Healthy Choices

So, another week has come and gone... Did you accomplish everything you planned for during the week? As you recall, last week's healthy advice provided you with simple steps to implement on your road to wellness. Remember, it takes 90 days for a daily routine to become a healthy habit.

Again, simple life-style changes like increased exercise, drinking more water, not over-eating and adequate sleep will provide the basic foundation your body needs to stay healthy. Optimal health is a marathon race, not a sprint. It is about the healthy choices you make along the way...

This week we will examine 2 other important aspects of interest: your memory (and lack thereof) and sleep habits.

Is Your Memory Slipping?

Do you ever feel like you just can't remember things the way you used to, or you occasionally have to "jog your memory" to come up with names and places? Don't worry you are not alone. There are plenty of others who often forget people's names, movie titles or even where they've parked their cars. What people need to realize is that they have more control over their aging brain than they think. According to Gary Small, director of the Memory and Aging Research Center at the UCLA psychiatric institute, "one-third of memory loss is related to genetics... Do You Get Enough Sleep? The Sleep in America poll revealed nearly seven out of ten Americans said they experience frequent sleep problems, although most have not been diagnosed. - The National Sleep Foundation Many people feel they only need 3-4 hours of sleep to function. While it is true that each individual has his/her own sleep requirement, sleep is vital to proper health and most people should get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to function optimally. People look at sleep as a passive activity, but the brain is actually very active during this time. Sleep affects our daily function, both physically and mentally. Nerve-signals known as neurotransmitters control whether our body is asleep or awake. Neurons in the brain stem and spinal chord produce these neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine). Evidence indicates some neural connections may be remodeled during sleep.