpted from In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging)
It is important to recognize what memories are still with you, replicating emotions long after the events have passed. Take a look at the following emotions and identify particular memories that you associate with each.
• Happiness
• Sadness
• Anger
• Fear
• Joy
• Frustration
• Love
• Serenity
|
|
|
  Mental training can improve athletic performance
Got game? Chances are, you do. We all have unique skills and talents. However, regardless of how skilled or accomplished you may be, you can probably be better. It’s just a matter of training smarter.
We have all heard it at some point in our lives, “practice, practice, practice…practice makes perfect.” The question is: what are we practicing, and how are we practicing?
Research suggests that if you can read up on and mentally train for your game for 20 to 30 minutes a day, three or more times a week, you will have a one up on those who only practice the physical game.
According to Gabriela Cora, president of the Executive Health & Wealth Institute in Miami Shores, Florida, "The more that you maintain your brain activity, the easier it's going to be to be in better shape."
Mental training helps you play better under pressure, read and predict your opponent’s moves, concentrate better and make you more confident in your performance.
A book written by Olympic Champion Lanny Bassham, “With Winning in Mind,” discusses mental conditioning. Bassham suggests that mental reinforcement—the more you think, write and talk about something—the more likely your brain’s subconscious is figuring out ways to make it happen.
Mental visualization is another great technique for training. The same parts of your brain become active when you imagine yourself doing something as when you actually do it. So if you want to be successful, picture yourself doing something successful. It’s the best preparation for developing a winning attitude—and mind.
|
|
|
  Mental Challenge
Exercise your brain with this puzzle that forces you to use your powers of deduction to find the answer.
Adam was going through some old family photos in the attic when he stumbled upon his family tree. He studied it for a couple minutes then went back down stairs to tell his wife about the family tree. The problem is, Adam didn't study it long enough to remember the whole thing. He only remembered a couple of things about it, as well as recent memories.
Can you help Adam figure out his family tree?
Clues: There are two grandparents who had two children, who both got married and had 2 more children each, for a total of 10 people (Alex, David, Jamie, Jessica, John, Justin, Lincoln, Martha, Mary and Tina).
1. One of Jamie's ancestors was David.
2. John's sister gave birth to Tina.
3. Mary went bowling with her nephew last Saturday.
4. Alex is cousins with one of the girls.
5. Justin married Mary.
6. Jessica is not an ancestor, nor cousin of Tina.
7. Lincoln's brother showed Justin's son his baseball cards.
Scroll down for the answer.
Answer:
Martha and David are the grandparents.
They gave birth to John and Mary.
John married Jessica, who gave birth to Lincoln and Alex.
Mary married Justin and gave birth to Tina and Jamie.
|
|
|
Popular Brain Tips 
An optical illusion deceives the eye into seeing something that is not present or deceives the eye by incorrectly perceiving what is present.