YES, your brain is always hungry.

The brain, which accounts for 2 percent of our body weight, requires about 20 percent of our daily calories (Example: a healthy daily calorie intake is 2000 calories, so your brain is going to eat 400 of those calories).  The brain needs a constant supply of glucose because neurons cannot store it.  The brain works best with about 25 grams of glucose circulating in the blood stream, about the amount found in a banana.  Best sources of carbohydrates for the brain are; fruits, vegetables, and grains.

So, next time you consider limiting you calories or ‘counting calories’ consider your brain wants to eat too!

Tip: Carbohydrates found in lower glycemic foods are broken into glucose molecules more slowly, thereby providing a steadier supply of energy to the brain.

• It’s one way to burn calories and help you lose weight
• It makes your heart strong so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood
• It increases your lung capacity
• It helps reduce risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
• It makes you feel good
• It helps you sleep better
• It helps reduce stress
• I could go on all day, but you get the point

Bottom line: you need cardio if you want to get your weight under control and get your stress to a tolerable level.

More hydration.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, you should drink 8 to 10 ounces of water every 15 – 20 minutes during a workout.  If it is hot or you are perspiring heavily, consider a sports drink that is low in sugar and high in carbohydrates as well as electrolytes like sodium and potassium.  Replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat can keep your muscles and nerves functioning properly.

The physical decline associated with aging is not simply the result of getting older: it’s partly a product of becoming less active as we age.  Studies show that older people who engage in regular exercise can turn back the clock by as much as 20 years – in terms of heart and respiratory function, blood pressure, blood sugar, strength, bone density, flexibility, muscle mass, and mood – compared to those who get little or no exercise .

The message is clear: To get more from your years, get moving.