So now that you’re training your brain, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising, are there any brain supplements to consider to go along with your balanced diet? YEP
DHA
Since the brain is about 60% fat, this is probably the most important brain supplement you can take. We have already covered this, if you missed it... here’s a link.
http://www.nutritiongeeks.com/blog/index.php/2012/11/30/are-you-a-fat-head/
Vitamin D
A Japanese study on 527 municipal employees aged 21 to 67 found that during the fall and winter, those who had vitamin D levels in the highest quartile, were 49 percent less likely to have depression. Another study by USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University looked at 318 people with an average age of 73 over 4 years. Participants who were deficient in Vitamin D were twice as like to have dementia, Alzheimer’s, and stroke.
Now that I started writing this, I know why I never seemed to get around to it. At 40 years old, I’m sitting here in the worst physical shape of my life... ugh. I haven’t worked out on a regular basis for over 4 years and with 3 young boys and a business, excuses are never in short supply.
When I was a powerlifter, my motivation was my desire to make the World team. I’d pick a contest date, make an 8-12 week plan and then train. I didn’t make a decision to go or not go to the gym each day, after I picked a contest, I never gave myself the option again.
A link to this article will be posted on our Facebook page and I’d love to see some comments about how you stay motivated to exercise... OR if you’re like me right now, then what’s the problem?
"Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness."
- Edward Smith-Stanley (1752-1834) — English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The goal of this article is to challenge the way you think about your sleep. We all know that we feel like crap if we don’t get enough, and we feel better after a good nights sleep. Other than that, sleep is very mysterious. Science has been looking at sleep from every angle and asking every question, including why we need to sleep at all. The first big clue to the importance of sleep is found just by observing how fiercely our bodies demand it. When we’re low on water, we get thirsty, and when we’re very low on water, we get very thirsty. The same is true when we get hungry or when we get tired. We can all condition ourselves to get by on less, but the big question is whether or not our bodies learn to function optimally on less too.
Yes, you’re a fat head... and that’s a great thing, because 60% of our brains are made of fat. We can all agree that Omega-3’s are amazing, but since we’re focusing on the brain in this series, then we'll just talk about DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). DHA accounts for about 30% of the structural fats in your gray matter and 97% of the total omega-3’s in the brain.
Studies on DHA have exploded and it’s been found to be good for us from 9 months before the cradle, and all the way to the grave. I’m not joking, DHA is critical for the developing brain of a fetus through infancy. There have have been very positive studies done on children, young adults, middle aged, and the elderly... did I leave anyone out? It’s also been shown that people suffering from conditions like Alzheimer's, ADHD, and Depression generally have very low levels of DHA.
It’s important to note the studies that looked at Alzheimers have mixed results, but a study that tested age related cognitive decline was very positive... suggesting maybe we should pay attention to this sooner than...
I’ve seen a lot of advertisements lately, both on the net and TV, for brain training products like Lumosity. Nintendo DS also has a very popular game called Brain Age. All told, brain training is a billion dollar a year industry, but does it work?
In 2009, BBC Labs UK designed an experiment to answer that question. Led by Dr. Adrian Owen, a British neuroscientist, they created a number of games that were representative of those on the commercial market and tested them on over 13,000 participants. Each participant was placed into 1 of 3 groups; the reasoning game group (games involve planning, problem-solving and analysis), the non-reasoning game group (games involve short-term memory, attention to detail, maths and interpreting visual information), and the control group (asked to just use the internet to find the answers to simple questions, like when did Henry the VIII die). Each group was asked to play for 10 minutes 3 days each week for 6 weeks.
After 6 weeks, what did they find? They found that the participants got better at the games but they didn’t get any smarter. Using 4...
These days there is much hype around positive thinking and how this is the key to happiness and satisfaction in life. We are told to keep an upbeat mindset through thick and thin in order to come out tops everywhere and every time. However, recent research has shown that such extreme, and possibly not always obtainable, levels of positivity are not necessary for us to benefit greatly. All it takes is an awareness of the good moments throughout the day and we will build up resilience to the ups and downs of life.
Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences, and the principal investigator of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory was involved in a month-long study where 86 participants were required to submit "emotion reports" on a daily basis. Typically in trials happiness levels are assessed using a person's recollection of their life experience over prior months. This daily reporting method, however, is much more accurate, as a person finds it easier to recall feelings on a daily basis. Furthermore, researchers can also obtain information on variations...
This website was created as a space for inspiration, giving and learning. As the author of the LifeMadeGreat blog it is my means of sharing with others and helping people to make some sense of what can be a confusing world. The purpose of this site is to enable others to grow and find fulfilment in life.
It is a personal development site, but it is not for quick fixes and ultimate tips. Everybody is at different stages in their life, with different issues and needs. Sometimes I feel that if we don't get to the bottom of things, no amount of force to change our behavior will work. The issues will persist and all the stronger. So, I approach personal growth from an aspect of understanding first.
Finding The Reasons Behind The Issue
Often revealing the reasons underlying our ways, accepting them and then letting go, brings the ultimate relief and growth. From a position of understanding, one is empowered to see new possibilities, create options and make the necessary changes in order to progress in life.
Frequently textbook solutions don't seem real or lists of winning...
