Posts Tagged ‘oxidation’

Brain Foods to Improve Cognitive Skills

It’s normal for people over the age of 50 to experience a little “senior moments” such as forgetting where you place the keys. Just as it can turn metal to rust, the process of oxidation destroys brain cells – thus causing mental decline.

But the good news is, the process can very much be reversed. Gone are the days when science thought the brain was fixed and mental unavoidable. Numerous scientific study have shown the brain to be “plastic” (malleable) and that not only do brain exercises improve mental functions, eating certain foods can also help improve, or at least slow down, the process of mental decline.

Because it’s the process of oxidation that causes the decline, it stands to reason that anti-oxidants are the answer to preventing eventual dementia. Seems easy enough right? Consume more foods that contain anti-oxidants.

The problem, however, is the wide variety of anti-oxidants. Remember that the body is an extremely complex being – and thus there is no “secret ingredient” for the cure of any problems. The best practice is always to consume a wide variety of healthy foods so as to keep the subtle balance of a healthy body.

With that said, here are some foods you should consumer more of, if you have not already done so.

1. The hippocampus (the part of your brain that turns short-term memory into long-term ones) contains a chemical called ellagitannins. Ellagitannins often decline as you age but strawberries, raspberries and blueberries contain large amounts of them.
2. The striatum (the part of your brain that’s used for spatial memory) contains a chemical called proanthocyanins. These can be found in blueberries, grapes and red wine.
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3 Causes of Facial Wrinkles and Secrets to How to Prevent Them

The first step to getting smoother skin is learning the main causes of facial wrinkles, so you can prevent wrinkles from appearing as long as possible. Some of the causes have a lot to do with your lifestyle, while others just occur naturally as the human ages.

1. Oxidation Caused by Free Radicals
Free radicals are always present in the body, but there will be more if you often do things like smoke, drink alcohol, eat junk food, drink polluted water or breathe polluted air.

The free radicals cause increased oxidation in the body, which causes aging signs like wrinkles.

2. Reduced Production of Collagen & Elastin
One of the major causes of facial wrinkles is a reduced production of collagen and elastin in the skin that happens naturally as we age. Collagen and elastin are two vital proteins for smooth and firm skin. When the growth gets lower the skin slowly starts to get sagging and wrinkled. Read more…