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January 17, 2010 5 Comments

Why Your Brain Loves and Responds to Brain Games

I’m pretty sure I’m beginning to sound like a broken record when it comes to brain games, but it can’t be helped! I know the importance of brain games for brain fitness and intend to nag everyone until they’re up to their gray matter in brain games!

Just why is it that brain games are so incredible for the fitness and health of your brain? These helpful, healthy, and fun exercises for the mind activate several different neurological functions and stimulate them, which in turn helps with thought processes across the board, including memory.

Remember in my last post (Brain Puzzles and Mental Fitness, Fun Birds of a Feather), I said that I planned on ordering the 365 Brain Puzzles? Well, I headed to Amazon and did just that as soon as I published the post.

Get this: It came the very next day!

It’s everything I’d hoped it’d be and more. In fact, there was information on the first page of this interactive desk calendar that told me how to get another desk calendar free. I like freebies. I love freebies.

I’ve been sharing these brain games with the rest of my family and we all are getting a huge kick out of the challenging puzzles.

Below are other ways to play Brain Games and stimulate your mind throughout the day:

  • In your newspaper, work the Crossword Puzzle, Sudoku, and Jumble puzzles.  Don’t give up halfway through the crossword puzzles ever again.  Research and find the answers!  You’ll feel so great after you’ve filled in every box and you’ll literally feel the stimulation in your brain.
  • Look in the book’s section of your favorite store – there are lots of outstanding Brain Games on the market.  Some of these are large books, while others are small workb00ks for just a few dollars.  I recently bought a very small “Brain Teasers for Dummies” in the bargain section at Target.  I liked what they wrote on the back of the booklet, “Flex your memory muscle with a variety of puzzles in varying degrees of difficulty.  Studies have shown that puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, cryptograms, and other “mental aerobics” can help reduce memory loss due to normal aging and minimize the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.”  This Pocket Edition Brain Teasers for Dummies is available in many stores as well as on Amazon (Brain Games on Amazon).
  • Learn 3 new things each day and recite them to your cat each night.  At the end of the week, try to tell her all 21 things you learned that week!  When searching out the 3 new things, one place you might want to check is Dummies.com.  Not only do they make amazing books, they have videos and phone apps.  You could learn something new each day on their site alone.
  • Pay more attention to words around you and play brain games with them.  You can even do this while riding down the road.  Below are a few word games:
  1. Take the letters of the word and rearrange them to make new words.  For example, if you see the word McDonald’s, think:  mad, sand, scald…
  2. When the word is out of site, try spelling it backwards – trickier than it seems!
  3. When you spot a word, think of a different word you could create by changing just one letter. For example, if you see the word SPEED, you could create a new word by changing the second E to an N – SPEND.
  4. “Collect” 6 different words and make a coherent sentence with the words.
  5. “Collect” 10 words and, in order, try to remember them at the end of your trip.

Surround yourself with brain games and brain puzzles – keep one in each of the rooms of your house that you spend the most time in…. along with a pen or pencil, of course.  Your brain will be very grateful… and will reward you handsomely.

    Filed Under: Books and Reviews, Brain Games, Mental Fitness Tagged: , , ,
    January 11, 2010 7 Comments

    Brain Puzzles and Mental Fitness: Fun Birds of a Feather

    Here is the next thing you need to buy – and, at less than $10.00, there’s no time like the present! I actually have Amazon open in another window and am making the transition even as we speak!

    I’ve been hooked on Brain Games for a while now. I always have a little booklet of some form to stimulate and tickle my brain cells. This Mensa 365 Brain Puzzlers Page-A-Day Calendar 2010 (Page-A-Day Calendars) ( only $6.49 at Amazon) is right up my mental fitness alley.

