?Use it or lose it? should be your mantra when it comes to memory. People who adopt a ?brain-healthy? lifestyle, which includes exercise, no smoking, a nutritious diet and hobbies, have a reduced risk of developing dementia. Keeping your brain active is also thought to build reserves of brain cells and enhance their connections.



MEMORY CHALLENGERS:

There are many things that we do in our lives that will have the effect of zapping our brains of some of our memories.

Alcohol: Interferes with short-term memory and damages dendrites in the brain, which pass on messages between brain cells. There are many different types of diseases that occur from to much alcohol so stay away from excessive use of this.

Insomnia: Can reduce your ability to retrieve memories and leave you feeling forgetful. Getting plenty of rest is very important.

Smoking: Limits the amount of oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Plus many other problems that are caused by smoking.

Stress: A new study showed that stress activates an enzyme, kinase C protein that undermines short term memory. If you can't fix the problem, try not to worry over it. It really does you no good.

Some medications: Tranquilisers, muscle relaxants, sleeping tablets, antidepressants and medication for high blood pressure can sometimes contribute to fuzzy thinking or cause some loss of memory capacity. Also when taking medication, be careful not to drive a car, since your thinking is not very clear.

EAT FOR YOUR IQ Want to think smarter? Then feed your brain.

Berries with benefits: Blueberries get their pigment from an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which may improve concentration, co- ordination and short-term memory. Strawberries are thought to have similar benefits and may help protect against memory loss.

Broccoli Boost: This humble vegetable is high in substances which work in the brain the same way that medication for Alzheimer's disease does - by blocking an enzyme that causes the breakdown of brain cells.

Excellent Eggs: Eggs are high in choline, a B complex vitamin. Lack of choline has been linked to poor memory and concentration, while the right amount can assist brain cells to communicate more effectively.

Grain Gains: Whole grains like brown rice and rye bread are packed with folate, B12 and B6, They help break down a chemical called homocysteine, which in high levels has been linked to Alzheimer's and heart disease.

Salmon Smart: Cold-water fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring are packed with healthy fatty acids called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These have been shown to assist all of the brain's thinking functions

According to a new study at Stanford University in California, the brain only chooses to remember memories it thinks are most relevant, and actively suppresses those that are similar but less used, helping to lessen the cognitive load and prevent confusion.

Don't get frustrated by the following memory tips if you still continue to forget thing. This only mean that your brain is working properly. No one can remember everything. As long as you remember what is important, that is what really matters. :)

The Memory Improvement Tips that are in this book will help you to remember more than you forget, visit: http://www.memoryenhancementtechniques.com