Keep your brain healthy

Being physically active is not the only way you stay healthy. Exercising your brain is just as important, and it plays a critical role in everything you do.

Think about what you do every day: feel, think, remember, work, play, talk, sleep, etc. Staying physically active, adopting a brain-healthy diet, remaining socially active and staying mentally active are key components to keeping your brain healthy and reducing your chances of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Mental health depends on you improving your memory as well. There are several ways to improve your memory and vitality of the brain.

You should exercise regularly to improve energy levels, sleep and brain health. Eating foods rich in nutrients will contribute to a better memory as well.

Choose foods low in saturated fats and rich in good fats like polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.

Doing a jigsaw puzzle will get your brain juices flowing as well as memorizing the words to a song. You can also learn to play an instrument. This will encourage you to exercise many interrelated dimensions of brain function.

Follow these steps and more as a part of The Fittest Loser Challenge sponsored by Assurance!

• Jill Micklow is the Wellness Consultant on the Employee Benefits team at Assurance, a proud sponsor of the Daily Herald Fittest Loser Challenge. She brings Assurance's passion for minimizing risk and maximizing health to clients nationwide, helping them identify specific health and wellness goals and tailoring programs that help them achieve success. Through education, motivation and engagement, Assurance clients and their employees see an improvement in overall health, morale and productivity thanks to Jill's efforts.