    Product Description:
    Puzzle solving as extreme sport. Packed with a year of word and number conundrums tough enough to be sanctioned by Mensa, the internationally famous high-IQ society, 365 Brain Puzzlers is the perennially bestselling calendar that promises to push your neurons to the limit, every day. Gigantiwords. Sequences. Automation. Animal Crackers. And: I’m creating floral arrangements using the flowers and vases that I have. If I put one flower per vase, there are three flowers left over. If instead I put four flowers per vase (and all of the flowers get used), there are three vases left over. How many flowers and vases do I have? In case your gray matter lets you down, answers are on the reverse side of each page.

    I’ll race you to the checkout! – Mensa 365 Brain Puzzlers Page-A-Day Calendar 2010 (Page-A-Day Calendars)

    Filed Under: Books and Reviews, Brain Games, Mental Fitness Tagged: , , ,
    December 31, 2009 Leave a Comment

    3 Ways to Boost Your Brainpower

    Image of Thinking Man's Brain Through Bowler Hat
    Image of Thinking Man’s Brain Through Bowler Hat Photographic Print
    Buy at AllPosters.com

    3 Ways to Boost Your Brainpower

    The following guest article is by Carol Smith.

    It’s the most complicated machine in the world, one that can never be duplicated no matter how much man may try. It’s God’s creation at its best, and even though we don’t use it as often as we should, the human brain is capable of feats that may seem inhuman at times. It’s the most important organ in our body and when it stops functioning or even begins to slow down, our lives are affected like never before. We are dead even when we are alive, a fact that is confirmed when we see people affected by dementia, Alzheimer’s and other diseases that affect the brain.

    It’s a natural part of aging that our brains begin to deteriorate and lose their effectiveness. But there are other factors besides age that hasten the onset of dementia and mental illnesses, and if we’re able to control and manage these, we could stave off the deterioration process of our neurons and their connections. If you want to boost your brainpower and ensure that this important organ works efficiently throughout your life, read on:
    Reduce your reliance on technology: While it’s wonderful that we have so many gadgets and appliances at our disposal today, they have all served to make us lazy and inefficient. We no longer feel the need to remember simple details like addresses and phone numbers because our phone memories do that for us. We have complicated software that makes life so much more convenient, but at the same time, it wreaks havoc on our brains because it relegates our neurons to a backseat where they are not used anymore. And with less and less usage, they become rusty (for want of a better word) and slowly lose their effectiveness with the passage of time. So if you want your brain cells to remain active and not atrophy, you must use them. Try to dial numbers from memory; use your sense of direction without relying on your GPS; and remember your ATM pin number instead of storing it on your phone or PDA.

    Find ways to tax your brain cells: The brain is just like any other muscle in your body – the more you exercise it, the more developed it becomes. So tax it a little by involving yourself in new tasks – solve crossword puzzles, do the Sudoku, learn a new language, try to play a musical instrument, or play games that stimulate you mentally. When you continuously push your brain to try new things, you keep all your neurons active and form new connections, all of which keep your brain from becoming useless as you age.

    Shake up your routine: When you are used to a routine that you follow every day, your brain becomes accustomed to it. You don’t tax it too much because it functions on its version of autopilot. To ensure that you use all your brain cells, change your routine in some way or the other – take a new route to work so that you have to concentrate on getting to work in time without losing your way; try reading a different newspaper whose layout you are unfamiliar with; or cook without using your favorite recipe book. Even the smallest form of change can jog your brain cells and keep them active.

    By-line:
    This article is contributed by Carol Smith, who regularly writes on the topic of  ultrasound tech schools.  She invites your questions, comments at her email address: smithcarol.311@rediffmail.com

    Filed Under: Brain Games, Mental Fitness Tagged: , ,
    October 30, 2009 1 Comment

    Head to Foot: A Fun Little Brain Puzzle!

    Puzzle LOLcat

    This is pretty cool… you have to try this.  It takes just 2 seconds, but I promise you’ll get a kick out of it.

    This particular brain game (or challenge?) It is from an orthopedic surgeon and it’ll boggle your mind.

    1. Right now, while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
    2. Now, while doing this, draw the number ’6′ in the air with your right hand.
    3. I’ll bet your foot changed directions without you telling it to!  I also bet that if you’re anything like me, you’ll try it again at least once before you leave this site.

