Dr. Daniel Amen has 12 prescriptions for brain health. Your homework
for today is to read the second HALF of the article (six prescriptions), then
write about what you learned here.
(a) explain how you WILL or WILL NOT use this advice.
(b) send the essay to
TheEbookman@gmail.com
(c) EXTRA CREDIT: read the last paragraph (conclusion)... what will you do with this information? Will you post this article on a facebook status? Will you send the link and a recommendation to some friends on facebook?
Seven words for today
abrade
abridge
abrogate .
abscess
abscond
absolution
absolve
Which of these definitions is connected with one of the words above?
__ v. To wear away the surface or some part of by friction.
__ n. That which is rubbed off.
__ v. To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor
particles.
__ n. A condensed form as of a book or play.
__ v. To abolish, repeal.
__ adj. Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break.
__ n. A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body.
__ n. The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation.
__ v. To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest.
__ n. The fact of not being present or available.
__ adj. Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business.
__ n. Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses.
__ v. To free from sin or its penalties.
__ v. To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water.
__
n. The act or process of absorbing.
Look up the seven words
Call the instructor and use at least three words in sentences and give similar words (synonyms) for these words.
From FreeVocabulary.com
THE ARTICLE
Part 2 of the Dr. Amen article
I offer 12 prescriptions to optimize it for a better life in all you do.
7. Learn Brain Healthy Ways to Deal with Pain
Pain is one of
the most frightening symptoms that we can have. Chronic pain affects
everything in a negative way, such as sleep, mood, memory and
concentration. Our scans have taught me that the use of chronic pain
medications, such as Vicodin or Oxycontin, may be harmful to brain
function. Long term use of these medications makes the brain look like
people who drink too much.
I am NOT suggesting that you throw
out your pain medications. I am a baby when it comes to pain and I
know some people would rather die than live with pain. But because of
what I have seen on scans I developed an interest in alternative
treatments for pain. Fish oil, acupuncture, music therapy and hypnosis
all have scientific evidence that they may be helpful.
From a
psychiatrist’s standpoint, I have also learned that pain and depression
tend to go hand in hand. And that for some people using the natural
supplement SAMe or the antidepressant medicine Cymbalta can help both
problems.
Again, there are many natural ways to help the
brain. Of course, you should talk to your doctor. If he or she does
not know much about natural supplements, as many of us were never taught
about them in school, sometimes a naturopath can be helpful.
One
other thought on pain, try getting rid of all of the artificial
sweeteners in your diet. When I was 37 I had arthritis. I had
trouble getting up off the floor after playing with my children. As
part of developing a brain healthy life, I got rid of the diet sodas.
Within a month, my pain went away. I don’t think artificial sweeteners
do that to everyone, but if you hurt it might be something to consider.
8. You Need a Brain Healthy Diet
What
does that mean? Lean protein, such as turkey or chicken; low
glycemic, high fiber carbohydrates, which means carbohydrates high in
fiber that do not raise your blood sugar, such as whole grains and green
leafy vegetables; and healthy fats that contain omega three fatty
acids, found in foods such as tuna, salmon, avocados and walnuts.
Since the brain is 85% water, anything that dehydrates you is bad for
the brain, such as alcohol, caffeine, excess salt or not drinking enough
fluids. Also, drink plenty of water to keep yourself well hydrated.
Along
the same lines, teach your children to eat right. Exposure equals
preference, what you feed your children is eventually what they will
want. Chloe, our 5 year old, believes that blueberries are God’s candy
and that raw red bell peppers are to die for. Why? She knows about
her brain and wants to do everything she can to make it better. She
frequently asks me if this is good for my brain or bad for it. You
should ask yourself the same question.
9. Physical Exercise
It
is literally the fountain of youth because it boosts blood flow to the
brain, plus it increases chemicals that are important for learning and
memory and stimulating the growth of new brain cells. Thirty minutes 3
or 4 times a week is all you need. If you don’t know what to do, walk
fast, like you’re late.
10. Mental Exercise
OK, once you
exercise and boost blood flow to your brain, you then need mental
exercise. In one study of lab rats, exercise was found to generate
new cells in the learning and memory centers of the brain. These new
cells lasted for about four weeks. If they were not stimulated by new
learning they died off. If you stimulate new brain cells by using
them, by learning something new, they connect to other cells and become
part of the fabric of your brain. This is why people who
only work out at the gym are not nearly as smart as people who work out and then go to the library.
