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Tuesday Tune: Edge of the Ocean by Ivy and Brain Exercises

Hello my dear friends! Welcome to Natasha In Oz! I'm so glad to stopped by to say G'day today and to spend time with me in my little corner of the world Down Under!

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,

Before I share my favourite song of the week I just want to let you in on a little secret....this year I am turning 40! Instead of being all morose about this rather major birthday, I have decided to try to make this year my best year yet....

I'm not going to let turning 40 get me down!


So, I have been making a few changes in my life; I am drinking less alcohol and less coffee and drinking more tea I am exercising more, reading more and I am spending more time in the garden. All of these things are not only making me feel healthier physically but apparently they are also helping my brain stay healthy.

Scientists have discovered that if the brain is able to create new connections by growing more connections between brain cells, we might not lose our memories as we age, in spite of inevitable brain cell depletion. One way to keep making new connections is to keep exercising, using and looking after our brain!







Studies have shown that exercise can improve the brain’s executive skills, which include planning, organizing and multitasking. What we eat can also influence how effectively our brain operates. You can read more about the studies here but here is a brief summary of some of the findings:

The top five ways to keep our brains in good form:

1. Eat colourful fruit and vegetables.

We should try to eat a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables like blueberries, oranges, bok choy, spinach, tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes, the latest "super food!"

Source
 These colourful foods are loaded with phytonutrients and antioxidants. 

Eating a diet rich in antioxidants not only helps protect and nourish brain cells but also prevents cholesterol from damaging the lining of our arteries. Antioxidants are also critical for cell protection and slowing blood flow to the brain.

14 of the best vegetables



2 Read a book

Exercising our mental abilities keeps them strong. If we think creatively, we will strengthen the connections that we draw upon for creative thought. If we don’t think creatively, then we could lose our creativity.

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,


So, switch off the TV, the computer, the phone, the ipods and whatever other devices that take up your time and find yourself a good book. Don't feel guilty about taking time to read....Reading is exercise for the brain!

Reading takes mind power to convert the words on the page into mental pictures, 
reading exercises our brain cells !

3 Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!

Healthy blood flow to the brain strengthens neuronal connections. Even if we don’t use a particular neural pathway, blood flow will help keep you from losing it.

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,


Scientists at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland in Australia have found that moderate exercise significantly increases the number of neural stem cells in the ageing brain.

According to QBI neuroscientist Dr Blackmore, researchers are finding ways to stimulate the production of neurons to negate any decline brought about by age or disease.

“Our findings suggest that moderate exercise, from early to late in life, can have a very positive effect,” Dr Blackmore said.

This is great news as it means that keeping a healthy heart will keep our minds sharp too!

4 Avoid Stress

Stress that is not managed or treated can lead to a variety of medical illnesses. Unmanaged stress can also lead to anxiety disorders that can then lead to depression. Stress may contribute to physical illness such as cardiovascular disease, raised blood pressure and suppressed immune system. It can also contribute to infertility and speed up the aging process.

Ways to avoid stress

Stress shrinks areas of the brain including your hippocampus. Stressful episodes may disrupt hippocampal function and thus your memory-forming processes.

The locations in the brain of the cerebral cortex (also called the neocortex), amygdala, hippocampus, and corpus striata (formerly basal ganglia). NIH illustration.
Source
It is so important then, that we try to manage our stress as best we can. Meditate, practice yoga, lead a balanced life and exercise.

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,

Do anything you can do to reduce stress. Your body and brain will thank you!

5 Listen To Music 

Studies show that listening to music strengthens the right-hemisphere of the brain and the same studies have also found that people who listen to music are generally smarter and have more emotional intelligence than those who don’t.

Listening to music requires some level of concentration. For example, music that has a strong beat stimulates brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat and faster beats bring sharper concentration and more alert thinking. On the other hand, music with a slower tempo leads to a meditative state.

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,

Furthermore, research from Stanford University found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music brings enables the brain to shift speeds on its own as needed. Meditation and hypnosis research has spurred scientists to take a closer look at music to help those people who can't sleep. A small but growing body of evidence suggests that music can heal damaged brains. This just shows how powerful music is: it can bring lasting benefits to your brain, even after you’ve stopped listening!

So, since listening to music is so important for our brains, here is a relaxing and soothing #TuesdayTune. Some of you might have heard this song before on the TV show Grey's Anatomy.
I hope you enjoy listening to Ivy singing Edge Of The Ocean.


 I'm sure your brain will thank you for all of that extra musical therapy!

I hope you have a great week exercising your brains and boosting your mind power; isn't it great to know that we can do so much good for our bodies and brains with hardly any effort? We just have to eat well, exercise regularly, listen to good music, read and get sufficient sleep....it's that easy!

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,

If you would like to join in with this week's Linky Parties just click the buttons!

#TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,                                #TuesdayTune, Edge Of The Ocean, healthy brain, Ivy, Music Therapy, Natasha in Oz, Tuesday Tune, Tuesday Tune Linky Party,

Best wishes,
Natasha In Oz 
Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!
You can also visit me at PINTERESTTWITTERGOOGLE+

32 comments:

  1. Hi Natasha. That's such a good idea that you are going to do all these things, as you approach 40, in order to help your mind and body keep in shape! That was such a good, informative post today. I'm sure that we have all learnt something from it, so thank you for that. Believe me, you are a mere youngster!! Warmest wishes to you my friend.