    Filed Under: Brain Games Tagged: , ,
    February 22, 2009 4 Comments

    You Can Sharpen Your Brain at Any Age

    The Memory Bible Did you know that most memory functions can continue to sharpen over the years? If, that is, they’re exercised and challenged.

    “Memory can be trained just like muscles,” says Gary Small, M.D., author of Memory Bible, The: An Innovative Strategy For Keeping Your Brain Young and director of the University of California-Los Angeles Center on Aging. “If you make the most of your memory and use it regularly, that portion of your brain can actually get better as you get older.”

    To sharpen your memory and strengthen your mind, do mind-challenging activities, on a daily basis. “Try to do a crossword puzzle every day to help build and maintain vocabulary and memory,” recommends Small.  The experts also agree that learning a second language is beneficial.

    As we’ve been learning in recent posts, certain foods can also age-proof the brain.

    “A 2008 British study found that eating blueberries can enhance memory and learning, and drinking apple juice may improve memory by preventing the decline of an important neurotransmitter, according to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.” – Everyday Health

    DID YOU KNOW?
    According to Mamas Health.com, a cooked potato can jump start your brain when you’re feeling mentally sluggish. Click the link to go directly to a page filled with fascinating facts about the brain. They’re presented in a list that will most definitely teach you a few new things.

    QUOTE
    “I’m hoping that I rewrote the rules for anyone who wants to do something and they think they’re too old to do it.” Dara Torres (41), the only swimmer to medal in five Olympics

    Filed Under: Brain Games, Positive Affirmations Tagged: , , ,
    February 12, 2009 3 Comments

    Is Sugar Bad For Our Memory?

    Forgetful JonesThe following article, by James LaValle, may prove depressing to those of us with countless sweet teeth. We already know we need to cut back on sugar for our physical health. Now, it appears that our mental health would benefit from the same thing.

    The one thing that keeps me going is Stevia. Have you tried it yet? Since I’m from the south, I’m a huge fan of sweet tea – we’re talking HUGE fan. But I’m an even bigger fan of my health, so I’ve switched from regular sugar in my tea to Stevia, a natural (calorie free, even) sweetener. It’s really sweet – in fact, a lot of people have to use less Stevia than they did sugar! I adapted to it very quickly and have never turned back.

    Enjoy the article!

    A Spoonful of Sugar – Destroys Memory?

    By James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN

    Keeping your blood sugar under control is beneficial for far more than just waistlines and Memory lossdiabetes prevention, it is also important to help preserve your memory as you age. Yep, that’s right — spiked blood sugar levels actually cause your brain to age prematurely, resulting in more “senior moments” than you’d care to have.

    There have been other studies indicating this in the past, but a new study led by Scott A. Small, M.D., associate professor of neurology from the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain was remarkable because it showed that the activity of an important part of the memory center of the brain (called the dentate gyrus) decreases with elevated blood glucose levels.

    Dr. Small’s research looked at people with type 2 diabetes and found that they had this damage to their dentate gyrus. He then looked at factors such as a high body mass index, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar that are seen in type 2 diabetes, and replicated them in animals to determine which ones were correlated with the brain damage. He found that rapid blood sugar increases ONLY, damaged the memory center.1

    Past studies have suggested that high blood sugar may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease by contributing to the plaques in the brain, but Dr. Scott’s studies show that elevated blood sugar directly damages the memory center in the brain.

    Other recent studies have found that exercise is very important for preserving the memory center in the brain. Dr. Small stated that this is most likely because exercise decreases blood sugar levels. Other researchers commenting on this have stated that they believe there could be other mechanisms at play, and I agree.

    For instance, animal studies have shown that stress can also impair the dentate gyrus.2
    This is a precarious situation from my perspective. Here we have a condition — stress — that in and of itself can damage your memory center in the brain. Stress is also associated with increased cravings for high carb comfort foods like sweets, partly because stress reduces serotonin production. That high carb treat is a way to increase serotonin levels. But to give into that sweets craving can further damage your memory.

