Hello everyone, we hope you are well and warm during this recent cold spell. Here at Pathfinder Village, we’ve been staying active and busy gearing up for our next delicious Pathfinder Produce market at the Village Commons, this Thursday, January 17, running noon to 5 p.m. We hope you can stop by!
If you’re too busy to shop, place your order online, and our friendly and helpful staff will fill your order for you to pick up, either in Morris or Edmeston. Just cruise over to our website to learn more!
Below, my colleague, Martha Spiegel offers some thoughts on how to help your memory!
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Most of us have had a thought similar to “Why do I remember the words to a song I learned in the third grade but can’t remember what I walked into the kitchen for?” Many things can contribute to lapses in short term memory—stress, extreme multitasking, age, general state of mind, etc. There are ways to improve your short term memory. Doctors advise exercise—even just a brisk walk a few times a week is helpful—maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI), and monitoring cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure and following your physician’s advice on treatment if needed. Stopping smoking can also play a role.
There are also certain foods that are shown to help with memory. An article on Healthline.com suggests the following:
- Fatty fish (To be clear, this means fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, not fish fried in fat.) Examples are salmon, sardines, tuna and mackerel.
- Coffee, which contains both caffeine and antioxidants.
- Green tea. It has the same benefits as coffee, in addition to containing the amino acid L-theanin which helps reduce anxiety and promotes relaxation.
- Blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants which may delay brain aging and improve memory.
- Turmeric, which along with its anti-inflammatory properties can improve mood and help brain cells grow.
- Broccoli, which contains vitamin K, which is essential for forming the type of fat that exists in brain cells.
- Pumpkin seeds, which contain zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, which are all key to proper brain function.
- Dark chocolate, which improves mood and can help protect the brain.
- Nuts, which contain vitamin E and healthy fats. Walnuts have the added bonus of containing omega-3s.
- Oranges, which are one of the best sources of vitamin C. If you don’t care for oranges, other excellent sources of vitamin C are bell peppers, guava, kiwi, tomatoes and strawberries.
- Eggs. These powerful little gems contain several B vitamins and choline, which are tied to brain health, mental function and mood.
Another article from Food Network also suggests whole grains for brain function, and chewing gum, which can help maintain focus by increasing oxygen flow to the brain.
There’s no guarantee that following this advice will ensure that you will always remember why you walked into the kitchen, but it can help you maintain a healthier brain along with a healthy body. Now that is something worth remembering!
Until next time, eat well and be well,
Martha (and Lori)
