Brain Power

Did you know that you can improve your memory, focus, and concentration just by playing games? And that they’re fun games, too?

The Internet is awash in brain games that are enjoyable to play while keeping your mind sharp. Companies like Big Fish and PopCap Games are always working hard to bring us challenging games that are an inexpensive way to stay mentally fit.

Here are some such titles across a variety of gaming genres.

Time Management Games

Time management games may look cartoonish and kid-like, but they’re really very adult. Typically the goal is to race the clock to complete a series of tasks under demanding conditions. For example, in the most famous time management game series, Diner Dash, you’re tasked with filling orders for impatient diners at your restaurant before closing time. These games involve a lot of strategy and patience, but they improve your concentration and reflexes.

Recommended titles:

First Class Flurry
This is a pretty classic time management game where you play an air hostess whose job it is to keep every customer as happy as possible before the plane lands. Each customer usually wants multiple things throughout the flight, such as food, entertainment, blankets and pillows. Your goal is to put every customer to sleep with a blanket or pillow before it’s landing time. Once they’re asleep, they won’t bother you. This is a super fast-paced game but it’s an exciting challenge. Retails as low as $6.99 for a digital download.

Wedding Dash
Although it’s a bit skewed towards typically feminine interests, Wedding Dash is an example of time management games at their best. You play the role of a wedding planner whose job it is to cater to the every need of the bride and groom, and then, the every need of the very demanding wedding guests. The bulk of the play involves strategies to keep the guests happy, and this flexes your focus and memory as you often have to develop and remember a firm strategy depending on their requests. The action happens fast, but there is no clock to beat – in this game, you play until you’ve successfully served a meal to every guest. Whether or not you progress to the next level depends on how many points you’ve racked up. Retails as low as $6 for a digital download.

Hidden Object Games

Hidden object games are pretty self explanatory: you’re presented a scene in which an array of objects are scattered around, and you have to find the hidden ones that match a scavenger hunt-esque list. There is usually a timer on each level, so you really have to focus and concentrate to get the job done.

Recommended titles:

Mystery in London
This is a great hidden object game that also has an immersing plot and many educational points. You play a tourist in London who accidentally stumbles on the trail of Jack the Ripper, and ends up having to solve one of history’s greatest mysteries. As you travel from photorealistic place to place, you’re given trivia about each of London’s greatest landmarks, and more of the story unfolds. Retails as low as $5 for a digital download.

The Hidden Object Show
The Hidden Object Show is a pure hidden object game with no storyline. It’s presented like a game show, wherein you play against time to find all the hidden objects on your list. It’s quirky but it does the trick, as it’s virtually impossible to play the game well without concentrating. Retails as low as $6.99 for a digital download.

Adventure Games

Adventure games are usually point-and-click games that take you through a very engaging story and include many puzzles to solve along the way. A classic adventure game you may have heard of is the Myst series. These games require focus and quick-thinking, as well as a great deal of logic and some memory skills.

Recommended titles:

Dream Chronicles
Dream Chronicles is a visually stunning game that tells the story of a missing mystical child. You’re trying to figure out the disappearance through level after level of dream-like scenery, and many puzzles to solve. Appealing graphics and sound make this a special treat. Retails as low as $6 for a digital download.

Nancy Drew – Curse of Blackmoor Manor
What dark and dangerous secrets lurk at Blackmoor Manor? In this adventure game you play the famous young detective Nancy Drew, dealing with a terrifying mystery at the heart of a creepy English mansion. You must interview the mansion’s residents, explore its atmospheric rooms, and tackle many puzzles along the way. This is a highly challenging game. Retails as low as $6.99 for digital download.

Wrinkles are a natural part of aging, which is simply part of life. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do without medical or drastic cosmetic intervention to combat wrinkles and give your skin a more youthful look!