    So to preserve your brain and memory as you age, control your blood sugar levels and make sure you manage your body’s stress response. Exercise helps with both of these.

    As you know from reading my articles in the past, I believe that a carb-controlled diet is also important for optimum control of blood sugar. Since Dr. Small’s study found that rapid spikes in blood sugar were the cause of damage to the memory center, a low glycemic index diet should be of particular benefit for your brain.

    Indeed, a recent Duke University study found that a very low carb diet reversed type 2 diabetes without medication,3 the very condition that Dr. Small found is a very high risk factor for destroying your memory as you age.

    However, some researchers have suggested that low carb diets may not be good for your thinking powers since glucose is the primary fuel source for the brain. A recent report out of Tufts University was one such study.4

    Not to worry. In my opinion and the opinion of another low carb diet researcher, Dr. Grant D. Brinkworth, the findings of the Tufts study could be nothing more than a transient effect that occurs when the body is “readjusting to an unfamiliar diet.”5 Dr. Brinkworth’s own research on this very matter found that lower carb diets slightly lowered “cognitive processing speed, but did nothing to impair a person’s working memory. So, don’t be confused by the headlines, and don’t think that you have to keep eating higher carbs to maintain your ability to think clearly.6

    Make no mistake, diet and other lifestyles factors that help you control your blood sugar, not only help prevent diabetes and heart disease, they will help preserve your memory as you age. The Duke University study mentioned above tested a very low level of carbs, and had a high participant dropout rate. I do not believe that the carbs have to be that low to get results. At LMI, our patients are usually successful at controlling blood sugar on about 25% of their calories coming from carbs. That amount still allows about 100 grams of carbs per day. We strive for about half of those carbs to come from low glycemic sources like non-starchy vegetables.

    To see if your efforts at blood sugar control have been effective, you should regularly monitor your fasting blood glucose levels. Levels of 95 and below are best. You can also have your hemoglobin A1c level checked, which will tell you how your blood sugar levels have been over the past 3 months. Levels from 4-5.9% are considered normal.

    If your levels are high despite a lower carb diet and exercise, I would consider using blood sugar supportive nutrients like chromium, magnesium, zinc and alpha-lipoic acid.

    References

    1. Small S, et al. Ann of Neurology. 64(6):698-706.
    2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1998 Mar.
    3. Westman EC et al. Nutr Metab. 2008;DOI:10.1186/1743-7075-5-36.
    4. Taylor H, et al. Appetite. Feb 2009.
    5. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20081212/no-carb-diets-may-impair-memory.
    6. Brinkworth G, et al. AJCN. Sept 2007. 86(3):580-87.

    [Ed. Note: James LaValle is the founding Director of the LaValle Metabolic Institute, one of the largest integrative medicine practices in the country. Dr. LaValle is the author of The Metabolic Code Diet: Unleashing the Power of Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss and Vitality and the Executive Editor of THB's The Healing Prescription. To learn more, click here.]

    “This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com.”  (Awesome newsletter!)

    Filed Under: Brain Food, Brain Games, Mental Fitness Tagged: , , ,
    January 21, 2009 2 Comments

    Thinking Outside of the Box is Still The Only Way to Think!

    Vintage CorvetteI was going back and forth, having a great conversation, with someone through e-mail recently about Thinking Outside of the Box.  Yes, it’s a phrase that has been around the bend a few hundred thousand times, but like vintage corvettes – it’s still a beautiful ride.

    Both of us were totally on board.  Come on, if people had never thought outside of confining boundaries (whether self imposed or not), we wouldn’t have the luxuries we enjoy today.  People who stay inside of expectations and never color outside of the lines (even for effect), aren’t the trail blazers, inventors, or lightning bolts of the world.   They never give the world a fresh breath because they never take one themselves.

