5 Alternatives That May Help Improve Mental Performance

There are several ways of enhancing your mental performance. They can range from alternative herbal remedies to holistic lifestyle changes. These alternatives methods not only help you improve your cognitive abilities, but it’ll also ensure a calm mind that can be focused efficiently on tasks.

While natural alternative remedies are ideal for boosting your productivity, they also protect your brain’s health as you age and can improve your overall well-being. These are important factors to consider when improving your mental performance.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top five alternatives that can help improve mental performance.

 

1.   Fasting

Fasting is said to improve focus and concentration. The main mechanism of fasting that helps improve mental performance is based on the theory of ketosis. This is a metabolic state of the body that’s signified by a high number of ketones in the blood.

When you’re fasting, the body doesn’t have enough energy since there’s no food intake, forcing it to go into a state of ketosis, wherein fat is burned for energy. This process doesn’t just help you stay alert and focused, but also improves cognitive functioning and reduces stress. Research suggests that ketone levels have a positive correlation with improved memory performance.

Intermittent fasting is also known to reduce symptoms of depression. This is due to the fact that calorie restriction has a positive effect on the neuroendocrine system and depression. A study suggests that short-term calorie restriction leads to an induced anti-depression effect. This may be due to the several physiological effects that occur due to calorie restriction, like increased neurotropic effects and increased levels of endorphin and ketone production.

If fasting is not possible, you may try clearing symptoms of depression by using nootropic drugs.   WholisticResearch said that the nootropic drug, such as Bromantane, may be effective in clearing the effects of depression.

 

2.   Exercise

While exercise is often considered as one of the most effective ways to lose weight and gain muscle, it also helps improve your cognitive performance. For instance, walking for at least 6 miles per week may help preserve memory in elderly patients. Since regular exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells, it’s said to help fight age-related shrinkage of the brain.

When you exercise, the blood flows to the brain increases and affects the release of neurotransmitters that help improve the brain and central nervous system. Exercise is said to activate certain parts of the brain related to memory.

By exercising daily, people feel a sense of well-being, are more active throughout the day, sleep better, have improved memory, and feel relaxed and positive about life. Regular exercise is also said to have a positive effect on depression, anxiety, and it may also boost your mood.

Studies suggest that regular exercise may treat mild to moderate depression. The endorphins produced while exercising don’t just help you feel better but can also help you concentrate better and feel mentally sharp. When you exercise daily, it can foster a sense of self-worth, making you feel strong and powerful.

 

3.   Mindfulness

Mindfulness, or the act of staying in the present moment through meditation and other relaxing activities, may improve your mental performance and reduce stress. The primary aim of meditation is to focus on the present moment, breath by breath.   This means focusing on what happens each moment, which includes feelings of both joy and pain.   Since meditation helps the body to be present and awake in life, it leads to a feeling of relaxation and inner peace, improving your mental well-being.

A few minutes of mindfulness and concentration per day may improve your ability to keep information active in your mind.   This is known as working memory.   By achieving working memory, your brain becomes more efficient and requires less resources to function optimally.

A recent study that looked into the relationship between meditation and depression found that mindful meditation for eight weeks led to reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Practicing regular meditation may also help manage negative emotions like anger and fear.   Thus, following mindful stress-reduction activities can have a positive effect on your stress and inflammatory levels.

 

4.   Nutrition

While there are several alternatives to improving your mental performance—from drugs to meditation—one of the most effective ways to stay focused and sharp is to fuel up on certain types of brain-friendly foods.

Since Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in preserving brain health, foods high in omega-3, like fish oil and salmon, are great when it comes to improving your mental performance. Omega-3 helps reduce age-related impairment in the brain, improving memory and attention.

Antioxidant-rich foods or foods high in vitamin C and vitamin E are said to protect against cognitive decline in old age, thus improving memory, attention, and problem-solving.

Studies suggest that the consumption of green tea may also enhance learning, memory, and reduce stress. Certain herbs like turmeric and rosemary also help you stay focused and sharp. Meanwhile, the curcumin found in turmeric is said to reduce neuroinflammation, and the daily intake of rosemary may sharpen memory and boost your cognitive function.

 

5.   Sleep

Sleep deprivation is said to be one of the key factors that negatively impact your cognitive function—damaging your memory and cognitive skills.   Studies suggest that sleeping seven to eight hours a day can improve your cognitive function.

Sleep is said to consolidate long-term memory by strengthening the central neural connections and pruning out the unwanted ones.    Studies suggest that sleep deprivation and depression are closely linked. Do note that lack of sleep doesn’t cause depression, but it can worsen its symptoms.

Sleep disturbances are also often linked to the impairment of cognitive functions. Sleep disorder is one of the earliest signs of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Proper sleep may also help remove the toxins connected with Alzheimer’s.

 

Conclusion  

There are several options when it comes to alternative ways to improve your mental performance. However, if you’re looking for natural ways to boost your mental performance, then ensuring proper sleep, good nutrition, mindfulness, regular exercise, and fasting are ideal.

All these activities don’t just have a positive effect on your mental performance and cognitive functions, but they also promote a sense of overall well-being as well.

 

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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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