Do you frequently forget people’s names or important dates or walk into a room and forgot why you went in there?  Rest assured, you are not alone.  And over the years, it seems as if it just gets worse.  However, all you really have to do is focus and try. 

Eat Antioxidant rich food. Antioxidants are found mainly in fruits and vegetables.  Berries and nuts are perfect examples.  These types of foods will help fortify your memory.

Visualize. Concentrate on the task of remembering.  Write it down.  Say it out loud.  Go back an hour later and do it again.  One popular memory tactic is to picture a cul-de-sac with about 8-9 houses.  In each house, store a descrete part of what you are trying to remember.  Often giving a place for things asssits in the recall.  It helps use and store things in your long term memory, as opposed to short term memory.

Read.  Read regularly.  It sharpens the mind and develops nerve connections in the brain and the best part is you don’t have to sweat while doing it!

Learn.  Be consistent in learning new things, even simple things like decorating a cake, or learning a board game.  Constantly keeping the brain active assists in brain functionality. 

With a little hard work and a splash of positivity, you just might be surprised with your impressive memory skills and you just might remember where you put your car keys next time.  Good luck!

(Photo credit: Flikr)

Are you guilty of the most overlooked, unhealthy practice in America — getting too little sleep?  Most of us are!  In this 21st century fast paced lifestyle, sleep is definitely a must.

Sleep ensures functionality of the brain, perfomance of tasks, and even sharpens memory.  It can also aid in losing weight. 

The average human body needs about 7 1/2-8 hours of sleep.  Some people even need 11-12 hours a night all their lives.  The best time and most affective restful sleep is before midnight.  (8 p.m.-12 p.m.) Good sleepers take only a 1/2 hour to fall asleep and only wake up once or twice throughout the night, and fall right back asleep.

Women have a more difficult time with sleep than men.  Stress plays a big role.  Many struggle to turn their minds off at night.  Insomnia feeds on stress, and it then becomes a vicious circle.

To get a better night sleep:

Exercise.  Use  of the heart and muscles allows for the body to become tired and fall asleep faster. 

Avoid caffeine and alcohol.  Both of these stir the body and decreases chance of a healthy night sleep.

Naps also tend to mess up a sleep schedule, take them early on if need be. 

The body feeds off of light, and hormones are released signaling to your brain it is time to get up so be sure to keep the room dark. 

Try not to study, eat, or balance your check book in bed.  Reserve it for sleeping only. 

Sleep is so important and not something the get “caught up” on.  Whether it be busy work hours,  family or social life, sleep is not to be taken for granted.  Develop healthy sleeping habits and you will definitely notice a difference in energy in your daily routine.

Photo Credit: Flikr

There are so many things within your own home that will keep you more than preoccupied with cleaning.  But what about some of the normal household items you’ve never thought about?  Are there things in your house that are getting coated with germs and bacteria without you knowing it?  Here is a list of things to look out for:

Laptop/Computer-Most of us use electronic devices numerous times a day.  The keys can get coated with germs.  Try cleaning the keys of your computer once a week to ensure that you aren’t spreading more germs.

Salt/Pepper Shakers-Have you even thought about these?  When is the last time you cleaned them?  They are used on a daily basis.  Try using antibacterial soap or run them through the dishwasher.

Laundry/Washer-Did you know that wet laundry after it has been washed is still coated with germs?  Not until it is put in the dryer does all the bacteria disappear.  Also, be sure to wipe down your washer.  If you aren’t using hot water all the time, try using it now and again.  Hot water kills most breeding bacteria.

Dry rack-Setting your dishes in a dry rack after you’ve washed them is convenient.  However, over time this rack can accumulate some gummy microorganisms.  Putting it in the dishwasher will help decrease the risk of getting germs on your plates/dishes.

Sponge-Kitchen sponges are known for being a breeding ground for nasty bacteria.  It sits wet on your kitchen sink inviting germs.  Try using paper towels or other forms.  If you love a sponge, use it for a while then throw it away and bring out a new one.

Door nobs-Think about how many people have touched your front door in one day.  Your kids (who have been to school), the UPS man, your neighbor, and so many others.  It’s a sure way of getting sick and passing along germs.

TV Remote Control- How many times do you change the channel when you’re in the middle of cooking?  Did you just touch raw chicken then use the remote?  Daily cleaning of a remote control is the best option for decreasing a chance for illness.

Remember, the human body has an incredible immune system.  But why not help it out a little bit by ensuring the things you touch daily are clear of bacteria that might harm you or your family.

Recent findings from biology and education research show that regular schedules of physical activity actually improve the workings of the mind.

In children, regular exercise has shown an increase in memory retention, attention span, and overall learning development.  It has also shown to assist in decreasing attention deficit disorders. 

Older people are also encouraged make exercise an every day habit.  By doing so will help decrease cardiovascular disease as well as many other diseases and delay a cognitive decline. 

Brain cells grow and develop and work better when challenged.  Studies have shown that at least thirty minutes a day of walking, jogging, or weightlifting helps improve mental health. 

A recent study at the University of Carolina medical school concluded that physically active elderly people showed more cerebral blood vessels than those who were not active. 

