Easy Ways to BOOST FOCUS
A recently identified condition is making millions of us foggy and forgetful. Here, how to outsmart it
When “Where did I leave my keys?” moments become more common, it’s easy to chalk it up to aging. But research has led to a new understanding of why brain function falters: Like diabetes, mental decline is linked to issues with blood sugar and insulin. This link led scientists to coin a new condition: type 3 diabetes. “Blood-sugar control is essential to brain health,” says Steven Masley, M.D., author of The Better Brain Solution. “When brain cells become insulin-resistant, they can’t convert glucose into fuel for the brain, causing problems like fatigue and fog.” Fortunately, you can prevent — and even reverse — the condition, assures Dr. Masley. Here’s how.
TRY A 10% TWEAK
Going just a smidge farther on your workout benefits memory in a big way. Exercise reduces artery plaque (a predictor of memory loss) and activates muscles to use more glucose, reducing blood sugar over time. In Dr. Masley’s studies, people who upped the number of push-ups they could do by 10 percent had an 18 percent improvement in cognitive scores. If you go on a 20-minute walk, 10 percent more is just 2 extra minutes.
ENJOY THIS SOAK
People with fewer toxins in their body are three times less likely to face mental decline. Why? Toxins hinder the body’s ability to process glucose. Dr. Masley’s advice: “Sweat toxins out in a steam bath once or twice a week.” For best results, add 5 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 tbsp. of coconut oil and stir into a hot bath. Lavender fights the oxidative stress known to slow glucose metabolism.
MEDITATE FOR A MINUTE
Managing stress is a boon to your brain. The reason: Stress produces cortisol, which causes blood sugar to spike. But a single stress-busting mindfulness session can reduce cortisol by 24 percent and increase blood flow to the brain to sharpen focus. The daily to-do Dr. Masley advises: Inhale for five seconds, then exhale for five seconds. With each breath, recall a positive memory. Repeat six times.
SIP A SUPER SMOOTHIE
All rich-colored veggies slow braincell aging, but beets especially are all-stars. In a study in the journal Physiology & Behavior, subjects who sipped beet juice scored 22 percent better on cognitive tests two hours later. Dr. Masley says antioxidants in beets lower blood sugar and their nitrates boost the production of nitric oxide, a compound that increases blood flow to brain regions that process complex information.
“I find time to work out because if my body is in good shape, my mind is in good
shape.”
Kelly Ripa, 47