While we may typically associate declining brain health almost exclusively with elderly people, the fact is that men and women of all ages are susceptible to a variety of different mental conditions. Anxiety, depression and phobia are just a few of the most common ailments that afflict male and female minds on a daily basis. While aging certainly plays a role in our mental health, oftentimes the primary culprit for these maladies is stress.
You would be hard-pressed to meet a single person who hasn't felt stressed at one point, much less the negative health consequences that stress can bring. Unfortunately, stress is just a part of life and there's no real way of getting around that. You can, however, make some slight changes to your lifestyle in order to reduce stress as much as possible. Here are a few suggestions from Femalefirst:
- Get some exercise: It's probably no secret that exercise can bolster our mental and physical health, cutting down on stress and anxiety, but how? For one thing, exercise helps increase heart rate, which in turn can undo brain damage caused by stress. Exercise also fosters the production of neurohormones in the brain, increasing cognitive functions, elevating mood and improving learning capability. As per the National Health Service's (NHS) recommendation, you should try to get in 150 minutes of aerobic exercise every week.
- Healthy eating habits: What we put in our stomachs has huge repercussions for body and brain health. A balanced diet with regular daily meals — meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner — that's low in fats and sugars and high in fruits and vegetables can help improve mood and energy. Skipping out on meals can lead to low blood sugar and feelings of fatigue and irritability.
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