Thank you to Leah Oien for putting together this informative post. Leah was a full-time intern at River Pointe during the Spring of 2017.
Alzheimer’s. It’s a word that no one likes, but it is there all the same. It’s very common and everyone probably knows a person who has it. There are no cures for this disease but there are things that you are able to do to lessen your risks of it.
Balance
Balance is important! It is proven that with Alzheimer’s disease, a person’s balance gets worse causing falls and potential injuries. Yoga is an easy solution to building up your balance. A couple of times a week can make a great difference that you will notice. Not only is it good for balance but also for maintaining muscle strength! There are simple versions of yoga that can accommodate to everyone.
Proper Nutrition
Eating a balance of nutritious foods can help you stay physically and mentally healthy! Eating healthy helps your brain function! Some things to eat are:
Green Leafy Vegetables! Lettuce and Spinach for example!
Other Vegetables! Tomatoes, Carrots, Peppers to just name a few!
Nuts! Nuts are full of benefits, recent studies even show they may help lower Cholesterol.
Berries! Blueberries are actually one of the healthiest berries for the brain!
Beans! Now we all know the saying “Beans, Beans the magical fruit!” But with them being so high in protein and fiber that if you eat them 3 times a week it may help lower your risks of Alzheimer’s!
And remember to limits your sugars and saturated fats.
Exercise
Exercising is not only good for your overall well-being but it also can be a way to lower your risks of Alzheimer’s. Exercising may be a benefit by increasing your blood flow to your brain. With increased blood flow means increased oxygen!
The best thing you can do is to start a workout routine and sticking with it! Once a routine is set, working out becomes a lot easier! Exercise also helps with anxiety, depression, and overall stress!
Mental stimulation
Keeping your brain stimulated can be a benefit! Reading, doing puzzles, crosswords, or even changing up your daily routine can help keep your mind active. Also, interaction with other people is beneficial as well. Join a club, have coffee socials, or be involved in a card playing group! Keeping your mind active and working can help lower the risks or prolong Alzheimer’s disease.
None of these suggestions will prevent this disease, but they all can help you lower your risks and become a healthier and happier person.
Do these ideas interest you? Do you have an hour an hour per week, month, or year that you would like to volunteer your time? If so, we’d love to have you volunteer at River Pointe of Moorhead! Or maybe you’ve noticed a loved one is starting to experience some symptoms of memory loss. Give us a call to see how we can help (218-287-6900), or check out our website for more info. We hope this article has given you some ideas how you can stave off memory loss, and thank Leah for taking the time to putting these last 2 posts together!