Kymberly Williams-Evans, MA and Alexandra Williams, MA
The latest in brain research makes it abundantly clear: If you want a sound mind and body, your brain must be in balance. Now some people might claim that half of Fun and Fit (the missing half this week, aka Alexandra) are wacky and off-balance! And they might be right….. But that’s another post that looks at the role wit and laughter play in longevity.
Want to be a Brainiac? Buy this e-book co-authored with Heather Frey
This blog is mine, all mine. (Insert maniacal laughter here) as A-twin is off on vacation. She’s probably upping her serotonin and dopamine levels, which is a brain balancing good thing! So you all get to hear about my fave topic these days (ok, my “obsession”) -- how can we achieve the healthiest brain possible?
- 1) First off, the more active your body, the more balanced your brain. Move, move, move if you want to be smarter! Lean, active people lessen their odds of having dementia by HALF; obese, inactive people increase their odds of dementia (including Alzheimer’s) by DOUBLE! Who is least likely to develop Alzheimer’s? People who move, laugh, AND eat brain smart foods. (Look for upcoming posts that reveal the most brain boosting foods and activities).
- 2) Be aware that more than any other organism in the body, the brain is affected by your workout, lifestyle, and eating choices. The type of exercise that most stimulates your brain? Cardio! Even a simple, low key walk or dance class “youthens” your brain. Hmmm, makes me wonder why we have the word “ages” but I had to make up the word “youthens.
- 3) Exercise literally changes your brain, all for the better. You can “train” your blood vessels, including the ones feeding your brain, to get more fit with exercise. Activity directly influences learning at the cellular level. In addition to priming our mind, exercise improves the brain’s ability to log in and process new information. In short, exercisers are better learners. Contrast for a moment to working out primarily to get in shape, lose weight, lower fat, and all those other key motivators. Doesn’t the thought of getting smarter with age motivate you even more?
That’s enough sitting and reading for now, eh? Time to get a move on. She’s a brainiac, brainiac, on the floor, and she’s dancing like she’s never danced before!
For the record, the rumors of twins being half-wits are not true! I got all the brains! Alexandra got the looks, personality, inheritance, sympathy cards.
Readers: What would you do to get smarter with age and be the most intelligent 100 year old around?
Brain Graphic courtesy of the talented Heather Frey, aka SmashFit, a fitness pro par excellence AND a graphic designer! Did I mention that exercise also increases creativity?
The fact that exercise is good for the brain makes sense to me. My elderly mom has been part of a tap dance group up until the last few years called the Red Hot Mamas. I knew the exercise was good for her physically, but I often thought that it had to be a great brain exercise too. Think about it: you have to remember all those routines, you have to count, you have to focus. Exactly the kind of thing that those brain training programs want you to do.
Appreciatively,
Dr. Lynn K. Jones, Certified Personal and Executive Coach
http://www.lynnkjones.com
This definitely makes a lot of sense to me too. Getting the blood pumping to the brain is always a good thing. My grandparents are in their early 90′s and are both still sharp as tacks. They go dancing at the senior center twice a week and I’m convinced that getting out and moving around like this has helped them both physically and mentally.