Watch out for the sun. Always use a substantial sunblock when you’re planning time outdoors, such as SPF 30. (Choose an SPF that’s right for your skin type.) Even when you’re just going to be walking to and from your car, the sun can damage your skin. Many make-up foundations or facial moisturizers offer the additional bonus of a small SPF, like SPF 15, in their formula. It’s a great idea to switch to one of these products to kill two birds with one stone!

Stay moisturized, inside and out. Drink plenty of water. Being hydrated plumps your skin naturally, so fine lines will be minimized. And on the outside, apply moisturizer as part of your daily beauty routine and never leave home without it. The more moist you keep your skin the more supple it will be.

Stop smoking. Smoking can accelerate aging. This is due to free radicals and toxins that smoking releases into your blood stream. Free radicals are your skin’s enemy – as well as the enemy of key organs like your brain!

Lose weight responsibly. Don’t starve yourself into a rapid weight loss, as it will make your skin sag. If you’re dieting, do so slowly and steadily. The end result will be weight loss that doesn’t damage your skin, and weight loss that stays – as the quicker you lose weight the more likely you are to gain it back. If you can’t help but lose weight rapidly, such as after bariatric surgery, rub cocoa butter into your skin to fight sagging and stretch marks.

Avoid stress. Meditate, take long walks, enjoy hot baths, or otherwise engage in relaxing activities to help you avoid the effects of stress on your body. Stress can exacerbate all sorts of wrinkles on your face, and it takes a holistic toll on your body.

Give your skin vitamin E. One great way to ensure your skin is getting enough vitamin E is to break up 3 vitamin E capsules into a bowl with 2 tsps yogurt. This creates a quick and simple yogurt mask that you can apply to your skin with a cotton ball and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing to treat your skin to what it needs.

Apply coconut oil. Coconut oil can be a great way to alleviate wrinkles when massaged into problem areas before sleep.

Apply pineapple. Rub the core of a pineapple on problem areas, careful to avoid your eyes, and leave the juice on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.

Up your antioxidant intake. Research the fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants – like grapes – and add them to your daily diet. This will fight the toxins that damage skin and other organs. Furthermore, you can talk to your doctor about which supplements you can add to your health regimen to help fight free radicals.

Image c/o Tomáš Obšíva?.

We’ve all seen it: celebrities who fight the aging process to a gross degree, with so may plastic surgeries and Botox injections they’ll never be able to change facial expressions again. But what about the celebrities who are embracing the changes age brings?

We’ve decided to celebrate the celebs who are an inspiration to all of us, so here’s a list of celebrities who are aging gracefully.

George Clooney
What’s not to love about this man? He actually gets better as he ages, like a fine wine. He’s embraced his graying hair and wrinkles, and seems to have avoided the siren’s song of the surgeon’s knife. At least, if he hasn’t, he’s had darn good surgery. Age: 49

Jamie Lee Curtis
This occasionally androgynous beauty has stood the test of time. She too has aged into her wrinkles and gray hair without putting up an epic fight, and her good looks have still remained intact. There’s no amount of aging that can erase that twinkle in her eye. She’s also become a spokesperson and proponent of key aspects of staying fit like maintaining a healthy digestive track, so she earns points from us for reaching out to her audience and to pay attention to their bodies’ needs. Age: 51

Diane Keaton
This lovely lady has stayed true to her own unique look throughout the years, and hasn’t gone overboard trying to keep her body looking exactly as it did back when, too. She never neglects her appearance, but she embraces her natural look, and the end result is that her skin looks fresh and her hair remains lively. Age: 64

Betty White
Beloved Betty has stayed true to her grandmotherly looks despite a massive resurgence of her career in the past year. It would be easy to try to appeal to her younger audiences by artificially knocking a few years off, but part of the reason she appeals, period, is that she is naturally who she is. And at nearly 90, this feisty woman is sharp as a tack, too. Age: 88

Michelle Pfeiffer
This powerhouse actress is sporting a few wrinkles, but overall she looks tremendous for her age. If she’s had surgery, she’s come away with none of the plastic look. Her stunning eyes and the beautiful lines of her face will always make her a classic beauty, and her ability to age gracefully means that isn’t diminished. Age: 52

