Excerpt from FC&A's Live Longer, Feel Younger.

Surprising Strategies Sharpen Your Memory

Sometimes less is more. That could be the case with calories and your memory. On the other hand, sometimes more is better. Boosting your intake of water and antioxidant vitamins may give your memory a boost. Here are some surprising ways to improve your memory.

Eat less for a sharper mind. In a recent German study, overweight elderly people who cut their calories by 30 percent didn’t just lose weight — they also significantly improved their memories and thinking skills. The boost was likely due to reduced insulin resistance and inflammation, which may contribute to age-related mental decline. While eating less may help you remember more, it’s important to get adequate nutrition and maintain a healthy body weight as you age.

Water your brain. Like a plant, your brain needs plenty of water to flourish. If you become dehydrated, you may suffer from poor short-term memory and have difficulty learning or focusing. In fact, dehydration that results in the loss of as little as 1 percent of your body weight can have a negative impact on your mental performance. Many experts recommend drinking about eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, but you may need more if you’re exercising or dealing with high temperatures.

Vanquish fat with vitamins. A high-fat meal does more than make your pants uncomfortable. For older people with diabetes, it can also impair your memory. Luckily, high does of vitamins C and E may help, according to a recent Canadian study. Type 2 diabetes causes oxidative stress, and high-fat meals trigger even more. But antioxidant vitamins stifle memory-damaging free radicals to minimize< this effect. People in the study took 1,000 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C and 800 international units (IU) of vitamin E with their meals. But you can help protect your memory by avoiding high-fat meals and eating foods rich in vitamins C and E.

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