Our memory is the most valuable physical possession that we have. It not only allows us to communicate and socialise with each other but our memory defines us as a person. The debilitation of our memory and concentration can be extremely frustrating and in some extreme cases it can effect peoples daily lives and those around them.

There are three main forms of memory which include our short-term, long-term and spatial memory.

Short-term memory is the type of memory used to remember information presently “in use”, such as a telephone numbers or addresses.

Spatial memory is an aspect of short-term memory that involves the ability to memorize one’s position in space. Immediate recall of visually presented patterns is an example of spatial memory.

Long-term memory is the type of memory that involves the relatively permanent storage of sensory and other information. Childhood experiences are a good example of long-term memory.

There are a number of reasons that can lead to a decrease in memory function which include the ageing process, Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, cerebral insufficiency (poor blood circulation and lack of oxygen in the brain), dementia, hypothyroidism, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and stress.

One of the best ways to prevent memory loss is through exercising the mind. This can be achieved by doing word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, reading and writing. Try studying something new, you are never too old to learn something new like computers, health, languages or trade skills.

The brain is similar to every other muscle in the body, the more we exercise it the stronger it will become. Being physically healthy will also increase your memory and concentration.

Exercise and a healthy diet will improve you energy and motivation which will in turn help your memory and concentration. Many foods which are consumed in today’s diet can decrease your concentration and memory; these can include foods which are high in fat, sugars, additives and preservatives.

There are a range of natural products which are now being used to help improve people’s memory, most of these work by increasing the body’s blood circulation. Obviously an increase of the oxygenated blood which can be circulated to the brain will result in an increase function in the brain. These products mainly include the use of herbs like gingko biloba and a variety of ginseng products. We have a range of these types of products on our web site. To find the one for you just enter “memory” in the search box, you will then see the products and information relevant to your search.

As you can see there are a variety of ways that you can prevent memory loss due to aging or health ailments. These methods can also be used by a range of people who want to improve the memory which can be very beneficial for people who are studying through institutions or in the workplace.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 medium bananas, chopped
• 75gm almonds
• 2 teaspoons orange rind
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 4 sheets filo pastry
• 1 egg white
• Cinnamon

Method:

1. Process dates, almonds, bananas, orange rind and vanilla in a food processor until finely chopped and well combined.
2. Place one sheet of filo pastry on a clean work surface and fold in half lengthwise.
3. Place two tablespoons of date mixture along the long edge of the pastry, leaving a 2cm border at each end, and then fold in the edges and roll up firmly.
4. Carefully form the log into a spiral and place on a greaseproof paper on a baking tray.
5. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling.
6. Brush tops lightly with a little egg white and sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 180^oC for 15 minutes.
7. Serve with sorbet and fresh fruit.

Korean ginseng improves abstract reasoning, learning ability, alertness, attention span, creativity, memory and intelligence. These effects occur from Korean ginseng stimulating the uptake of choline (a “B” vitamin) into the brain. It also helps to prevent damage to neurons in the brain. These effects have been demonstrated in numerous Chinese clinical trials and animal experiments.

In one study, the effects of Korean ginseng on a variety of cognitive functions were compared with those of a placebo in a well-designed study. The subjects were healthy volunteers older than 40 years of age who were given a Korean ginseng preparation or placebo for eight to nine weeks. The Korean ginseng group experienced significantly better brain function than the control subjects.