lifestyle choices

Brain Health Matters!

By Ali Manley, Womens Center, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center

s your brain health on the top of your mind? If not, it should be! When people think about their health and staying fit, they usually think about the neck down and not the neck up. Brain health is critical to your overall health as the brain plays a vital role in almost everything we do from thinking to feeling and even sleeping. According to the Alzheimers Association, staying physically, mentally and socially active, in combination with making healthy food choices, is the most effective recipe to maintaining a healthy brain. While limiting fat and cholesterol intake is an important part of a brain-healthy diet, increasing HDL or good cholesterol with mono- and polyunsaturated fats such as olive oil may even help protect your brain cells. Dark-skinned fruits and vegetables also have the highest levels of naturally occurring antioxidants and appear to both protect brain cells and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Kale, spinach, broccoli, red bell peppers, onions, prunes, blueberries, strawberries, plums, oranges, cherries, and omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish such as halibut, tuna, and salmon are all healthy, brain-smart food choices. Exercise is great for your heart and for maintaining a healthy weight, as well as decreasing your risk of heart attack, diabetes, and stroke. But it is also essential in good blood flow to the brain.
Page 48 Healthy Cells Magazine Bloomington May 2013

Physical activity does not have to be strenuous or lengthy in order to reap the physical benefits of exercise and has even been found to reduce brain cell loss in elderly people. Exercising with a partner provides the added brain benefit of social interaction as well. Social and mental activity is equally important for increasing and maintaining brain vitality. Mental activities, including education and learning, can strengthen the brain cells and their connections and even generate new brain cells, which can help prevent mental decline. Reading, writing, puzzles, crosswords, or social activities such as dancing and bridge clubs are all great ways to keep your brain socially and mentally engaged. A healthy brain isnt just one simple health decision, its a physically and mentally active lifestyle paired with social engagement and healthy food choices. Those interested in more information about brain health may wish to attend Brain Health: Lifestyle Choices for a Healthier Brain on June 25 from 6 p.m. 8 p.m. This free program includes physician and clinician presentations. Call 1-800-3-ADVOCATE and mention code 6G50 to register or visit www.advocatehealth.com/bromenn/classes.

FREE

Available

May is ...
HEARING S SCREENING
during the mon of May

Better Hearing and Speech Month

FREE

th

A Local magazine for Local women

Articles this month include:
Spring Clean Your Skin Care Regimen No More Perfect Moms Fashion Meets Fitness

www.pastellemagazine.com Find us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/PastelleMagazine
Dr. Natalie McKee, Dr. Danica Billingsly, Dr. Stacy Chalmers, Dr. Arica Rock

Eastland Professional Suites

Sullivan Office Complex

1508 W Reynolds, Ste B

Cheryl Eash 309-664-2524

Ceash7@gmail.com

To advertise, contact:

1404 Eastland Drive, Ste 203

Bloomington, IL

Pontiac, IL

309-662-8346 Toll Free 1-888-442-4545 bnaudiology.com

Locally Owned and Operated for over 20 Years

Advanced Womens Healthcare

Dele Ogunleye, M.D.

Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

We offer a full range of ob/gyn services including:

Minimally invasive surgery In office treatment for heavy periods Surgical and non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence Well women check ups Pregnancy and infertility Pelvic pain

2111 East Oakland Avenue Suite B, Bloomington, Illinois

309-808-3068 www.awhcare.com
Dele Ogunleye, MD, FACOG | Summer Hinthorne, MSN, APN | Gretchen Dean, PT
May 2013 Bloomington Healthy Cells Magazine Page 49

Ft. Jesse Imaging

Center

Quality Imaging & Excellence in Caring

ACR accredited in MRI, CT, PET/CT, Ultrasound, Breast Ultrasound, Mammography and Breast MRI Full edged multi-modality imaging center Saturday appointments available for Mammography and MRI Imaging Studies interpreted by board certied, subspecialized radiologists Results in a timely manner to your doctor Outpatient pricing Simplied billing Convenient parking

Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm

309.452.9001

2200 Ft. Jesse Rd Suite 130

Ft. Jesse Imaging

2200 Ft. Jesse Rd Suite 120

Center
www.ftjesse.org

309.454.5552

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

Why wait one week, or one more day, to get the Page 50 Healthy Cells Magazine Bloomington M R I a nMay d 2013 CT results your doctor needs now?