If you are one of those who are focused on keeping the body healthy, congratulations! But don’t forget that the mind needs the same attention, too. Our minds often get cluttered with lists of things to do, challenges in the home or workplace, relationship issues, and many more. It is, therefore, very important to cleanse our minds regularly. A healthy mind is not only positive and calm, it is also clear, focused and active. 1. [b]Exercise your mind[/b] Keep the mind healthy by learning and discovering new things. If you continue to challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow, literally. An active brain produces new connections between nerve cells that allow them to communicate with one another. This helps your brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age. * Learn to play a musical instrument. * Play games like Sudoku, Scrabble or solve crossword puzzles. * Interact with others. * Consider starting a new career. * Start a new hobby, like painting, biking or bird-watching. * Learn a foreign language. * Volunteer at church or socio-civic organizations. * Stay informed about what's going on in the world. * Read. * Take classes that interest you. * Watch movies that will get you thinking. 2. [b]Keep moving[/b] Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain. Physical activity also makes you feel more energetic and alert. If you are thinking about what kind of exercise to embark on, remember to make it fun so you can stick to it! Pick an activity you enjoy: gardening, ballroom dancing, walking your dog, jogging, etc. And do it for at least 30 minutes, most days of the week. * Park your car farther away and walk the extra distance. * Take the stairs instead of an elevator. * When watching TV, jog in place or do some stretching. * Go for a walk or run, and bring an mp3 player along so you can enjoy your favorite music. 3. [b]Develop healthy eating habits[/b] If you are concerned about keeping memory loss at bay, remember to make healthy choices in food, habits and other areas. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Many of these contain antioxidants — substances that protect and nourish brain cells. Antioxidants may also help prevent cholesterol from damaging the lining of your arteries and slowing blood flow to your brain. 4. [b]Manage your stress[/b] You can’t avoid stress totally, but try to keep it to a minimum. When you're stressed, your brain releases hormones that can damage your brain if you're exposed to them for a long time. Chronic stress can also leave you feeling depressed or anxious. * Take a break, even for only a few minutes at a time. Use this time to breathe deeply and relax. * Meditate. * Simplify your life. * Decrease the number of your activities if you are already overwhelmed. Learn to say no so you can focus on things that are really important to you. * End each day on a positive note by reading an inspiring book, reflecting on something positive that you did or that happened to you that day, or listen to soothing music. * Use aromatherapy oils like ylang ylang to calm the mind or unwind. Peppermint and orange can invigorate and energize you. * Keep a journal. It can help you process your thoughts and feelings. * Think positive. Negativity can prevent you from handling stress well and thinking calmly and creatively. Being positive will bring you new opportunities and will help you find solutions to your problems. * Set realistic goals. Think about where you'd like to be in your career, what your financial goals are, what new hobby you would like to take up, or how you'd like your relationships to be. 5. [b]Avoid smoking[/b] Smoking can cause memory loss. Plus, smokers have twice the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease compared to people who have never smoked. So if you smoke, stop now — it's never too late. Smoking does not only result in Alzheimer’s, but in other illnesses as well, like heart disease, cancer, emphysema, and more. 6. [b]See your doctor regularly[/b] Discuss health concerns with your doctor, like memory loss, with your doctor. He or she can look at your overall health and come up with strategies to help you. Your doctor will also encourage you to have routine medical exams to monitor the functions of your thyroid gland, your blood pressure, cholesterol level and blood sugar level. These are relatively easy to check and are good indicators of what's going on inside your body. source: [url=https://www.nestle.com.ph/recipe/nestleclub/default.asp]Nestlé Club[/url]