I get asked this question a lot. The brain is an incredibly complex organ that acts as the body’s control center. The brain manages just about everything a person does. There are as many as 100 billion cells, called neurons, in the brain. The communication between neurons is what forms the basis for all brain function.
Stress, nutritional deficiencies such as folic acid, thyroid malfunction, iodine deficiency, poor or improper diet, low blood sugar, diabetes, and toxins like heavy metals can contribute to poor memory.
“Senior moments” are not necessarily due to aging but there is what is called “age related memory loss“. Researchers are finding that this is different from Alzheimer’s and is not one and the same thing.
Age related memory loss does not result from damage to the neurons or the brain cells as with Alzheimer‘s. Researchers are posing that the problem is in the connection between the neurons and how they communicate with each other. This is promising because there are things that can be done to help the connection between the brain cells or the “synapses” function.
Here are some things that you can try for improving memory:
- Eat enough protein. Protein is very important for the synapses to function.
- Get enough sleep.
- Take anti-oxidants. There is evidence that “oxidative stress” can affect memory. This means that anti-oxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium and glutathione can help prevent memory loss.
- Eat food high in anti-oxidants such as red beans, pinto beans, berries, cranberries, artichokes, apples, and pecans to name a few.
- Eat regular meals throughout the day. Going hungry is bad for the adrenals and bad for the blood sugar, therefore bad for the brain and memory.
- Get your adrenals and thyroid checked by Dr. Waugh. If these are not functioning up to par, it can affect memory.
- Check to see if you have heavy metal toxicity. (Ask Dr. Waugh)
- Take extra folic acid and B12.
Some health care researchers believe that memory loss is not a normal part of aging. So, “age related memory loss” does not have to happen to you!
