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Ways to Improve Your Brain Power

There are several amazing facts about the human brain. First, it contains about 86 billion neurons that make up the “gray matter.” Also, the human brain can generate about 23 watts of electrical power. That is enough to power a little lightbulb! Fascinating right?

As one of the most complex organs in the body, don’t you think it’s a great idea to keep the brain healthy? There are so many benefits of taking care of your brain. For example, caring for your brain helps to improve memory, carry out tasks that require calculation, and focus on day-to-day activities better. In addition, brain health is important because our brains gradually deteriorate with the rest of our bodies as we grow older.

Our cognitive capabilities begin to decrease, leading to things like memory loss and mental dullness. However, taking good care of the brain can increase its power and, in turn, improve memory and the quality of life (even when you grow older).

To enjoy these benefits, you need to learn how to improve brain power and promote brain health. So, that is what we’d be showing you in this piece! So, keep reading.

How You Can Improve Your Brain Power

It is only logical to note that if the brain can decline, it can also improve if you know how to go about it. Below are some of the things you can adopt in your everyday life to improve your brainpower. 

Mental exercise

They say the brain is a muscle; you must have heard or read that somewhere. While that’s not entirely true, the brain functions similarly to muscles. Like muscles, your brain needs some exercise to stay mentally fit, sharp, and become more powerful. The more brain exercise you do, the greater your brain’s capability.

Some beneficial cognitive exercises include building vocabulary, learning a new skill or hobby, and learning a new language. You can also solve puzzles, play the andar bahar real money game, play cards, and even learn a musical instrument. All these will stimulate thinking and challenge your intellectual capacity. In addition, if you feel like you are getting stressed, maybe shutting down a bit to rest can be helpful for your brain’s health.

Physical exercise

Talking about actual muscles now, exercising the body is another way to exercise the brain. It increases the flow of blood, providing more oxygen to the brain. Physical exercises also help stimulate the growth of new neurons and the production of endorphins. You don’t have to visit the gym daily to exercise; several ways exist to do it. If you work, school, or engage in businesses close to your home, strolling once in a while can be a great form of exercise.

Food and nutrition

The foods we eat can contribute to keeping our brains healthy and powerful. Unfortunately, they can also do the opposite, affecting your memory and increasing your risk of dementia. For instance, consumption of alcohol, highly processed foods, and sugary foods are some dieting habits that can affect your brain negatively. