| Perhaps you are getting older and are noticing a | | | | Brain puzzles such as Sudoku, crosswords, chess |
| decline in your brain function; or you are a student | | | | and certain others are great ways to stimulate |
| preparing for a huge test; or you are just curious | | | | your brain function. These games or puzzles |
| if there is anything you can do to enhance your | | | | should be difficult enough to solve/beat to where |
| brain function. Well the obvious answer is YES! We | | | | it takes significant effort to do so. Where they |
| will discuss the top 10 things in no particular order. | | | | are too easy or too hard will accomplish little in |
| We will start with sleep. Your brain needs a | | | | the way of brain stimulation, although too hard is |
| certain amount of time to rest in order to even | | | | better than too easy. Each type of puzzle tends |
| begin functioning at its maximum capability. Think | | | | to stimulate a different part of the brain, such as |
| of it as hard drive that gets extremely | | | | Sudoku is more mathematical and pattern based, |
| fragmented in just one day of work, and if you | | | | crossword tends to stimulate the language and |
| don't let it completely defrag, it's just going to | | | | memory, while chess tends to stimulate the logical |
| work slower the whole next day. So give your | | | | and strategic part. Therefore it is important to |
| brain 8 hours to fully "defrag." | | | | understand this when choosing your puzzle(s). |
| One of the easiest things you can do to stimulate | | | | Learning something new may be one of the best |
| your brain is reading. Reading provides one of the | | | | ways to stimulate those who are past their |
| most positive stimulations to your brain. It doesn't | | | | school years. This something new should be |
| even matter so much what it is that you read. | | | | something that you will enjoy learning otherwise it |
| Written words that require to be read rather than | | | | may do little in the way of stimulation. A new |
| listened to (audio books will not work) involves a | | | | hobby is a great start. Learn how to make that |
| very deep process that stimulates both sides of | | | | patio you've been dreaming about for ages, and |
| your brain. As good as reading is there is | | | | actually make it. Perhaps plan a trip to a country |
| something, that once mastered, stimulates your | | | | whose native language is not a language that you |
| brain even more. It is called speed reading. Before | | | | now speak. Then proceed to learn that language |
| you dismiss this as something that's too hard or | | | | to near fluent status, perhaps make it even more |
| not worth the time investment, consider this. | | | | motivational by making the trip a reward for |
| What if your that huge client case you have to | | | | learning the new language. |
| read or the biology homework that would take | | | | Music and brain stimulation remains somewhat of |
| you two hours to read was cut down by FIVE or | | | | a controversial topic, however it is now widely |
| more times. That means two hours of reading | | | | accepted and confirmed by research that certain |
| your biology homework now only takes just a bit | | | | types of music will cause your brain to function at |
| over TWENTY minutes. Just imagine what you | | | | a different level. There is some new research of |
| could do with the extra time. Not only that but all | | | | brain waves that especially confirms this. Classical |
| of the stuff you just read in that twenty minutes | | | | music, especially by Mozart, is the current most |
| you will remember better and be able to recall | | | | widely accepted music for positive brain |
| easier than if you spent two hours doing it. This is | | | | stimulation; although most if not all music |
| real and ANYONE can do it. It does require | | | | stimulates the brain in one way or another. An |
| patience, practice and a proper guide, we | | | | even better approach here is to learn to play an |
| recommend Breakthrough Rapid Reading. With this | | | | instrument like the piano or the guitar. There is |
| new found ability you will be drastically more | | | | massive research that confirms that learning to |
| productive but more important is your brain | | | | play an instrument has amazing results on a |
| stimulation will go through the roof. | | | | person's brain function in all areas of life. A note |
| One of the most important elements that the | | | | here to those who cannot stand to listen to |
| brain needs to function at its highest potential is | | | | classical music, avoid music that is too heavy or |
| oxygen. Spend 30 minutes doing cardiovascular | | | | fast; soothing background music is best. |
| exercises (running, biking, treadmill, etc.) and you | | | | Spirituality is perhaps a generalized word for this |
| will notice an amazing improvement in your brain | | | | area as this area deals with your internal thoughts |
| function as your heart is able to distribute oxygen | | | | and attitudes. This is more of a right brain |
| more easily throughout your whole body, including | | | | stimulation area which means, knowledge, |
| your brain, when you are cardio fit. | | | | numbers and logic have nothing to do with it. |
| The food you eat is obviously important for your | | | | Imagination is perhaps a better word; however it |
| brain however which foods are best can | | | | is too narrow to encompass this whole area. This |
| sometimes be confusing. First one is wild caught | | | | area has to do with thinking and imagining about |
| fish; let me emphasize NOT farm raised but wild | | | | being on that wonderful vacation and not just |
| caught and even better sea fish such as salmon. | | | | thinking about it, but actually visualizing yourself |
| Next are the two foods that will probably cause | | | | seeing that waterfall, seeing how the water |
| you to say huh? They are chocolate and coffee. | | | | splashes into the pool, you standing there taking |
| Yes chocolate and coffee, BUT the chocolate has | | | | that picture. This also involves you evaluating |
| to be 100% organic, 75% cocoa bean or more, in | | | | yourself and your behavior and how it relates to |
| other words very dark chocolate and the coffee | | | | society and/or your guide that keeps your |
| has to be 100% organic freshly ground coffee. | | | | grounded, such as your Bible. This is a newer area |
| We need to emphasize that it must NOT have | | | | of study for much of the academic world and |
| any preservatives and USDA organic is not good | | | | there is so very much information floating around |
| enough; it must be 100% organic. Other good | | | | about it that it would take many books to cover |
| brain foods are whole grain breads, eggs, fresh | | | | it all. We suggest taking the time to look more |
| salads, and fruit; especially blueberry. | | | | into stimulating this part of your brain as the |
| Supplements and drugs are somewhat | | | | benefits can be profound. |
| controversial because of the possible side effects | | | | The last one to mention is memory exercises. |
| nevertheless this editorial would be incomplete | | | | There are several kinds of memory exercises |
| without the mention of these. First is hgh, or | | | | and it is best to spend some time researching |
| human growth hormone. Once we get into our | | | | them online as there are many that can be |
| twenties our body's natural production of hgh | | | | beneficial. We will mention two. First take a |
| declines exponentially. As youngsters we are able | | | | dictionary and flip to a random page then scan to |
| to learn a new language, perform mathematical | | | | a word that you do not recognize then proceed |
| functions, memorize and many more brain | | | | to memorize the word and its meaning. Do this |
| intensive functions significantly easier than when | | | | for three to five words every day. Second, |
| we get into the later years, and research proves | | | | search for "random word generator" online then |
| that hgh is the single most important determinant | | | | choose one of the several free sites and |
| of this ability. HGH is the only one that can be | | | | generate 10 random words. Then take 60 |
| taken naturally without the risk of side effects. | | | | seconds and try to memorize each of the |
| Modafinil is a prescription only drug used to treat | | | | random words. After the 60 seconds try to write |
| narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Research | | | | down as many as you can remember. Once you |
| shows that patients who use Modafinil show | | | | can remember all 10 words, move up to 20 |
| better memory retention as well as other | | | | words, and so on. |
| increased brain function. Modafinil does carry with | | | | There are actual competitions where people can |
| it some significant side effect concerns including | | | | remember 500 or more random words in 60 |
| death in case of overdose and addiction therefore | | | | seconds of looking at them…now that's an |
| it is something that should only be taken with | | | | amazing memory. You can get there too; higher |
| caution and on rare occasion. Ritalin is another | | | | school grades, noticeably better work |
| prescription only drug that is used primarily for | | | | performance or just all around enhanced brain |
| ADHD and has very similar benefits and concerns | | | | function are possible with these sometimes simple |
| as Modafinil. | | | | but amazing memory stimulating methods. |