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Archive for category: Brain Health

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 8

Enjoy a Colourful Salad

Although his grammar was off, perhaps Popeye’s nutritional advice was right… “I’m strong to the finish cause I eats me spinach…”  And it’s not just spinach!  Kale, spinach, swiss chard and more can help boost your brain!  Check out the following from The Huffington Post discussing how leafy greens can improve cognition and mental ability as you age.

The Huffington Post:  How Leafy Greens May Protect The Brain From Aging

Need some salad inspiration?  Check out these delicious kale salad recipes and try one today!

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge, complete each day’s activity and let us know your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge. We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 7

Learn to Use the Reminder or Calendar Apps on Your Phone

Being organized can help to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and time management.  When trying to get organized technology can be a very helpful tool.  Using your mobile device’s calendar and reminder apps are two helpful ways to help keep your schedule and tasks organized, and your mind de-cluttered.  Although many, including myself, prefer the pen and paper method of managing a calendar, using your phone’s calendar ensures you have access even when you’re on the go.

Learn more about the health benefits of being organized in the following article care of Good Housekeeping.

Good Housekeeping:  7 Health Benefits of Being Organized

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge, complete each day’s activity and let us know your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge. We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 6

Get 8 Hours of Sleep

It is well known that getting a good nights’ sleep is vital to physical and mental health, but this is also true for brain function. Sleep supports growth and development in children and teenagers, and for adults helps to boost cognitive function, sharpen memory and more. Unfortunately, however, many of us struggle to get a quality sleep due to sleep disorders, injury or illness, and life or career stressors.

Learn more about how sleep benefits your brain in the following care of The Huffington Post and check out our OT-V episode “Improving Sleep” below to learn how to achieve a better night sleep.

The Huffington Post:  6 Ways Sleep Benefits Your Mind

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge, complete each day’s activity and let us know your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge.  We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 5

Have Oatmeal and Berries for Breakfast  

Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast choice that is high in fiber, protein, antioxidants and helpful vitamins and minerals which benefit brain.  Learn more about why oatmeal is a brain boosting food in the following from Fit Brains.

Fit Brains:  Oatmeal: Brain Health Benefits & Easy Recipe!

Learn some new and delicious ways to enjoy oatmeal with the following recipes care of The Food Network.

The Food Network:  30 Oatmeal Recipes Worth Waking Up For

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge, complete each day’s activity and let us know your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge.  We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 4

Challenge Yourself to Complete a Crossword

Not only can working on a crossword help bust boredom and provide entertainment, it is a mentally engaging task that can help to reduce cognitive decline when done on a regular basis.  Learn more about how crosswords can benefit your brain in the following care of Lifehack.org and try doing the daily or weekly puzzle in your local paper, purchase a crossword book, or download and print puzzles from the internet.  Here’s a great resource:  www.freedailycrosswords.com.

LifeHack.org:  Science Explains Why Crossword Puzzles Are Good For Your Mental Health

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge, complete each day’s activity and let us know your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge.  We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 3

Step it Up! Head Outside for a 30 Minute Walk

Walking has many health benefits for your overall health, but especially your brain.  Studies found that walking increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain– simply by putting one foot in front of the other.  Learn more in the following from WebMD.

WebMD:  Walk Your Way to Better Brain Health?

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge, complete each day’s activity and let us know your progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge.  We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 2

Snack Time!  Have a Handful of Walnuts

Looking for a healthy snack?  Go nuts!  Walnuts that is… Studies have shown that a handful of walnuts each day can help improve memory, concentration and reduce cognitive decline over time.  So if you’re hungry grab a handful as a snack, or add these helpful nuts to a salad.

Learn more about the research on these brain boosting nuts in the following from The Huffington Post.

The Huffington Post:  A Few Walnuts A Day May Help Boost Memory, Study Finds

Be sure to join the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge and complete each day’s activity!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge.  We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

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30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge: Day 1

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in recognition Solutions for Living is introducing the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge.  We challenge you to complete these 30 simple activities and tips which when incorporated into your lifestyle can help improve memory, boost mental health, prevent brain injury and reduce cognitive decline.

Pick and Start a New Novel

Reading is something we encourage in children from a very young age for many reasons including building language skills, developing speech and more.  Taking time to read is something we should continue to encourage, especially in our adult years.  Researchers have studied the effects of reading on the brain and have found that reading a novel can change the brain and these effects last for days after reading has occurred.  From cognition to mental health and everything in between, reading has fantastic benefits for the brain at all ages.

Delve deeper into the research behind how reading improves our brain in the following article from ABC News.

ABC News:  How Reading a Novel Can Improve the Brain

To learn more about other ways reading can improve your health take a look at a previous post from our blog:  Books Can Boost Your Health.

Be sure to follow along the 30 Day Healthy Brain Challenge and let us know how many activities you have completed!

 

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Limit Screen Time for Proper Speech Development

While Ipads, Iphones and tablets alike are filled with programs for young kids and tend to be a helpful distraction in the grocery store or when parents are making dinner, new research indicates that too much time in front of a device may linked to slower speech development in toddlers.  Take a look at the following from PBS which discusses the finding and provides interactive ways parents and young children can use technology together to help build proper speech development.

PBS:  Toddlers’ screen time linked to slower speech development, study finds

Learn how to tame the technology habit with help from our previous post:  Too Much Screen Time? We’ve Got Solutions!

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The Benefits of OT for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a condition that is most often caused by brain damage which occurs before or during the birth of an infant, or within the first few years of a child’s life.  Cerebral Palsy, can affect motor skills, muscles and movement.  Those with Cerebral Palsy are often able to lead a normal and satisfying life, and Occupational Therapists can often help them to achieve this.  The following article from My Child: Cerebral Palsy Foundation discusses some of the key ways Occupational Therapy can assist those living with Cerebral Palsy.

My Child Cerebral Palsy Foundation:  Occupational Therapy