If you’re like me, remembering basic things like someone’s name or even more complex ideas
like mathematical equations can, at times, be a challenge.
While our brain is wired in a way that processes information into organized clusters,
occasionally it struggles to retrieve this information from its stored memory. New research on
caffeine consumption and its effects on memory retention, however, have proven that it actually
has its benefits.
In March 2011, the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published a study that showed a correlation
between low caffeine blood levels and Alzheimer’s disease. Both groups in the study had
Alzheimer’s, but those who drank three 8-ounce cups of coffee per day had a higher caffeine
blood level compared to their counterparts, whose Alzheimer’s worsened and caffeine blood
levels were lower. Learn how you can take advantage of your brain health every day with these
tips.
Stay active: A healthy body makes for a healthy mind. Take 10 minutes of your day to stretch
or walk briskly to raise your heart rate. Exercise is not only essential to being healthy, but the
rewards are endless.
Meditate: Sometimes, factors like stress and tiredness impede on our ability to remember things.
Take about five minutes in a quiet place and breathe in for three counts and out for five counts.
Focus on your breathing. When you sense your mind lingering, just bring it back, thinking about
your breath. Slow and steady is the only way to long-lasting change. You will be surprised at
how revived you will feel.
Eat brain-enhancing foods: Ample research confirms that foods abundant in Omega-3 fatty
acids like fish, flax seeds, avocado and walnuts are necessary for brain function. Beverages like
wine (in moderation), grape or cranberry juice and green tea are packed with flavonoids and
antioxidants that increase blood flow in the brain, lowering your risk for Alzheimer’s.
Although coffee may improve memory retention, it can be potentially unsafe for some people.
Pregnant women should not consume beyond 200 mg of caffeine per day, which is the size of a
12-ounce cup of coffee. This principle applies for other caffeinated items including soda, tea, and
other foods and drinks. Women who breastfeed should be extra cautious of caffeine consumption
since it can enter the milk, causing irritation in babies’ sleep. To avoid staying up all night, drink
your last cup of coffee around 2 p.m. Effects from caffeine can stay in your body anywhere from
six to 14 hours.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste so take active steps to prevent the occurrence of memory
loss or even the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Lazarus Lynch can be reached by email at lynchle01@mail.buffalostate.edu.