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By Dr. Oz & Dr. Roizen for YouBeauty[2]


You know (if you even read one out of every 10 of our columns) that we believe daily exercise is next to tooth brushing and flossing for keeping you looking good and keeping your body fit and working right. But it is even more important for the one part of your body where size matters: your brain. Powering through a Zumba class or hiking for an afternoon does as much good for your noodle as for your muscles and blood vessels. But that's not the only kind of workout that will beef up your brain.


More From YouBeauty:

The Molecule That Improves Memory

Brain Games You Can Play at Home

Are You Getting the Sleep Your Brain Needs?[3] [4] [5]


A group of scientists from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago published a study[6] in the July 2013 issue of the journal Neurology showing that greater cognitive activity in childhood, middle age and in old age makes your brain better later.


So what does that mean for you? If you want to be “all there” for your children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, there's plenty you can do right now to prepare. And just because it has to do with challenging your brain cells doesn't mean it has to feel like homework.


Think that you're too old to spend time playing games? Nonsense! Just think of it as doing a mental workout. Doing word puzzles, playing card games and reading your favorite trashy novels all count as ways to keep your mind active. Yoga engages your core and a riveting whodunit engages your gray matter. In fact, there are any number of fun, natural activities that might seem frivolous, but give you the lasting benefits of psychological circuit training. Write in your journal or email with an old friend. Turn off the TV for a while and have a chat with your next-door neighbor. Simple social interaction might not seem like a mental workout, but spending time with your social network is associated with better health and happiness and less dementia later in life. The same is true of taking part in your favorite hobbies. Not a bad way to work out, huh?


Just like any good exercise regimen, you have to target different areas of the body for the full effect. Physical activity is among the other good habits that support mental acuity[7] and stave off cognitive decline as you get older. Yes, exercising your body enlarges your brain, not just your biceps. As does eating right, including getting enough omega-3s[8] from fish. Here's another easy one to check off the better-brain to-do list: Get plenty of sleep.


When you look back with your crystal clear memory decades from now, you’ll be glad you did.



Also on HuffPost:




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  • Exercise Your Peripheral Vision


    Actively challenging your peripheral vision improves brain performance and helps you navigate the world safely.

    Recent studies shows that drivers stay on the road longer and have fewer accidents after actively training their useful field of view.




  • Memorize A Song


    Developing better habits of careful listening will help your ability to understand, think and remember.

    Reconstructing the song requires close attentional focus and an active memory.

    When you focus, you release brain chemicals like the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that enable plasticity and vivifies memory.




  • Learn To Play A New Instrument


    Playing an instrument helps you exercise many interrelated dimensions of brain function, including listening, control of refined movements and translation of written notes (sight) to music (movement and sound).




  • Don't Rely On Crossword Puzzles And Sudoku


    Heavy crossword players show the same rate of cognitive decline as people who do few crossword puzzles.




  • Turn Down The Volume On Your Television


    Think of this: You can't get rid of radio static by turning up the volume. Many people raise the volume because their listening has become "detuned" -- a little fuzzy.

    Matching TV volume to a conversational level can help you catch every word when talking with others.




  • Reacquaint Yourself With The Ball


    Practice throwing and catching a ball up in the air.

    People who master these kinds of sensory-guided movement activities can hone their brains' visual, tactile and hand-eye coordination responses, with widespread positive impacts for the brain.

    This type of activity has been shown in MRI studies to thicken parts of the brain's cortex.




  • Learn To Use Your 'Other Hand'


    If you're right-handed, use your left hand for daily activities (or vice-versa) like brushing your teeth and eating.

    Doing such activities can drive your brain to make positive changes.

    Think of millions of neurons learning new tricks as you finally establish better control of that other hand!




  • Choose Bumpy Surfaces


    Walking on bumpy surfaces, such as cobblestones, improves the vestibular system of the inner ear, which plays a central role in balance and equilibrium.

    Cobblestone walking challenges the vestibular system in ways that improve its function, which translates into better balance -- the key to preventing serious injuries.




  • Make A Jigzaw Puzzle


    Mentally rotating the shape of each piece in your head helps brain fitness.




  • Become A Child Again


    Start paying attention to the physical world around you. Start noticing things and make an active effort to find new details even in a familiar situation.

    When you stop learning, your brain stops growing.