A neurosurgeon says the sharpest minds do these 4 things daily

In his book “Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age” Sanjay Gupta shares his learnings and experience on how make your brain “better, faster, fitter, and sharper” including the “five pillars of brain health”

1. Move

“Exercise, both aerobic and nonaerobic, is not only good for the body; it’s even better for the brain,” writes Gupta. If you already exercise regularly, try something different. For example, if you jog, try swimming or cycling. If you aren’t exercising, Gupta recommends five to 10 minutes of burst exercise (30 seconds of high-effort movement and 90 seconds of recovery) with the goal of working up to 20 minutes at least three times a week.

2. Discover

When you learn something new you exercise your brain. To help accomplish this, Gupta recommends: Reading a book that’s outside of your professional interest. Take a painting or cooking class, or check out other adult education courses at your local university or rec center. Or try learning a new language

“Relaxing is not solely a physical thing for the body,” writes Gupta. “Your brain needs to chill out, too.” Gupta recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, “the bare minimum if you want to have normal, healthy functioning physiology from your brain on down.”

4. Nourish

3. Relax

According to Gupta, evidence shows

Inc. that by consuming certain foods and limiting others, you can help prevent memory and brain decline, protect the brain against sickness, and maximize brain performance. Gupta also recommends the SHARP method:

S: Slash the sugar

H: Hydrate smartly

A: Add more omega-3s from natural sources R: Reduce portions

P: Plan meals ahead