By: Marie Spano

We all forget things from time to time or select what we take in and process and dump the rest. Fortunately, this typically won't cause many problems except maybe a spouse that keeps nagging you about something. But for some people, memory loss affects your daily life.

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For Some People, Memory Loss Affects Your Daily Life.

What Is Memory Loss?

Some memory loss with age is normal and shouldn't affect your daily functioning. With an age related decline in memory, the brain sometimes needs more time to recall information or process new information. So, it may take you longer to remember someone's name or how you know them.

There are a number of causes of memory loss including:

• Aging
• Alcoholism
• Brain damage
• Brain infections (lyme disease, syphilis)
• Depression, emotional trauma
• Drug use
• Encephalitis
• Anesthetics
• Head injury or trauma
• Neurodegenerative illness
• Vitamin deficiencies or other nutritional problems
• Seizures
• Stroke or TIA (trans ischemic attack)

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The Brain Sometimes Needs More Time To
Recall Information Or Process New Information.

How Bodybuilding Can Help You Boost Your Memory

• Bodybuilders Are Healthy: Bodybuilding builds a healthy body through diet and exercise. Aerobic exercise will help you control your blood pressure and cholesterol, which is vital for proper blood flow through the body (including to the brain). Both oxygen and nutrients (glucose, vitamins) are critical for brain health. And, these are delivered to your brain through the bloodstream.

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• Bodybuilders Choose The Foods They Need For Good Health: Some foods may actually boost your memory. At the top of the list is produce. Certain kinds of produce are loaded with antioxidant compounds that help decrease inflammation and possibly reverse some of our age-related decline in memory.

  Vary your fruit and vegetable intake but reach for cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), berries and other purple, blue and deep red produce often.

  Also, eat fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, halibut, lake trout) at least twice a week or take an omega-3 supplement. Bodybuilders may choose healthy foods to build their body, but this will also help them build a healthy mind.

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Bodybuilders May Choose Healthy Foods To Build Their
Body, But This Will Also Help Them Build A Healthy Mind.

• Bodybuilders Choose The Right Dietary Supplements: Some supplements such as l-theanine, phosphatidylserine and others may help you focus, relax and boost cognitive functioning. As a bodybuilder, you stay current on the latest supplements by reading the forums and articles on Bodybuilding.com.
• Bodybuilders Value A Good Night's Sleep: Some people may brag about how little sleep they get but a bodybuilder knows better. Sleep is vital for helping your body recover from workouts, helping you maintain your weight and function at a high level.

  Sleep deprivation impairs your memory, could contribute to overweight/obesity and makes it tough to get through the day. Who wants to live like that?

• Bodybuilders Are Active Inside And Outside Of The Gym: Bodybuilders challenge their body and their mind. By constantly working on self-improvement and learning new things you will keep your mind active and healthy.
• Bodybuilders Know How To Blow Off Steam In A Healthy Way: There are many ways a person can de-stress, some of which are self destructive such as smoking and drinking. Instead, bodybuilders opt for healthy ways to blow off stress by running, lifting weights, plyometrics, taking a spin class, etc.

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Additional Tips To Help You Manage Memory Loss

• Have a social life. Interacting with other people can help you stay sharp and bring enjoyment to your life.
• Take a class and learn something new. Home Depot has free classes on laying tile and many other home projects. Or, check out the many offerings at your local community college.
• Talk to your physician about your memory if you feel it is interfering with your daily life.

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Take A Class And Learn Something New.

About The Author:

Marie Spano is a leading authority on translating the latest nutrition and exercise science research into real life applications. Ms. Spano has also helped Olympic athletes, NFL-bound athletes and Fortune 500 executives enhance their health and performance through sound nutrition practices. She is a regular contributor to bodybuilding.com. For more information see: www.mariespano.com.

References:

1. Memory Loss. NIH, Medline Plus.

mariespano@comcast.net

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