    Our conversation even prompted me to begin writing an article on the subject.  I filled my coffee cup and checked my e-mail one final time before I started writing.  The story below came floating through the inbox on the wings of irony.  I thought, “Hmm, nothing I could have written would have been better PR for Thinking Outside of the Box than this is, so…”  You guessed it, my coffee cup and I decided to print the story.  Enjoy!

    The Right Answer

    You are driving down the road in your Corvette on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

    1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
    2. An old friend who once saved your life.
    3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

    Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your Corvette? Think before you continue reading.

    This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

    YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS……. The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. He simply answered: ‘I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.’ Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to ‘Think Outside of the Box.’

    Make each moment count double,
    ~ Joi

    racing flags

    Filed Under: Brain Games, Motivational, Tough Love! Tagged: , , , ,
    January 14, 2009 Leave a Comment

    Improving Your Memory is A Lot Easier Than You Think

    ronwhitesmemoryinamonthAs I’ve said before, I’ve got it bad, bad, bad for books and magazines.  My husband doesn’t complain, he just buys me more shelves.

    One of the magazines I most look forward to the most each month is SUCCESS. February’s issue has one of the most respected men in the world on the cover, Mr. Colin Powell.

    A favorite magazine and a favorite person together in one place? When this issue came in the mail, it was like, “Out of my way, I’m going to disappear for about two hours of glorious reading.” And then I did.

    One of my favorite articles was about Memory (Memory Marvel) – specifically about ways to improve and nurture our memory. The article is actually an interview with Ron White, author of Ron White’s Memory in a Month. In addition to writing three books, Ron White has also recorded eight audio programs and delivered workshops for General Motors, Microsoft, Toyota, Honda, American Airlines, Cisco Systems, the Boy Scouts of America, Lexus, Coldwell Banker, Pfizer, and Century 21.

    Apparently there’s a great deal of respect attached to Ron White’s name!

    The audio cd pictured above is Ron White’s Memory in a Month. You can find it on Amazon by clicking the link.

    From Amazon:
    Ron White’s Memory in a Month A Unique Memory Skills Designed to Accelerate Your Goals Learn to : Give speeches without notes, Memorize chapters of books, Inprove study skills and grades, Recall product knowledge, Retain information from classes or seminars, Recall names and faces, Memorize notes, Increase your efficiency by retaining more information, Recall phone numbers or product codes, Much,much more. 6 Audio CD’s & Workbook.

    In the interview in February’s SUCCESS magazine, Ron White talks about the potential we all have within us – a potential for greater brain power than we even realize we have. We complain about not being able to remember things, yet there are simple actions we can take to greatly improve our memory. It’s like complaining about not having enough money while sitting on gold mine. Break out the tools!

    Below is an excerpt from the interview. Do yourself a huge favor and buy the issue as well as Ron White’s audio cd and workbook.

    The human brain has the ability to memorize a Shakespearean play word for word or memorize the stats of every baseball player for the last 100 years. And the human memory is capable of recalling every single name after meeting 100 people in 20 minutes!…… The potential for a trained memory is not simply memorizing long strings of numbers. it is building your confidence in public speaking; building relationships and your business by recalling names and faces; and memorizing product knowledge, information from business or success books, knowledge from workshops and more.

    He goes on to talk about memory training, using your memory to enhance your success at work, and even gives some of his favorite tips for recalling names.

    Where in the world was Ron White when I was in school? I could have used an edge when it came to remembering all those dates in history. The mind’s a complex and amazing thing, I can still remember every word to every single John Mellencamp, Prince, Joan Jett, and Madonna song – but World War II dates? Not so much. (Note to self: Buy a few WW II books)

    Make each moment count double!
    ~ Joi

    Filed Under: Brain Games, Mental Fitness, Motivational, Tough Love! Tagged: , , , , ,
    January 6, 2009 Leave a Comment

    Surprising and Fun Ways to Stay Mentally Sharp

    We’ve all made our New Year’s resolutions, right? Judging from the crowd at Subway this afternoon, I’m not the only person who has vowed to eat healthier. With any resolution or lifestyle change, the trick is to stick with it – to remind yourself of why it’s important to you each and every day.

