Tips that sharpen the mind

Your mental and physical fitness cannot be seen as two separates. For example if you sleep erratically and are physically tired then your mental performance will also suffer, and vice versa. It is very important to find the right balance between mind and body.

A healthy mind in a healthy body is only possible if your general fitness is good; optimise your diet, do some sort of exercise, try and raise your energy levels and learn to deal with stress.

Feed your brain. Foodstuffs with positive and protective properties are fish, shrimp, lobster, egg yolk (softly boiled), yeast, wheat germ, grapefruit, bananas, raisins, pumpkin seed, sesame, avocados, dairy, turkey and date (palm). As extra support you can use Heartbeat which contains substances to keep each brain cell sharp. This contains 22 nutritional vitamins, 13 cell protecting anti-oxidants and more than 63 minerals and trace elements to keep your brainwaves running smoothly.

Fitness Mate will immediately sharpen you for a day at work, important competitions, training or meetings and this without the side effects of products like coffee. It doesn’t cause you to experience peaks and troughs and keeps you focussed. It helps you respond faster and improves your performance under high (work) pressure.

If your mind feels exhausted because of heavy tension and pressure, as is the case during a burn-out, then it is good to use Ginseng. This herb will give your mind and body more elasticity, which will make you more resistant to outside influences.

Optimise your brain function further by using Gingko Biloba. This herb improves blood circulation to your brain cells, which will greatly improve your memory. Because of this it can be used by everyone who wants to be more focussed or by those who are forgetful (also senility). Excellent for use during exam-periods, finishing assignments or courses which require lots of study.

Is your mind less sharp, especially just before you’re menstruating, this is because of the temporary change in hormones. Dong Quai balances your hormones. For more suggestions on how to stabilise your menstruation go to our tips for women.

If you can’t sleep after an active evening, then you can take a hot bath or shower which will help you relax. Before going to sleep you can also take a magnesium product together with calcium. If you can’t get to sleep because your mind is too active with work or other things, then also take Valerian. This herb will ensure you get a good nights sleep without influencing your REM-sleep. This is essential for waking up bright and sharp.

Depression or feeling down also makes your mind less sharp. This can make you impatient, aggressive, sad or indifferent. To give your mind a positive boost use St. Johns Wort. This will ensure you feel brighter and happier within four weeks.

If you suffer anxiety, for example before important meetings or exams, then you will want to get rid of that quickly to enable you to concentrate better. Anxiety can result in dry mouth, dizziness, sweaty palms, heart palpitations or even hyperventilation. Valerian can help you, without the side effects that synthetic sedatives have.

To keep the mind young and flexible it is important that you keep your brain regularly active. You do this by playing games which need your memory (chess, puzzles and scrabble) and by staying interested in the things that happen around you everyday. Look for a new challenge such as learning a new language, hobby or profession.