Love Your Heart

One of the main messages from our Boost Your brain campaign is what’s good for your heart is good for your brain.

Physical activity has many health benefits for the body and the brain, such as improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and stimulating the growth of new brain cells. Some studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have a lower risk of cognitive decline than those who don’t.

Also, controlling blood pressure is important. This is because hypertension can damage the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the brain, leading to strokes and vascular dementia. Keeping blood pressure under control may help prevent or delay these complications.

In addition to exercise a healthy diet may support brain health by providing essential nutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Some dietary patterns that have been associated with cognitive benefits are the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet, and the DASH diet. These diets emphasise fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts, olive oil, and low amounts of red meat, eggs, sweets, and processed foods.

Loving your heart is all about taking care of your heart health, which is closely linked to brain health. To love your heart we recommend you:

• Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease and improve brain health. Focus on eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
• Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Here are some you could try – Dancing combines physical movement with mental coordination and memory recall. Yoga enhances flexibility, balance and mindfulness, promoting a calm and focused mind. Golf combines physical activity with mental concentration, problem solving and special awareness.
• Manage stress: Chronic stress can have negative effects on both heart and brain health. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing or strenuous outdoor walks.