A press release came my way that I thought was worth sharing since it provided insights from 
Kristen Willeumier,
PhD, the Director of
Research at The Amen
Clinic.
Willeumier is on the advisory board of Total Woman Gym + Spa, California’s largest gym and day spa uniquely designed for women. She supports the Total Woman Gym + Spa in their efforts to include brain health as part of woman's fitness, and says that training the brain also improves health, fitness, weight loss and happiness. I say "Hooray" for all that!
Kristen Willeumier,
PhD, the Director of
Research at The Amen
Clinic. Willeumier is on the advisory board of Total Woman Gym + Spa, California’s largest gym and day spa uniquely designed for women. She supports the Total Woman Gym + Spa in their efforts to include brain health as part of woman's fitness, and says that training the brain also improves health, fitness, weight loss and happiness. I say "Hooray" for all that!
1.
Know your Brain
According to Dr. Willeumier, “The
female brain is significantly more active than the male brain. “Women tend to be more empathetic, collaborative and
nurturing than males; but, this elevated
brain activity can make some females more prone to psychiatric issues
such as anxiety and depression”—which, of course affect fitness and
health.
2.
Feed the Brain
“What
you eat is utilized by the brain and body to help maintain the
integrity of your cellular membranes and to generate hormones, maintain
cellular structure, build muscle and provide
cellular energy,” Dr. Willeumier says. A few brain diet tips from her
seminar include: avoiding excess sugar, gluten and dairy, which can
cause a toxic, inflammatory environment; consuming plenty of brain
healthy fats like Omega 3s, flaxseed oil and coconut
oil to stave off depression and anxiety; and taking brain directed
multivitamins and probiotics.
3.
Hydrate the Brain
Since the body is comprised of 50-70% water and it
requires that you consume approximately half of your body weight in
ounces of water daily. “I cannot stress enough
the importance of drinking clean water daily,” she says. “Not only will
it help flush the toxins out of your cells and help your kidneys to
function properly, but it will also aid in weight-loss.”
4.
Rest the Brain
“One
of the best things you can do for your brain is to keep it in a relaxed
state,” says Dr. Willeumier. She explains that the demands of a busy,
stressful life create excess cortisol
in the system. “I encourage my patients to do daily meditation and get
weekly massage and spa treatments to maintain optimal brain and body
health.”
5.
Train the Brain
“If
you only do activities that are routine to you, then you are
not establishing new neural connections,” Dr. Willeumier says. Mental
challenges such as crossword puzzles, as well
as physical exercises that involve balance and coordination—like
juggling, tennis, Ping-Pong and tai-chi—help build brain-fitness.
Additionally, daily physical exercise routines such as Total Woman’s
yoga, Pilates, dance and cycling classes help “improve blood
flow to the brain, oxygenate the brain, and aid in the development of
new neural connections.”