Bruce Willis
No matter how old he is, he’s rugged, and he’s sexy. He’s run the gamut of hairstyles as befits his aging hairline, but he’s done it with grace and either a great sense of style or a superb stylist! Now he’s strutting his stuff with an upcoming action film, proving that just because he’s getting older, doesn’t mean he can’t still kick butt. Age: 55

Clint Eastwood
We’re amazed at how gracefully Clint has aged not just physically, seeming to embrace the process without fighting it, but mentally and professionally. He’s still accomplishing tremendous feats in his field, so much so that you can’t help but be inspired. Age: 80

Denzel Washington
Here’s another hunk who’s slipped well into those little wrinkles and smile lines. And actually, seemingly effortlessly, he manages to look quite youthful for his age. He’s not quite up there in number with Clint and Betty, of course, so he has some years to go before we can truly test his ability to age gracefully. But for now, he earns a place in this list for simply being himself as the years pass by. Age: 55

We’ve discovered a great range of brain health products from BriteAGE, a company devoted to protecting your brain and maintaining brain health despite aging. BriteAGE offers three products and an auto-refill program, so you can continue to take their products routinely without having to worry about manually arranging monthly refills.

BriteAGE’s products offer neuro-protection, which is a term that refers to two health benefits. One is the action of a neuro-protectant as an antioxidant, fighting brain-damaging free radicals. The other is an element that protects brain cells against neurotoxin damage. One common neurotoxic element is actually calcium, which when overloaded in the brain, can kill brain cells!

Although many of the ingredients in BriteAGE’s products are contained in foods, it’s not likely that you could replicate the effective formula through diet alone, or through a combination of individual supplements. On their web site, BriteAGE explains that in order to ingest an equivalent amount of resveratrol (which is helpful in cardiovascular health) as found in one of their products, you’d have to drink 5 bottles of wine a day. In light of this, you are often best seeking out a complete supplement with a formula that you can take to achieve effective levels of key ingredients without the side effects you’d experience from eating or drinking enough foodstuffs to achieve the same balance.

Here’s a breakdown of the three BriteAGE products currently available.

BriteSHIELD

This supplement functions like a shield protecting your brain from aging. It is formulated to fight free radicals, neurotoxins such as environmental toxins, and to prevent inflammation. It can also provide detoxification for your brain. It contains a significant dose of Vitamin B12, as well as a protective proprietary blend called Cereprotectin, which is made up of safe and natural ingredients.

BriteSMART

We were amazed to read the this supplement has been shown to raise IQ scores! It’s all about enhancing your brain’s functions by encouraging better memory, learning, focus, mental energy, concentration, acuity, and clarity. The combination of energizing, mood-balancing ingredients increases blood circulation in the brain and improves the uptake of oxygen and glucose. It contains primarily Biotin and a proprietary blend called Ceretrophin.

BriteSHOT

BriteAGE bills this liquid supplement as being perfect for “whenever you need to shine”. And with its fast-acting boost to mental energy, improvement to clarity, concentration, and focus, and increased learning and memory, it’s an apt description. It can even better your mood and help you handle stress. This supplement has energy drinks beat when it comes to safely energizing you and enhancing your brain power without giving you caffeine-related jitters. Yet it is effective when you’re lacking energy or when you know you’ll need to be at your best to handle a stressful situation.

For more information about these products and the BriteAGE company, check out their web site!

Herbs and supplements are some of the best weapons for anti-aging, but there are also practical things you can do to reduce the signs of aging both physically and mentally. Here is a basic herbal guide to anti-aging, and some tips you can take into consideration to help keep your body and mind youthful.

But remember, before adding any herbs to your health regimen, be sure to speak with your medical professional about whether or not they are appropriate for you.