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  2. Hey Natasha, awesome post!!! I turned 40 in march & I could use a few of these tips!!!
    Good on you for being such an inspiration!!

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  3. 4 Avoid Stress

    Now there is a kicker. Easy to say, not so easy to do.

    But I do love music. :)

    Have a great weekend! :)

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  4. Salut Natasha, great post and I have to admit that I could improve in pretty much all areas - though we do eat lots of fruit and veg and listen to music which is a good start, right? Have a lovely weekend xo

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  5. Excellent post, Natasha! I learned a lot from this information! The benefits of eating right and exercising are amazing. I am trying to cut down on coffee and drink more water. I also need to MOVE more!!

    Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

    XO,
    Jane

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  6. Hi Natasha, Great post girl and something we should all do. I got the anniversary card, it was awesome. Thanks very much and have a great weekend.

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  7. Life started at 40 darling....don't worry........lovely weekend....love Ria...xxx...

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  8. Natasha, wonderful post - so very true! I turned 38 last week, and I really need to set a similar goal. I'm not excercising nearly as much as I should. I have the book-reading and music-listening portions down, but could certainly eat healthier and exercise more. Keep us posted on your progress!

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  9. Wow, Natasha. This a great and very informative post.

    We do watch what we eat, but we both need more exercise.

    Forty is still a baby.♥

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  10. Excellent post!! So interesting! I will refer to it in the future! Thanks Natasha!

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  11. This is just what I needed to see- I turn 40 next week and am determined to make this the best decade yet.
    xx
    Jenny

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  12. I love your attitude about being 40! We have to make the most of each age that we are and be the best we can be. Love all the info you gave about staying healthy. It was all so interesting!

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  13. Good for you, glad you are feeling so happy. I believe in positive thinking and learning to be happy in the now rather than people that say " when I am... or when I have...then I will be happy"Life is too short to wait for one day to start enjoying it. xxx Katherine

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  14. I absolutely LOVE this blog! It is so professional and clean looking. I am so glad I found you on Pink Saturdays. I am your newest follower.

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  15. Let me get this out of the way- don't forget your mamo as much as we hate them they are good for us and I only nag because I love ya!
    O.K.
    I LOVE your blog! This post was excellent. It was put together so nice......I love pictures and they were SO NICE! Those 5 things are the BEST gift you can give yourself for your BIG 40. 40 is great- we are so strong by 40 and we know a lot. Cheers to you!
    Love Danielle

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  16. Hi Natasha- love all the info and inspiration---

    Embrace 40! 40 is the new 20 (or 30!) ---that's what I say!

    Happy Weekend! (How's the winter going? Could use some chilly weather over here - has hit triple digits a few days this past week!)

    Linda

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  17. Great post! These are all such good reminders. And enjoy turning 40. It only gets better. I've got 16 years on your and life is still great!

    Happy Pink SAturday!

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  18. Hello Natasha,
    you made a nice post and all those ideas are fabulous. But! To tell you the truth, you will feel over 40 exactly the same as before 40. This important border is just in your mind or not. You will always be this nice woman, you are - for ever!
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  19. Great song. 40 is a great milestone.

    Iloved that tune.

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  20. Thank you for this Sunday Song, Natasha. It is beautiful.♥

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  21. Good, informative post (and lovely Sunday Song). We should all be doing these things to help ourselves. Good for you!

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  22. Great post and information. Some advise we all should be doing. I hope you have a great birthday whenever it is.

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  23. Great post, very informative! Good for you, doing a great job of it!

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  24. Thanks for your beautiful and inspiring photos and comments. Good luck on your quest for a healthier you.

    I am 69, have always taken good care of myself, and usually run circles around younger people.

    Keep moving! I popped over from Between Naps.

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  25. Great advice. Beautiful mosaics, so colourful.:)

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  26. Life begins at 40 and I am an example that it does as since I turned 40 I have not looked back :-)

    Leeann x

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  27. Hello Natasha! We enjoyed this post so much. In our country, In our country, being middle-aged is such a big deal. Most of them are actually saddened by the fact that they are getting old. It's different for us. We are turning 30 by January next year and pretty much excited about it. We like the feeling of getting old. Cheers! - Van and Zane <3

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  28. Sorry I did not link up this weekend Natasha, but I think you will understand I have been some pre occupied. I agree with your list each and every point especially as I do all these things myself and hope it is helping me to stay fit. :)

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  29. Good informative post, Natasha; it's basically how I've lived my life. And that is perhaps why although I'm old enough (just) to be your mama, I'm still in good shape. I'm hanging around a while to listen to music. Just heard Delta, now I move to Ella. Thanks! :-)

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  30. Great song!
    Thanks for linking :)

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  31. Beautiful Sunday song! Loved your space..it's unique and fresh! Hope to see you on my blog:)
    Have a great week!

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  32. Hello Natasha,
    Well what refreshing post, full of great photo's and packed with very helpful information. It's a credit to you
    Thanks Jeff.

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