Carolyn Dean - 365 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power: Tips, Exercise, Advice

WAYS TO
BOOST YOUR

BRAIN POWER

Tips. Exercises. Advice.

Carolyn Dean, M.D., Valentine Dmitriev, Ph.D., and Donna Raskin

Copyright 2009 by F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Contains material adapted and abridged from The Everything Alzheimers Book, by Carolyn Dean, MD, copyright 2004, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Anti-Aging Book, by Donald Vaughan, copyright 2002, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything BuildYour Vocabulary Book, by Valentine Dmitriev, PhD, copyright 2006, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Easy Fitness Book, by Donna Raskin, copyright 2000, 2007, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything GreatSex Book,by Suzie Heumann and Susan Campbell, PhD, copyright 2004, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Herbal Remedies Book,by M.J. Abadie, copyright 2000, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Menopause Book,by Ramona Slupik, MD, FACOG with Lorna Gentry, copyright 2003, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Nutrition Book,by Kimberly A. Tessmer, RD, LD, copyright 2003, F+W Publications, Inc.; TheEverything Pilates Book,by Amy Taylor Alpers, Rachel Taylor Segel, Lorna Gentry, copyright 2002, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Stress Management Book,by Eve Adamson, copyright 2002, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Superfoods Book,by Delia Quigley, CNC with Brierley E Wright, RD, copyright 2008, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Vitamins,Minerals, and Nutritional Supplements Book,by Maureen Ternus, MS, RD and Kitty Broihier, MS, RD, copyright 2001, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Weight Training Book, by Shirley S. Archer, copyright 2002, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Yoga Book, by Cynthia Worby, MSW, copyright 2002, F+W Publications, Inc.; and The Everything Zen Book, by Jacky Sach, copyright 2003, F+W Publications, Inc.

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ISBN 10: 1-60550-060-7 ISBN 13: 978-1-60550-060-7 eISBN: 978-1-44052-063-1

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CONTENTS

QUIZ

How well are you treating your brain?

How much do you know about your own brain and what it requires to function well? Do you eat with your brain in mind? Do you take protective measures to keep your mind nimble well into old age? Do you pamper or do you abuse your brain? Take the following quiz to find out where you stand with your brain. Choose the answer thats closest to true for you.

1. HOW OFTEN DO YOU EXERCISE?

a. At least six days a week, lifting weights two days and brisk walking at least three miles the other four.

b. Once or twice a week I take a long walk.

c. I rarely exercise.

2. DO YOU EAT A VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES?

a. I love them and eat a wide variety of both fruits and vegetables every day.

b. I eat my favoritescarrots, green beans, squash, tomatoes, oranges, and bananas.

c. I dont really like vegetables, unless you consider potatoes a vegetable.

3. HOW OFTEN DO YOU EAT FISH?

a. I eat wild salmon once a week, and at least one other fresh fish a week.

b. I eat fish occasionally, but prefer meat or chicken.

c. I dont like fish and never eat it, unless you count the occasional fish sandwich at McDonalds.

4. HOW OFTEN AND WHAT DO YOU DRINK?

a. I typically have one glass of red wine with dinner one or two nights a week.

b. I like two glasses of wine with dinner, followed by an aperitif occasionally.

c. I mostly binge drink hard liquor and beer on the weekends.

5. DO YOU KNOW YOUR HDL AND LDL NUMBERS?

a. Yes, I check them regularly and work to raise my HDL and lower my LDL by monitoring my diet and exercising often.

b. I had them checked five years ago, but I have no idea what they are now.

c. What are HDL and LDL?

6. DO YOU HAVE A METHOD FOR DEALING WITH STRESS?

a. I take yoga classes twice a week; meditate for 15 minutes each day; keep a journal; and take concrete measures to reduce stress.

b. Not really, I typically crash on the sofa when I get home with a glass of wine until I feel relaxed.

c. I have a very demanding job (that I hate) and three kids so stress is constant and time for myself nonexistent.

7. HOW OFTEN DO YOU SOCIALIZE?

a. I belong to a book club that meets once a week, attend church regularly, volunteer once a week, and invite friends and new acquaintances over for dinner often.

b. I hang out with the same group of friends once a week or so.

c. I dont have the time or energy to socialize.

8. HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE SEX?

a. At least three times a week.

b. Two to four times a month.

c. Im not in a relationship so very rarely.

9. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LEARNED SOMETHING NEW OR CHALLENGING?

a. Im always trying something new. Right now Im taking piano and French lessons, plus a class in sculpture just for fun.

b. When I was in college ten years ago.

c. Why learn anything new? I like to stay with the tried and true.

10. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU READ A BOOK?

a. I read constantly and am particularly fond of historical or literary fiction and Shakespearean sonnets.

b. I read magazines and popular novels at the beach in the summer.

c. I rarely read. Why read when you can watch TV?

SCORING

For every a answer, give yourself 2 points.

For every b answer, give yourself 1 point.

For every c answer, give yourself 0 points.

1520 points: Youre doing a lot of things right, and your brain loves you for it... but theres always room for improvement.

914 points: Youre lagging behind but can turn things around with a little effort. Hopefully youll find a lot of motivation in the forthcoming pages.

08 points: Your brain is crying out for attention. You need to take this book to heart before your brain goes to seed.