Incorporate these eight healthy habits and activities into your daily life to help you optimize brain health and stay sharp in the years ahead.

Get Moving

Physical activity is good for your health at every age. Studies show being active is associated with a lower risk of brain issues. Whether it’s nightly walks, playing with the grandkids or taking your favorite yoga class, find an activity that meets your needs and gets your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes every day.

Eat to Thrive

The antioxidants in nutrient-dense foods like berries, broccoli and legumes, including some fats such as olive oil, may lower some risks to your brain. Try eating a healthy, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet with lots of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains such as oatmeal and brown rice.

Know Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can have serious effects on your brain health. If your blood pressure is high, get it under control. It may help reduce some risks to your brain.

Drink Moderately

How the body handles alcohol can change with age. Some older adults can feel “high” without increasing the amount of alcohol they drink. This can make them more likely to become confused or have accidents. So limit the amount of alcohol you drink – or don’t drink it at all.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Poor sleep, or inadequate sleep, due to issues such as insomnia or sleep apnea, doesn’t just leave you feeling tired. It can have serious physical effects and can impact memory and thinking, too. Get comfy and go to bed. Seven to eight hours is a good night’s rest.

Discover a New Talent

When you learn new things, you engage your brain. Try something you haven’t done before – learning French, ballroom dancing or carpentry, for example. Challenging your brain on a regular basis is fun and beneficial.

Stay Connected

Science has shown that regular engagement in social activities can help reduce some risks to your brain. Stay connected and invite family or friends over for a healthy meal, go on a hike together or just hang out.

Talk to Your Doctor

As you age, some changes in brain function, including short-term memory, happen more frequently than when you were younger. If you have questions or are concerned, ask your doctor at your next appointment.

For more tips on keeping your brain healthy and thriving, visit BrainHealth.gov.

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The post 8 Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Sharp appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Between the luxurious dinners, the wine and champagne, and of course dessert – Valentine’s Day is one of the most indulgent days of the year. And while a little decadence is deserved at times, we at Juice Press think it’s far more romantic to show your partner you care the healthy way with a variety of sweet treats.

Here, we share some favorites to spark the mood and show your love:

Raw Chocolates: These are superfood raw chocolate truffles, perfect for a pick me up on Valentine’s Day or really any time you need (or want) one… ! The combination of raw cacao, energizing maca, acai, pomegranate and goji berries is the perfect gluten free treat. An added bonus – raw cacao is claimed to have amazing nutritive properties including being antioxidant, iron and magnesium rich.

Love at First Sight: A sweet way to get your greens, this delicious blend combines green apple, kale, spinach and lemon to give you the perfect proportions of savory, sweet, and tart. Alkalizing benefits and a super-dose of iron make this a choice that is as smart as it is satisfying.

Love Me: Inspired by the graffiti “Love Me” by Curtis Kulig, an American artist, photographer, and illustrator, this combination of kale, spinach, green apple and lemon has a higher greens to fruit ratio, serving up savory in a stylish package.

Acai Bowl: acai berry bowl is a layered work of perfection! with a nutty crust as the base and a maca infused acai filling, our raw berry jam and fresh banana slices top this off perfectly. gluten free!

Share your love this Valentine’s Day with healthy options from Juice Press.

About Juice Press
Dedicated to organic product, Juice Press offers options that are vegan and kosher with no high pressure processing (hpp) or genetically modified organisms (gmos). Their cold pressed juices, gourmet superfood smoothies, raw food entrees, salads, sandwiches and desserts are all made fresh daily. Juice Press draws women, men, health nuts, raw foodies, night-lifers, moms, tweens and toddlers and delivers to them at home or in the office from Manhattan to Brooklyn to almost anywhere in the country.

www.juicepress.com for store locations and more information.

The post Treat your Sweetie – the Healthy Way appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.