Wellness Matters

Spring 2013

Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/109462

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 7 of 7

health matters Thanks For My Memory Contrary to popular belief, memory loss is not a normal part of aging. No matter how old you are, there are things you can do starting right now to protect your memory and even enhance your cognition: 1. Walk. One of the best things you can do for your brain is to get regular exercise. Research has found that walking at least six miles a week can prevent brain shrinkage and memory loss. 2. Eat right. Eating fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants (e.g., blueberries) contribute to the development of healthy cells, and foods abundant in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., salmon, flax seeds) boost cognition. Flavonoids (which are in many fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, soy foods and tea) seem to support brain-cell structure and function. 3. Stress less. Reducing stress is crucial to protecting your memory. The stress hormone cortisol damages brain cells over time. The negative effects of chronic stress also make it more difficult to create and retrieve memories. 4. Get social. Being socially active helps maintain good brain function because it reduces stress plus tends to involve activities that challenge the mind. Try playing bridge or taking art classes. 5. Sleep tight. Sleep is vital for memory consolidation, which is the process of forming and storing new memories. Sleep deprivation reduces the growth of new neurons in the brain. 6. Butt out. Smoking is extremely detrimental to brain health because it constricts the arteries that deliver oxygen to the brain. Smokers score lower on memory tests than nonsmokers. 7. Brain boost. Brain exercises help you work your mental muscles. Challenge your mind with Scrabble or Sudoku. Learning new things, like a new language, helps keep you sharp ��� and at the very least keeps life interesting. Organ Donation ��� Did You Know? In Canada, most of us are more likely to require an organ transplant than find ourselves in a position to provide organs for donation. However, life is unpredictable. The fact is, any life can suddenly be cut short by an automobile accident, catastrophic injury (e.g., non-survivable stroke, aneurysm or heart attack), or other unforeseen circumstances. If you���ve never given much thought to organ donation, you may be interested in the following facts: ��� A single organ/tissue donor can help up to 80 people ��� There���s no age limit on being an organ donor ��� Life-saving organ donations include the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel ��� Life-enhancing tissue donations include skin, bone, tendons, heart valves and cornea ��� Up to 95% of organ transplant patients are doing very well a year after surgery ��� There are 4,000 Canadians waiting for a life-saving organ donation Wellness Matters is published quarterly by Canada Wide Media Limited. A French version (pause sant��) is also available. Correspondence may be addressed to: CANADA WIDE MEDIA LIMITED, 4th Floor, 4180 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, B.C., V5C 6A7. Photographs: iStock fax: 604.299.9188 website: www.wellness-matters.ca e-mail info@wellness-matters.ca For administration and subscription inquiries, please contact Ruth Pisko at 604.473.0308 or rpisko@canadawide.com Please send any comments, suggestions or topic ideas by e-mail to nbmenchelli@canadawide.com 8 WM Spring 2013 ��� Last year 1,803 transplants were performed; another 195 Canadians died waiting for a transplant ��� Most major religions support an individual���s choice to donate their organs upon death ��� Some organs ��� liver, kidney and bone marrow ��� can be donated by a living donor ��� The health-care system fully covers the cost of organ donation. If you���d like to help other Canadians to be part of your legacy, share your wishes with your family and sign on as an organ donor. To find out how, go to the Canadian Society of Transplantation at www.transplant.ca, or check with your local motor vehicle branch or provincial health authority. Editor: Ann Collette Art Director: Bernhard Holzmann Contributing Writers: Patricia Chuey Ann Collette Melissa Edwards Julia Henrey Gail Johnson Isabelle F. Jones Eve Lees Advisory Board: Patricia Chuey, R.D. Chris Cunningham, M.D., C.C.F.P.(EM), F.C.F.P. David McD. Vass, D.D.S. �� Canada Wide Media Limited. 2013 All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the publisher. Information in this newsletter is intended as a general guide in health and wellness and not intended to be medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with their physician for speci���c medical concerns. PRINTED IN CANADA ON RECYCLABLE PAPER This item is recyclable Printed on recycled paper

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

view archives of Wellness Matters - Spring 2013