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  Strokes happen—to anyone, at any age, at any time. So, if you are one of those people who think, “this won’t happen to me,” change your thinking, because if you want to minimize your risk of having a stroke you need to understand what causes a stroke to happen in the first place.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is disrupted by a blocked, leaking or burst blood vessel. Strokes can cause paralysis, difficulty with swallowing, speech problems, inability to concentrate, language comprehension issues, mood swings and damaged eyesight…even death.
By knowing what can cause a stroke, you will be better prepared in trying to prevent one, regardless of your age. According to Helen Webb, spokeswoman for the Stroke Association, “A quarter of strokes happen to those under 65, and 1,000 people every year who have strokes are under 30.”
High blood pressure accounts for 70 percent of strokes. But an accident (something falling on your head) or even a sudden neck movement (an overextended neck in a sink during hair washing, fairground rides, sitting in a dentist’s chair, sit-ups, etc.) can also cause strokes…even if they are rare.
There are also other risk factors. If you are diabetic or of African, Afro-Caribbean or Asian decent, then you are statistically more likely to have a stroke.
However, the good news is that an estimated 40 percent of strokes can be prevented, and simple lifestyle changes—keeping a normal blood pressure, not drinking to excess, being smoke free, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy, low-sodium diet—can help you lower your risk. The key is to keep your weight normal.
Just because you say a stroke won’t happen to you doesn’t mean that it can’t. So embrace the alternative—do not ignore the possibility—because the decisions you make with your life can and often do shape the quality of the life you live.
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  Be flexible.
When you hear these two words, you probably think of one thing: a challenge to see another point of view. Doctors suggest that you should think of something else as well—body and brain health, particularly blood circulation.
The simple process of blood flowing throughout your body is very important for your health and longevity. According to Dr. Dewall Hildreth, “good muscular tone and upper back alignment and flexibility not only assist circulation carrying nutrients to the heart but waste products away.”
As we age, it is easy to become more physically inactive. And as we sit—viewing computer screens and televisions, looking at books, magazines or crossword puzzles—it is easy for parts of our body to become less flexible.
According to Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and co-author of In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, “The neck is one of the most likely parts of the skeleton to become misaligned…[it] is often changed for the worse by the things we habitually do.”
To help yourself stay aligned, Lee suggests practicing stretching exercises to keep healthy circulation—for your body and brain. Use the following exercise, neck stretch, to keep your blood flowing and to maintain neck alignment.
From Ilchi Lee (Excerpted from In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging)
• Move only your neck and head, very slowly. Relax the rest of your body. Stretch your neck backward, pushing your chin upward.
• Bend your head sideways to the left and try to touch your left ear to your left shoulder.
• Repeat this movement in the opposite direction, trying to touch your right ear to your right shoulder.
• Slowly turn your head to the left.
• Repeat this movement in the opposite direction, turning your head to the right.
• Next, rotate your head to the left.
• Repeat this movement in the opposite direction.
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 An optical illusion deceives the eye into seeing something that is not present or deceives the eye by incorrectly perceiving what is present.
There are different types of optical illusion—literal optical illusions, physiological illusions and cognitive illusions. Here is an example of a cognitive illusion, where the eye and brain make unconscious inferences.
Focus on the dot in the center on the left and the dot in the center on the right, which one is bigger?
The dots are actually the same size. The dot on the left, surrounded by larger dots may appear smaller, whereas the dot on the right, surrounded by smaller dots may appear larger, but the two center dots are, in fact, a match.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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Popular Brain Tips 
In Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga started, yoga means union—the coming together of mind, body and spirit. In today’s American school classroom, where the ancient practice is becoming increasingly popular, yoga is being used in a new way—as a warm up exercise to improve learning.