Keeping Your Brain in Shape

Being a doctor of chiropractic, I spend so much of my time helping people get and keep their bodies healthy and in shape. We all know the importance of keeping our bodies fit. What about our brains? Keeping our brains healthy not only helps us now, but can help us age in a healthy way. So what can we do to keep our brains in shape?
First, get out and be social. Keeping involved with family and friends helps us avoid cognitive decline sometimes associated with aging. You can accomplish this by getting out and involved in your community. Have a hobby that you enjoy? Join a group that enjoys the same hobby. Into politics? Help out your favorite candidate by volunteering. There are tons of ways that you can get out and meet people, keeping your brain active.
Do activities that really challenge your brain. Activities that require concentration and logical thinking keep your brain in tip-top shape. Do crossword puzzles, sudoku, and logic puzzles regularly. These are found everyday in the paper (reading the paper is good for your brain too!) and there are tons of free websites that offer these daily. Just google it!
Keep in mind that your brain, while quite unique, is still another organ in your body. Therefore, what keeps your body healthy also helps to keep your brain healthy. Regular exercise increases blood flow throughout your body, including your brain. Your blood carries the nutrients that your brain and body needs to regenerate old cells. The more blood flow, the more nutrients available to keep you healthy. Also, supply what your brain needs through a healthy diet. Brain healthy foods include dark-colored vegetables, colorful fruits, and fish. Be sure to get adequate omega-3 fatty acids also.
With a little work, it's possible to keep your brain healthy and young for your entire lifetime!