Forever Young May 2012
Forever
Young
Quest for
Great Aging May 2012
In the
quest for great aging, we often focus on what we see in the mirror. Not that appearance is a bad thing,
particularly from my vantage point as a plastic surgeon where the aesthetic
appearance is a large part of my practice.
Working out at the gym to tone the muscles, proper diet to trim the
waist, advanced skin treatments to make our skin glow round out our goals for
great aging, right?
Well,
there is one part of our body that we cannot forget about in our quest for
great aging, the brain. Here are a few
interesting facts. Apparently when god
created us, he did not spare any effort in creating our brain. Did you know that the brain receives 25% of
the blood that is pumped from the heart with every beat? That is significant
when you consider that the brain, which weighs in at an average of 3 pounds, is
less than 2% of the total body weight for an average human (or even less for
some). Why so much? Perhaps it is because the brain plays a role
in most body functions including basal controls like heart rate, blood
pressure, breathing and sleeping as well as higher brain functions, including
emotions, reasoning, analysis and flight or fight response in emergencies, all
of which require good brain health to get the tasks done.
So when
we are looking at our life cycle and our hopes for a long healthy productive
life, we need to focus on brain health first and foremost, not only to enjoy
life but also to fend off dementia, which can surely put a damper on our later
years. Loss of cognitive abilities can
make those 'golden years' not so golden!
If you
are still reading this column, then I have to assume I have piqued your
interests and stimulated your cerebral cortex to learn more. Because our brain is affected by the type of
environmental stimuli we are exposed to, there are things we know that we can
and must do for great brain health. So
here are 5 ways to save you brain and maintain good brain function.
Physical
activity- keeping your body active will help the circulation of blood flow to
the brain. Studies show that regular
walking can reduce the risk of dementia.
Get yourself a pedometer to measure your steps during the day. Aim daily for 9000 steps. Find physical activities you can enjoy besides
traditional exercise, such as working in the garden, dancing, hiking or biking.
Mental
activity- crossword puzzles can keep the mind alert, but try activities that
involve many senses, such as playing musical instruments, or travelling. Exposure to unique environments with travel
to get you out of your routine will not only keep the mind alert, but will help
grow the mind with new and unique experiences.
Social
interaction- staying in touch with family and friends and meeting on a daily
basis will stimulate the mind. Early
retirement can lead to early dementia.
Stay active with fun hobbies and working with community groups and
volunteering to keep involved.
Spirituality-
Make sure your day includes some downtime to relax, reflect, pray or meditate. Attending
regular worship services will help promote your spiritual health and keep you
socially active. Stretching, yoga
classes and sleep can improve your mind and quality of life.
Nutrition-
excuse the pun, but here is some 'Food for Thought'. Make sure your diet includes some of the
healthy 'brain food'. Make sure your
plate is filled with lots of colorful foods.
Fruits and vegetables with color contain antioxidants, which are good
for the entire body, especially the brain.
Take in Omega fatty acids, in the form of fish and unsalted nuts several
times per week. Supplements containing
Omega fish oil can also be used. Try to
cut back on the amount of food you eat as well as the amount of processed foods
and red meat. Caloric restriction has
been shown to increase longevity, so portion control is a must.
Taking
the time to learn more about longevity and brain health will in itself be part
of the process of warding off dementia.
Go to the bookstores, surf the Internet, read books and magazines and
share what you have learned with your loved ones during a brisk walk or at the
gym. And of course, don't stop reading
this column while I continue to share ideas on health and wellness in our quest
for great aging.
Be well
buffalo!