For starters, aerobic exercise pumps more blood throughout the body, including the brain.  More blood means more oxygen, and therefore with more oxygen, the brain actually appears younger.

Overall, if you keep yourself moving, you will have more brain power when you are older!  Honestly, who doesn’t want that? 

As roman orator Cicero put it: “It is exercise alone that supports the spirits and keep the mind in vigor.”

(Photo credit: Flikr)

The new season of television recently began and I’ve been staying up late to watch all the season premieres of my shows, even the ones I’m recording. I stack them up and have a marathon watching session.

Usually I’m an early riser, because I like to write in the morning, do my work at the beginning of the day, but lately I’ve been staying in bed as long as I can, too long on some mornings. Some days I’m not doing any work.

I’ve given up on my old exercise routine even though I really love to take walks. The pain in my legs has gotten too bad to do it, however. I like to swim, but I don’t have a pool where I’m living right now. I do yoga stretching, ride a bike and lift weights, too, but I’ve given up on them as well.

I’m not eating right; abandoning my normally balanced and scheduled eating plan for simply not eating until the late night hours, finding any old thing in the ‘fridge to nosh on. I recently made French Bark, a lovely blend of chocolate, nuts, candied and dried fruit. Yes, that makes a great dinner.

I’m certainly not keeping to my sleep routine, either, substituting medication for my effective habits. I don’t have a prescription for sleep meds, so I’m using over the counter stuff. Wanna take a guess about how I’m feeling right now? I’m not sure how or when I’ll get my act together again.

Right now, I’m not letting go. I’m simply giving up.

Janet Muniz

(photo credit: face_it)

I recently read a news article that said that doctors in the United Kingdom have been told to stop prescribing antibiotics for colds.

Call me crazy, but I thought doctors knew not to prescribe antibiotics for colds. Colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria, meaning they can’t be cured with antibiotics. Thus the old saying, “There’s no cure for the common cold.”

I know some doctors prescribe antibiotics to prevent secondary infections. However, I’m sure many doctors prescribe antibiotics at the request of patients. These days, it seems doctors and patients alike are too quick too reach for drugs to cure any ailment.

When will people realize that sometimes we simply have to toughen up and suffer through an illness in order to get better?

[youtube wJxUHmNiiIg]

One of the most important things you can do is get yourself set up with a reliable and trusted pediatrician before your baby is born, reports a new study published in the journal “Pediatrics.” According to researchers, the quality of your child’s care may decrease if you don’t stick to the same physician.

The study found that children who had the same doctor during the first six months of life were more likely to receive important screenings by the age of two. Some of these important screenings include those for tuberculosis, anemia and lead poisoning, the latter of which can cause the child to have low intelligence later in life. The study consisted of 1,564 Philadelphia-born babies who were on Medicare.

The lead investigator of the study says certain children, like those from low-income, urban families, are most at-risk of not undergoing such important tests because of the lack of a steady physician. It is imperative that you ensure that your child receives these screenings, regardless of how many physicians she sees. Tuberculosis can have serious complications for children and iron-deficiency can harm their hearing and sight or adversely affect their equilibrium and movement.

Aricka Flowers

(photo credit: angelamaphone)

I once had a coworker who routinely came to work sick and expecting sympathy. She would slump around the office, whining about her symptoms and generally spreading her germs to anyone who stopped to offer a shoulder to cry on. I politely but firmly refused to enter her office on days when she was clearly ill and she eventually got the hint and started to use her sick leave on appropriate occasions.

People like my coworker are annoying but also a major health hazard. When you review the first symptoms of pneumonia you can see how showing up at the office with what appears at first to be a harmless cold or flu is anything but a minor offense.

In that same office, I had a boss who insisted I get a flu shot each year, probably to help me fend off the sick co-worker next door. It was a strategy that paid off as time and again I sailed right through flu season without so much as a sniffle.

It may feel rude to ignore the wails of the ailing coworker. But it feels a whole lot better than those cold, flu and pneumonia symptoms!

Amy Bowker

(photo credit: en321)

The first time I heard the term “walking pneumonia” I thought it sounded like the kind of illness that would befall a cartoon character. After all, pneumonia is a serious ailment. How could someone so easily walk around with the condition?

Walking pneumonia actually has a more technical name. It is called mycoplasma pneumonia, and while that title sounds a whole lot scarier, it is considered a mild version of the lung ailment pneumonia.

Even without treatment, walking pneumonia will generally not require hospitalization. It is spread through coughing and sneezing, and symptoms don’t generally appear until one to four weeks after exposure. Some of the early symptoms include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Sore throat

But just because walking pneumonia doesn’t pack the lethal punch of other pneumonias, it is still an illness that deserves close attention. A lowered immune system can not only affect your ability to keep up with your normal routine, it can leave you susceptible to catching other, and more serious, ailments.So whenever I’m feeling under the weather, I trek on over to my doctor’s office and let the professionals decide the severity of my condition. After all, self-misdiagnosing any sort of ailment is only a laughing matter if you’re a cartoon character.

Amy Bowker

(photo credit: sashala)

[youtube 9VforjweJZY]