Mental Aerobics
by Barbara Bruce
God created the brain to be the most amazing organism in the universe and gave one to each of us. Consider this: You are unique in God's creation. There never has been nor will there ever be a brain just like yours. It is in your very best interest to do active maintenance to keep your brain fit. You will need it every day until you die.
You can hardly pick up a magazine or newspaper without some mention of the brain. Brain research is no longer simply in the medical and scientific field. Researchers from almost every discipline, including religion, are studying human brain function. I'm sure you all know that you should do crossword puzzles and play "Jeopardy" and maybe even walk every day. All very good advice, but there is much more you can do to maintain brain fitness. Read on.
First things first. Change your diet. Your brain and body function as a whole unit. You cannot separate them. What you do for one, you do for both. Fill up on lots of fruits and vegetables — the darker, more intense the color, the better. These items contain antioxidants that help destroy free radicals in your system. These free radicals damage your entire system and help build plaque, which can cause great harm.
Drink lots of water. Your brain is 78 percent water. To keep it functioning optimally, you must keep it hydrated. Cut back on bad fats — the kind that clog your arteries. Clogged arteries don't allow sufficient blood to flow to your brain. Include olive and canola oil in your daily diet to increase the good Omega 3 fatty acids. Eliminate (or use very sparingly) butter and hydrogenated margarine. Decline fried foods and avoid highly processed food. Eat more fish and chicken. And control your portion size. Carrying around extra weight is not good for body or brain.
Second, exercise. You knew it was coming, right? To keep oxygen flowing to your brain you must exercise daily. Walking swimming, and biking are all good exercises. Not only is moving good for your brain by bringing it much-needed oxygen, it also provides a brain break from routine. Get in the fresh air, perhaps meet new folks, talk about your day, and so forth. Aim for an hour of some form of exercise three to five days a week.
You don't have to join an expensive health club to reap the benefits of exercise. Purchase a good pair of walking shoes or a bicycle (and helmet) and you're good to go. Swimming is good for folks who have problems with joints and can't deal well with running (or sometimes even walking). Get your exercise in whatever way is most appealing to you and that you will incorporate into your lifestyle.
Third, challenge your brain every day. Do crossword puzzles, Jumbles, word searches, jigsaw puzzles. As these become too easy, move up to the next level of difficulty. Take a course. There is a woman in my Mental Aerobics class who is also taking a woodshop class. She's learning new techniques, meeting new people, and keeping her brain fit. Another way to keep your brain challenged is to participate in Disciple, Christian Believer, Witness, or other in-depth Bible study classes. Or teach a Sunday school class. You'll be amazed how much you can learn by teaching. Learn something new to keep your brain challenged.
Fourth, incorporate newness and novelty. Give your brain a workout. Get it involved in doing everyday tasks in new ways. I have my students read a paragraph upside down. I invite them to brush their teeth or eat a meal with their non-preferred hand. We know from experiments with people who have had strokes that the brain can be rewired to learn new ways of doing things. If these tasks seem too much, start small. Sit in a different pew in church or a different seat at the dinner table. Find a new route to work, church, or the mall.
The fifth suggestion is love. We are communal beings. You survive and function better in community than in isolation. The more contact with others — physical and emotional — the better your brain responds. Hug someone today!
The essence of Jesus' message is love of God and neighbor. When you do for others within and beyond your faith community, you are living out Jesus' teachings and doing some good for your brain as well.
I do a fair amount of work with caretakers in nursing homes. When we talk about this suggestion of love, they tell me wonderful stories of the people they care for and how well they respond when they are shown love. This show of love can be as simple as a smile, a small touch of the hand, or a pat on the back. These same techniques work in church as well. Taking time to focus on another person does wonders for both of you.
To keep your brain fit and functioning for a very long time, practice these five suggestions.
- Diet — Change your diet, change your life.
- Exercise — Get some every day or almost every day.
- Challenge — Give your brain something to think about each day.
- Newness and novelty are good brain aerobics.
- Love — Find someone to hug each day.
Incorporate these five practices as a part of your lifestyle to keep your brain fit!
Barbara Bruce is an educator, author, and national speaker. She serves on the Older Adult Ministry Team for the Western New York Conference and is a freelance curriculum writer. Barbara has written several books including Our Spiritual Brain: Integrating Brain Research and Faith Development (Abingdon, 2002) and a new book coming out in February titled Mental Aerobics: 75 Ways to Keep Your Brain Fit (Abingdon, 2004). Barbara will be presenting at the Bridging FaithWalks Adult Ministries Conference in San Francisco in February 2004.