Study reveals healthy diet improves brain health – Turn to 10

ORLANDO, Fla. — Your brain allows you to think, feel, communicate, make decisions, and live a productive life.

That’s why keeping it healthy is so important.

One way to boost brain power is to lower stress levels.

“People who are under a lot of stress, and strain and duress, their cognitive performance is lower,” said Dr. James Galvin, a professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Galvin also said yoga can help you relax.

A recent study found people who did two weeks of Yoga Nidra, a specific type of yoga that incorporates meditation and mindfulness, improved sleep quality, attention, and memory.

Good nutrition is also key for brain health.

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends a diet that includes more vegetables and lean meats with fewer fatty and processed foods.

A study published in “Frontiers in Nutrition” found foods high in fat can negatively impact the brain.

Adults who ate two butter croissants for breakfast and then performed mental math tasks had less oxygen flow to the part of the brain involved in decision-making and emotions.

Regular exercise can also help your brain.

“The loss of muscle mass and strength is a very strong predictor of how you do on a cognitive test.” explained Dr. Galvin.

Studies in animals have found an increase in exercise helps the connections between brain cells.

Staying socially engaged is another factor that can protect the brain.

According to the US Surgeon General’s advisory report, chronic isolation can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

Sleep is also vital for overall brain health.

According to Johns Hopkins, a healthy amount of sleep promotes “brain plasticity” or the brain’s ability to adapt to input.

Researchers also believe that sleep may promote the removal of waste products from your brain cells.

Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.