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!

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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.

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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.”

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 Novel H1N1 or “swine flu” as it is recently called, is a growing worry and threat to many families around the world.  It is a new virus found in April of 2009 and since, the CDC has declared it a public health emergency.  Normally this influenza is found in pigs, however, the flu has recently infected humans causing health officials to fret it will spread globally.

Swine flu contains the basic symptoms of a normal influenza, or flu such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, etc.  It is contagious.  The World Health Organization has raised the pandemic level to a six level threat scale meaning the virus is capable of being passed from human to human. 

There is no proven risk that the disease can be contracted through eating pork, drinking water, or from recreational water venues such a swimming pools or water parks.  However, it is a respiratory disease spread through coughing or sneezing and the bacteria can live on a service for up to 8 hours. 

How can you help prevent contracting this disease?  The most important thing you can do is to wash, wash, wash!  Wash your hands after a sneeze or cough with an alcohol based cleanser.  Try not to touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, this is the main way germs enter the body.  Try not to be in contact with someone who is sick, and if you are sick, stay home for at  least seven days.

A vaccine is being worked on and could be ready as soon as September of 2009.  The CDC recently presented a press conference expressing the importance of five target groups for the initial focus for immunization.  These include pregnant women, household contacts of children who are under 6 months of age, health care workers and emergency medical personnel, children and young people between 6 months-24 years of age, and non elderly adults with underlying medical conditions that have increased risk from influenza.

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People all over the world neglect their oral health because of fear.  Many skip dental exams due to a past childhood experience like not being fully numb during a procedure.  Many people don’t visit the dentist for years due to their anxiety.  Some fear they will be ridiculed for the state of their teeth.  However, it is of the utmost importance that teeth are made high priority.  Constant attention and care for teeth can help prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and even help prevent common colds and bad breath.

Here are a few tips from the American Dental Association to cure your worries:

*It is often best to share your anxiety.  If you’re tense or anxious, tell the dentist and staff.

*Try to choose a time for your dental visit when you are less rushed or under pressure.

*If the sounds of the dental machinery bother you, bring a portable CD player or Ipod to drown the sound out.

*During the dental visit, try to visualize something else, like palm trees swaying in the wind or a nice warm beach.

Remember, a smile can be absolutely everything.  Set up a dental exam for you and your children every six months and continue to take care of your body and eliminate future difficulties with your teeth.

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Many parents have a difficult time getting their young children to eat well or eat enough or eat at all.  So what’s the secret to getting your child to eat healthy food? 

Here are some ideas:

1.) Provide healthy food so junk food is not a temptation for children.  Teach them from a young age the importance of eating proper food.  Children’s bodies are growing and developing at such a fast rate, it is so important that they receive the proper daily nutrition.

2.) Your children will often develop the same eating habits as you.  Children watch and learn everything by your example.  If you aren’t eating vegetables, how can you expect them to? 

 3.) Make eating exciting by giving fun nicknames for food

4.) Cut food into different shapes so it’s fun to eat

5.) Sing a song or play a game about the food

6.) Have other children eat good food in front of your child

7.)  Offer an assortment of foods so your child will learn to like a variety of different foods.

Studies have shown that children breastfed for less than six months are more likely to become picky eaters.  So it may be a good idea to breastfeed as long as possible.

Try to use all the food groups as a guide for healthy nutrition for your child.  While the common “chicken fingers and french fries” lunch may seem easy, introduce more healthy options and your child might surprise you.  Good luck!

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The EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Journal will post a study tomorrow purporting that scientific research has provided evidence proving that Neurofeedback (also called EEG Biofeedback) is an affective treatment method for combating ADHD.

Neurofeedback is the use of external response mechanisms (like sounds or vibrations) to represent brain activity. These indicators are used to help the patients understand how their brain activity translates into undesirable physical activity. In this way, they can regain control of their brain activity and break habits or subconscious activities that impact their quality of life.

The results were collected through 15 studies on over 1000 patients with ADHD, and they showed that neurofeedback treatment has large and clinically significant effects on Impulsivity and Inattention and a modest improvement of Hyperactivity.

The idea of using neurofeedback to treat ADHD has been a controversial one with some psychiatrists, but many claim that these protests are driven by drug companies and related, non-medical motives.

Other areas where neurofeedback has been researched include treatment of substance abuse, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, OCD, learning disabilities, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, anger and rage, cognitive impairment, migraines, headaches, chronic pain, autism spectrum disorders, sleep dysregulation, PTSD and MTBI.

Do you have a child with ADHD? If so, what do you think about this type of treatment?

If you’ve flipped through a magazine or turned on the TV lately, you’ve likely seen an advertisement for the weight-loss pill alli. According to the company Web site, “If you are ready to take responsibility, alli and your hard work can help increase your weight loss by 50 [percent].”

Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, remember what your mother told you about things that seem too good to be true. alli works by blocking the absorption of a portion of the fat you consume. Blocking fat is great, but that fat has to go somewhere. With alli, the fat passes through your body naturally.

So, what are the side effects of this? According to the alli website:”Treatment effects are bowel changes that are most commonly caused by eating meals with too much fat while using alli capsules. Such effects may include oily spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that may be hard to control.

alli works by blocking the absorption of a quarter of the fat in the foods you eat. This undigested fat passes through the body naturally, and it is not harmful. In fact, you may recognize it in the toilet as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza.”

Loose stools? Oily spotting? Anyone still interested?

In America, people are always looking for a quick fix. We want to lose weight, but we often don’t want to exercise. We want to eat healthy food, but we don’t want to pass up our French fries and cheeseburgers.  Getting healthy and losing weight is hard work. Often, it isn’t as simple as taking a pill.

(photo credit: newbirth)

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Remember when your mom used to bring you a piping hot bowl of chicken soup when you were feeling under the weather? Turns out, Mom might have been on to something.

Recently, researchers decided to put the old chicken soup remedy to the test. They tested a number of store-bought and homemade chicken soups to determine their effects on cold symptoms. The result? Chicken soup actually helps alleviate congestion by reducing inflammation in air passages and also helps keep us hydrated.

Have you had any success treating cold symptoms with chicken soup? If so, share your story and your chicken soup recipe!

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