Food To Nourish Your Brain.

There is truth in the saying, “We are what we eat”. It is no secret that if we nourish our brains with the right nutrients, it will in turn nourish us. Essentially there are four types of food group that cares and nourishes the brain.


1. Fatty Acids
It is used to create specialized cells that are used in thinking and learning.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are important for the brains well-being. Salmon, mackerel, tuna and trout are rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, while evening primrose oil and borage can boost the brain’s Omega-6 supplies.

2. Amino Acids
It is used to make neurotransmitters that allow networking and communication among the brain cells.

3. Glucose
It is the fuel that brain uses to produce the energy to motivate and move us. Glucose is a type of sugar. It is present in carbohydrates. It is normally the only fuel for the brain.

4. Micronutrients
It is the anti-oxidant the safeguards the brain from damage and dysfunction. Fruit and vegetables are rich source of micronutrients.

I will writing more on this topic, in the meantime, let us watch our diet.

Exercise Can Benefit The Elderly

A study recently published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise reports that the elderly people aged between 70 and 89 show improvement in the physical functions after undergoing physical activity programs. The study was led by physiologist Roger Fielding with the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University, Boston, Mass. He is director of the center's Nutrition, Exercise Physiology and Sarcopenia Laboratory.

The study which was funded by Agricultural Research Service(ARS), the chief scientific Research of the U.S Department of Agriculture(USDA) found that volunteers - all of them with sedentary lifestyle and a variety of physical health improvement - were able engage in regular moderate exercise for one year. Those who improved the most exercised fat least 150 minutes a week.

ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/03/080321123721.htm

An Excellent Tip From Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

You may not have heard of Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson(1832-1898), who was a writer, mathematician, photographer and inventor of puzzles and games but you most probably read or at least heard of his book Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson wrote under the pseudonym of Lewis Carrol. The advice below is taken from his book on Symbolic Logic and offers an excellent advice on how to read any textbook.

The learner, who wishes to try the question fairly, whether this little book does, or does not, supply the materials for a most interesting mental recreation, is earnestly advised to adopt the following Rules:

1. Begin at the beginning, and do not allow yourself to gratify mere idle curiosity by dipping into the book, here and there. This would very likely lead to your throwing it aside, with the remark `This is much too hard for me!', and thus losing the chance of adding a very large item to your stock of mental delights .

2. Don't begin any fresh Chapter, or Section, until you are certain that you thoroughly understand the whole book up to that point and that you have worked, correctly, most if not all of the examples which have been set . Otherwise, you will find your state of puzzlement get worse and worse as you proceed till you give up the whole thing in utter disgust.

3. When you come to a passage you don't understand, read it again: if you still don't understand it, read it again: if you fail, even after three readings, very likely your brain is getting a little tired In that case, put the book away, and take to other occupations, and next day, when you come to it fresh, you will very likely find that it is quite easy.

4. If possible, find some genial friend, who will read the book along with you, and will talk over the difficulties with you. Talking is a wonderful smoother-over of difficulties. When I come upon anything—in Logic or in any other hard subject—that entirely puzzles me, I find it a capital plan to talk it over, aloud, even when I am all alone. One can explain things so clearly to one's self! And then you know, one is so patient with one's self: one never gets irritated at one's own stupidity!

If, dear Reader, you will faithfully observe these Rules, and give my little book a really fair trial, I promise you, most confidently, that you will find Symbolic Logic to be one of the most, not the most, fascinating of mental recreations! In this First Part I have carefully avoided all difficulties which seemed to me to beyond the grasp of an intelligent child of (say) twelve or fourteen years of age. I have myself taught most of its contents, viva voce, to many children, and have found them take a real intelligent interest in the subject. For those, who succeeded in mastering Part I, and who begin, like Oliver, `asking for more,' I hope to provide, in Part II, some tolerably hard nuts to crack—nuts that will require all the nut-crackers they happen to possess!

Mental recreation is a thing that we all of us need for our mental health. Symbolic Logic will give you clearness of thought—the ability tosee your way through a puzzle—the habit of arranging your ideas in an orderlyand get-at-able form—and, more valuable than all, the power to detect fallacies, and to tear to pieces the flimsy illogical arguments, which you will continually encounter in books, in newspapers, in speeches, and even in sermons, and which so easily delude those who have never taken the trouble to master this fascinating Art. Try it. That is all I ask of you!