Anti-Aging Herbs for the Brain

As we age, circulation grows poorer. Sooner or later this can lead to a decreased blood flow to the brain, making it work less efficiently. It can also reduce the effectiveness of the oxygen the brain receives. Toxic elements in the blood can also erode the brain and cause memory loss. In a worst case scenario, thickening blood can cause strokes.

There are two primary herbs that aid in fighting these conditions as we age. They are ginkgo biloba and gotu kola.

Ginkgo biloba‘s usefulness is well-supported by scientific studies. It has been shown to improve and alleviate all of the aforementioned aging brain conditions, but it’s especially well known for its ability to improve short-term memory. It does this, in addition to improving mood and focus, by increasing the oxygen metabolism in the brain. It also is a strong antioxidant to fight the toxic free radicals that attack the brain. Ginkgo is considered most effective in those over the age of 50.

Gotu kola is revered in Indian medicine for its ability to rejuvenate the brain, increase intelligence, enhance memory, and fight senility. Some studies also suggest gotu kola is good for combating fatigue and stress.

Anti-Aging Tips for the Brain

- Be sure to keep your brain active. Crossword puzzles are an excellent way to challenge yourself and kick those brain cells into high gear!

- Get plenty of sleep. The less sleep we get, the more cloudy everything seems. Fatigue is not a healthy brain’s friend.

Anti-Aging Herbs for Circulation

As mentioned before, lessening circulation is a real concern as we age. This can affect the entire body, not just the brain. One circulatory enemy is high cholesterol, which can thicken the arteries, reduce blood flow, and lead to both cardiac problems and stroke. Your doctor should carefully monitor your cholesterol, but there are herbs you can take to decrease your cholesterol-related risks.

Two herbs that can improve your circulatory system and related systems are garlic and hawthorn.

Garlic is very well known for its ability to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. It can also reduce blood pressure and thin the blood, all of which improves the performance of circulation. Garlic is often recommended in addition to a diet and exercise regime for cholesterol control.

Hawthorn must only be taken under a physician’s supervision. It is known to increase blood flow to the heart and surrounding areas, and to dilate blood vessels. It is used most commonly to fight poor or lessened heart performance such as seen with cases of congestive heart failure and heart-attack recovery.

Anti-Aging Tips for Circulation

- Exercise daily. Even 15-20 minutes of simple, low-impact cardio exercise daily, such as a brisk walk, can help. The idea is to get your heart pumping and blood flowing, and increase your oxygen uptake through cardio. However, you should discuss an exercise plan with your doctor before undertaking it.

- Move around. If you find that you live a sedentary lifestyle, as so many today do, be sure that you get up and move around at least once every hour. Stretch your muscles and shake your limbs. Try walking around a little to increase circulation in your legs. A great way to do this is to go get a glass of water regularly. That way you’re staying hydrated and you’re moving around while doing it!

Image c/o Felipe Gabaldón.

Challenge your computer to a quick game of chess. Click on the pawn you want to move.

There are several things that can be done to improve or better your memory. Here are some that we recently found online:

1. Read a Book – good for the brain, good for the soul!

2. Exercise your body – increases the functionality of the brain – Regular cardiovascular exercise can reduce the number of lost brain cells due to aging.

3. Get more rest – the brain will not remember anything without adequate sleep.

4. Pete and Repeat – the more you repeat a phrase or behavior the more likely you are to remember it!

5. Play memory or brain stimulation games like scrabble, mastermind, sudoku, or try different puzzles.

6. Feed your Brain! Eat foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and lots of fruits and green, leafy vegetables.

7. Use music to help you remember certain things. Put phrases to a tune of a song, and let the natural effect of music let your mind remember things associated with the sounds you hear.

8. Make connections. I have a habit of associating people’s names with celebrities so that I can easily remember their names. Children usually make connections to remember that list of spelling words every week.

9. Share information with others- you may simply recall the conversation you held with someone to remember key facts.

10.  Caffeine, in moderation, is know to boost the memory for small periods of time.

References:

Softpedia.com

USA Today