Tech Mahindra_Issue_I_52 pages_3

46 wellness
experts
Dr Vidhya Pathare,
Family Physician
Dr Tiejun Tang,
Traditional Chinese Medicine Expert
Francine White,
Nutritionist
Jasmin Waldmann,
International Life Coach
I am a 50-year-old man with a history of clinical depression. When
I was depressed, my memory, especially short-term memory, was
affected. Today, even though I no longer suffer from depression and
have regained my psychological health, my memory is not too good.
What are the ways in which I could boost it? I am willing to look at
lifestyle changes, traditional as also modern medicine, and everything
that contributes to wellness.
Dr Vidhya Pathare says: The brain has the ability to grow, repair, heal, and
establish new neuronal connections, provided you give what it needs. It needs the
right foods, memory supplements, brain workouts (Neurobics), a healthy lifestyle,
physical exercise and memory techniques.
For a ‘Mind diet’, eat avocadoes, asparagus, all berries, almonds, walnuts, oily
fish, eggs, dark chocolate, fermented food, green leafy vegetables, all coloured
veggies, turmeric, condiments, and iodised salt. They have the vitamins, minerals
and antioxidants required by the brain for its optimum function, nutrition and
repair. Avoid sugars, processed food, canned food, fast food, refined flour, refined
oils, MSGs-containing food. These can cause mind fog, lethargy and fatigue.
Drink at least 3 to 4 litres of water per day. Even 2% of dehydration can cause
brain to shrink and affect its functioning. Caffeine and red wine in moderate
amounts are memory boosters. Quit smoking. Inhaling essential oils of rosemary,
sage, and peppermint through a diffuser is wonderful tonic to our brain. Brain
exercises (Neurobics) like memorising your shopping list and memory techniques
like using code words, abbreviations, mnemonics to remember helps boost
memory.
Learn a new language or take up a hobby. Meditation, even five minutes per
day, is good. Have physical exercise 150 minutes every week. It increases brain
volume, clears it and makes it sharper. Have a good sleep, for it repairs the
neurons, clears the brain, washes off the toxins and gives you a brand new canvas
to work upon.
It’s wonderful that you are out of depression and now raring to go. Good luck
to you!
Dr Vidhya Pathare is a Family Physician
Dr Bina Wadhawan,
Complementary Medicine Therapist
Dr Tiejun Tang says: For Traditional Chinese medicine theory, memory
deterioration is associated with the heart. During your depression your liver and
heart were probably disharmonious. This can be caused by stress, ageing, or
genetic weaknesses in the kidney. The good news is that all of the above can be
addressed by Qi-Gong exercising, Chinese herbs and acupuncture. There is a herb
yourwellness.com