How’s your brainpower?

Did you lose your keys this morning? Or, is the morning chorus in your house frequently, “have you seen my…”?

Well, you’re not alone. Memory lapses are pretty common among those with busy lives. We’ve got a lot to do and occasionally (or often, in some cases), the brain takes a wee nap.

The blips that occur can be put down to stress, fatigue or having too much to do but it’s also important, if they are occurring regularly, to get a health check. Lapses in concentration can be a sign of more serious illnesses.

If you have memory lapses that are just a symptom of being over stretched or getting a bad sleep the night before, there’s a lot you can do.

1. Watch your stress levels.
A healthy amount of stress helps us be motivated and get things done. If we’re under too much pressure, we stop achieving anything and just feel overwhelmed and tired. Then, recall suffers.

2. Eat well.
Certain foods (highly processed) and certain drinks, alcohol and soft drinks, are not considered healthy for the brain. Watch the sugar content of foods and keep alcohol and soft drink consumption moderate at the most. The guidelines are no more than two standard drinks a day for women and three for men. Standard drinks are quite a bit smaller than what we tend to pour!

3. Sleep.
Make your bedroom a sanctuary that allows 8 hours of peaceful slumber. Remove the clutter and the technology; Ensure the room is peaceful and dark and, a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cool. Consider a bedtime routine to help you wind down and make it technology free – reading a book? Meditation? Enjoying a calming tea? A restful sleep supplement?

4. Take time out.
We tend to get bogged down in focussed work or technology (is that your Smartphone in bed?) and can forget to look up, shift our focus and even refresh our eyes. Studies show, time outside, in nature is very good for the brain too.

5. Consider meditation.
It’s very hard for busy people to believe the solution to getting everything done is to just sit there. But many enlightened folk attest to it. Doing nothing and thinking nothing is good for the brain and, believe it or not, good for productivity.

Blackmores has a range of supplements for brain health. The tried and true herb Ginkgo biloba is known to support memory, mental clarity and focus along with healthy circulation; the newer herb on the block, turmeric, is known to support healthy memory and recall in ageing brains. Blackmores Brain Active contains a scientifically validated extract of curcumin from turmeric. Blackmores sleep range can help you with the deep and restorative sleep and in this range you will find the herbs valerian, hops, lemonbalm and lavender and the mineral magnesium. Magnesium, taken on its own, can also support healthy sleep.

For more information on brain health and memory, check out the articles available here or phone a qualified naturopath on the Blackmores Naturopathic Advisory Line 0508 75 74 73.