Learning
new dance steps is a great mental exercise, because it involves
learning, coordination, music AND physical exercise. All of those
things are great for your brain. Crossword puzzles, learning a musical
instrument or exploring a new country or a new language with enthusiasm
can also help.
Exercise plus life long learning, plus a healthy
diet and limiting alcohol and tobacco will help keep your brain young
and strong. In fact, researchers from the University of Cambridge
found that people who did not do these things died early. People who
drank heavily, smoked, didn’t exercise and had poor diets at the age of
60 had the same risk of dying as someone with a healthy lifestyle who
was 74. You can add up to 14 years to your life by doing simple things
to take care of your brain and your body.
11. Notice What You Love about Your Life, a Lot More Than What You Don’t.
I
once did a study with psychologist Noelle Nelson on the power of
appreciation. I scanned her twice: once when she was focused on what
she loved about her life, and then again while she focused on what she
hated about her life. The scans were radically different. The loving
scan looked healthy, while the hateful scan showed decreased activity
in several important areas of her brain, involving emotions and
memory.
Other studies too have found that focusing on negative
thoughts changes the brain in a negative way. Creativity, learning,
and imagination all go DOWN with negative emotion; while focusing on
positive, happy, hopeful thoughts helps both the brain and you work
better.
Here is a simple exercise: write down 5 things you are
grateful for EVERYDAY and then meditate on these things throughout the
day. This exercise has been shown in scientific studies to increase
your overall level of happiness in just three weeks.
12. Notice What You Love about Other People, a Lot More Than What You Don’t.
I
collect penguins. I now have over 2,000 penguins. I have penguin
anything that you can imagine, from penguin pens, cups, dolls, puppets,
hats, ties, shirts, sewing kits, a penguin vacuum, and even a penguin
weathervane. Many people ask me how this obsession started.
When
my son was 7 years old I took him to a place called Sea Life Park in
Hawaii. It is a sea animal park. At the end of the day I took Antony
to see the Fat Freddy show.
Freddy was an amazing short, fat
penguin. On cue, he dove from a high diving board, bowled with his
nose, counted with his flippers and jumped through a hoop of fire.
Toward the end of the show the trainer asked Freddy to go get
something. Freddy went and got it and brought it right back. Damn, I
though to myself, "I ask this kid to get me something and he wants to
have a discussion with me for 20 minutes and then he doesn’t want to do
it. I knew my son was smarter than the penguin."
So, after the
show I went up to the trainer and asked her how she got Freddy to do
all of those really cool things. The trainer looked at my son and then
she looked at me and said "Unlike parents, whenever Freddy does
anything like what I want him to do, I notice him. I give him a hug
and I give him a fish." Even though my son didn’t like raw fish the
light turned on in my head that whenever he did things that I liked, I
paid no attention to him at all because I was a busy guy. But when he
didn’t do what I wanted him to do, I gave him a ton of attention because
I didn’t want to raise bad children. I was inadvertently teaching him
to be a little monster in order to get my attention. So I collect
penguins as a way to remind myself to notice the good things about the
people in my life a lot more than the bad things. Penguins might also
help you.
Conclusion
There are many ways to optimize your
brain and your mind. You CAN create a brain healthy life by learning
how to love and care for your brain, and by focusing on what you love
about your life a lot more than what you don’t. PASS IT ON.
One of
the most important things I have learned in my life is that best way to
help ourselves is to help others. Take what you have learned here to
develop your brain healthy life and teach it to others. By creating
brain healthy families, businesses and communities ALL of us benefit.
(c) EXTRA CREDIT: read the last paragraph
(conclusion)... what will you do with this information? Will you post
this article on a facebook status? Will you send the link and a
recommendation to some friends on facebook?
http://www.amenclinics.com/cybcyb/28-change-your-brain-change-your-body/115-12-prescriptions-for-creating-a-brain-healthy-life
Call with at least one phrase from a foreign language.
Tenho que ir agora.
Estou chateado.
Cale-se! / Cala a boca!
Can you say these phrases in other languages? Use Translate.google.com to use these phrases in French or Spanish.
FREE GED ONLINE COURSE: https://sites.google.com/site/stevesattutor/online-ged-course 
Today's article for the GED course will be about commitment and "the hearts and minds" and action. 