    One resoluiton everyone should make is to become more mentally fit. Fortunately, with all the wonderful brain games available online, this is one resolution that’ll be fun to keep. Below are other Brain Fitness tips that’ll help us become more mentally fit – some will even encourage physical fitness along with mental fitness… Sort of a two for one deal!

    • We already know how wonderful fish is for your heart.  Research shows that it is also very good for your mental health.  The brain is largely composed of fat and water, and it craves polyunsaturated fats – especially the  omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.  Apparently, eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids also wards off depression.  Countries with the highest fish consumption (such as Japan and Finland) have the lower rates of depression.
    • Become an Agatha Christie groupie.  There is something deliciously fun about reading Agatha Christie mysteries.  She was one of the greatest authors of all time and can spin a mystery like no one else.  How does that benefit your brain?  As someone who collects and reads this great lady’s many, many novels – I can tell you this:  An Agatha Christie novel is a fun mental workout.  She always has a large, rich cast of characters in her stories.  Generally speaking, because of the time they were written, there are always people, places, and things that aren’t very familiar.  It’s mentally stimulating to keep track of the who’s and what’s – to say nothing of the where’s.  I highly, highly recommend reading Agatha Christie.  It’s also fun to collect her books.  Click HERE for a full list of her wonderful mysteries. I’ve compiled them on a white page that’s perfect for printing out (and carrying to the bookstore and/or library!).
    • Not only is fish wonderful for our minds, apples and blueberries have also been proven to have positive effects on our minds. 
    • If you’re like me, you’re looking for ways to get the most out of every dollar you spend.  That certainly counts for the newspaper.  After reading your paper each day, work the puzzles that are included in just about every newspaper.  They’re usually really challenging, so don’t be despaired if you don’t get all the answers, your brain’s still getting a first class workout.
    • Begin taking a different route every now and again when you’re going to the store or work.  This may seem like a small, insignificant thing – but our minds THRIVE on variety.  Our brain cells get all kinds of happy when we mix things up.  Even brushing your teeth or eating with a different hand than normal stimulates brain cells.

    Speaking of Brain fitness and brain games, there are a lot of great websites devoted to the subject.  I just added a link category called Brain Games.  If you have a website or blog you’d like me to add to the list, please link this blog on your site, then e-mail me.  I’m as big an advocate for mental fitness and warrior in the fight against mental decline, dementia, and alzheimer’s as anyone.  I’d love to partner with as many people as possible.

    The more on the team, the better!

    Make each moment count double,
    ~Joi

    Filed Under: Brain Games, Mental Fitness Tagged: , ,
    December 4, 2008 3 Comments

    Brain Games to Improve Your Mental Fitness

    Brain games have been proven to help keep your mind sharp – what part of that isn’t a wonderful thing?!  Brain games improve your memory, strengthen your reasoning skills, and help your ability to recall and process information.  Becoming forgetful IS NOT something that is “natural” or “normal” and it most certainly isn’t something we have to accept.

    Mental fitness experts tell us that we can practically stay as sharp as we want to – if we’re willing to work for it.  Crossword puzzles, reading better books, eating a brain-healthy diet, stretching our minds, picking up new hobbies and interests, and brain games are all ways in which we can exercise our minds and keep them strong.

    Brain games are particularly popular with mental fitness experts. Brain games bring about just the right amount of mental activity to encourage a strengthened mind and improved memory.

    Your brain will love brain games below.  They will give your mind such a great little workout, you’ll feel ready for just about anything. Names? Dates? Bring them on, you’ll be ready.

    1. Stroop Test:  A great Brain Teaser!
    2. Inside and Outside: Interactive Game From Mind Fit
    3. Image Quiz – Very addictive!

    Brain Teaser

    Count the F’s in the following sentence:

    FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.

    Click the link below for the answer.

    [Read more...]

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