STRATEGIC
R & D
55
AUG 2017 FOOD FOCUSTHAILAND
Dr.Small shared the resultsofaHerbalifesurveyonofficeworkers
aged25 to45 inTaiwan lastyear.Thestudy found that61%ofworkers
use their devices for six to10hoursadayand78% reported feeling
that theirmemorywasaffectedby theiroveruseof thedevice.Around
60% admitted to forgetting their personal belongings.
InThailand, a recent report by theGoogleConsumerBarometer
revealed that 53% of Thais use the Internet every day. This figure
has increased by 89% since 2013. Seventy percent of Thailand’s
populationusessmartphones,an increaseof126%since threeyears
ago.
In themodernworld, technology has become an inevitable part
of our day-to-day activities, and we find it difficult to get through a
daywithout our smartphones and computers. People have become
sodependenton technology, that it ischanging thewaywe live,work,
communicate and interact with others. It is also changing the way
our brainworks.
Studies show that a significant number of millennials who have
grownup in thedigital ageare showing signs of short termmemory
dysfunctions and other disorders, and are more distracted and
forgetful.
Forgettingsomeone’sname,not rememberingwhereyouparked thecar,misplacingyourphoneor
forgettingwhyyoucame into thekitchen– theseareverycommonmemory lapsesweexperience
from time to time. But more andmore, thesemoments don’t happen exclusively to seniors, as
evenpeople in their 30’s and40’s are complaining of more frequent memory problems.
MentalHealth
KeepingYour BrainHealthy andSharp
Dr.Small emphasized the importance of brain health and the
advantagesofmaintaininga lifestyle that canhelp keep thebrain young
and active. His studies reveal that genetics accounts for only part of the
risk of dementia,Alzheimer’s diseaseandother signs ofmental decline,
and that there are other factors such as physical conditioning, stress
management, mental stimulation and nutrition that we should be aware
of. The good news is our memory does not have to decline as we age.
There are lifestyle strategies associated with keeping the brain sharp.
Physical exercise isamust tokeep thebraincellsactive, andmental and
memoryexercisessuchascrosswordpuzzles,Sudokuor learninganew
language tobuildyour brainmuscle. Lessstresscouldmeana lower risk
of memory loss, since people prone to stress are also more likely to
developbrain-related diseases.
intheDigitalAge
Nutritional choices that protect the brain:
• Emphasize: Beans, fruits,vegetables,nuts,
olive oil,poultry,whole grains,fish
• Minimize: Butter,cheese,margarine,
fast or fried foods,pastries and sweets
Healso shareda recent studyof over 900older volunteers showing
that adherence to a brain-healthy diet consisting of nutritional choices
such as beans, fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, whole grains and fish,
significantly slows cognitive decline equivalent to a 7.5-year younger
brainage. This isan indication that nutritionandbrainhealthareclosely
linkedwitheachother. Eating the right food isan important part of brain
health.
It has become increasingly crucial for people across all age groups
to be aware that there are simple, practical strategies to enhance brain
performance. It isnever tooearly tostart training thebrain.Youngpeople
canstartwithsimpleskillssuchasmemory techniquesand face-to-face
communication that could encourage eye contact and non-verbal cues
inaconversation.Combine thismental stimulationwithphysicalexercise
each day, enough sleep, stressmanagement, and a brain-healthy diet.
Byembracingahealthy,active lifestyle todaywecanmaintainahealthier
brain for years to come.