Another Reason To Avoid Stress

It's been known for some time now that severe stress lasting weeks or months can harm cell communication in the brain but a recent study conducted by Dr.Tallie Z. Baram, the Danette Shepard Chair in Neurological Sciences in the UC Irvine School of Medicine and her team found that short term stress lasting only hours has the same debilitating effect on the brain.


The study found that acute stress activates selected molecules of cortisol, a widely known stress hormon, activates the release of corticotropin releasing hormones(CRH). The release of CRH speeds up the disintegration of dendritic spines.

Dendritic spines are protrusions on neuron which houses the synapses. As learning and memory takes place in the synapses, the release of CRH in brain's hippocampus region, the brain's main learning and memory center greatly affects this process.

So the next time you are stressed in for a few short hours keep in mind that you are harming your brain.
Adapted from materials provided by University of California - Irvine.

Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping, popularized by Tony Buzan is a powerful technique that improves note taking and enhances creative problem solving. It differs from conventional note taking which uses the list format in that it is two dimensional and compact. Mind Mapping also uses key words and key images to give a more collective presentation of a subject.

Microsopic view of the brain neuron cell

Mind Maps emulates the way the human brain works in making associations and this in turn aids in seeing the whole “picture” rather then seeing one part at a time.

Mind Maps are useful for:

1. Recall. Since mind maps copies the way the brain works which is not linear but naturally associative it helps you to remember more easily. Mind Maps are also more visual and recalling images is easier then recalling words.


2. Creativity. Mind Maps reflects the way the brain organizes information or thoughts. Any single idea is linked to thousands of others. As information is presented in more coherent way, the brain will find it easier to connect the links and this aids in creativity.


3. Planning and Presentation. The visual nature of mind maps can assist you in writing a book, building a website and/or to give public talks or seminars.

How To Mind Map.

Peter Russell who joined Tony Buzan in the 1970s teaching mind mapping skills to various organizations gives the following tips on how to mind map.

* Use just key words, or wherever possible images.

* Start from the center of the page and work out.

* Make the center a clear and strong visual image that depicts the general theme of the map.

* Create sub-centers for sub-themes.

* Put key words on lines. This reinforces structure of notes.

* Print rather than write in script. It makes them more readable and memorable. Lower case is more visually distinctive (and better remembered) than upper case.

* Use color to depict themes, associations and to make things stand out.

* Anything that stands out on the page will stand out in your mind.

* Think three-dimensionally. Use arrows, icons or other visual aids to show links between different elements.

* Don't get stuck in one area. If you dry up in one area go to another branch.

* Put ideas down as they occur, wherever they fit. Don't judge or hold back.

* Break boundaries. If you run out of space, don't start a new sheet; paste more paper onto the map. (Break the 8x11 mentality.)

* Be creative. Creativity aids memory.

* Get involved. Have fun.

An example of a Mind Map – From BuzanWorld

If you interested you can visit the links below which offers information free mind mapping tools.

1. Free Mind – Free Software


2. Mind-Mapping.org – Mind Mapping Resources

Children Learn What They Live

The poem below by
Dorothy Law Nolte(1926-2005) do not rhyme and did not bring any fortune
to its author but its simple wisdom cannot be denied. Originally
written in 1954 in her kitchen to meet a weekly newspaper column
deadline on raising a family, it has been translated in 35 languages.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about
them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law
Nolte

Take A Look At Yourself

Where are you today? Are you happy with the way things are with yourself? Is your mind really focused on tasks at hand, whatever they may be, or do you find yourself daydreaming now and then. Do you often think why the other guy has made it while you are still stuck between a rock and a hard place?

Take a look at yourself honestly. If you have not achieved what you set to do, there is really one guy to blame. That guy is you. Don’t blame others. We humans I believe love blaming others and when we run out worldly things to blame, we blame God.

Realize that you and you alone are responsible for your success. The world does not owe you a living. Take a look at yourself and take charge of your life.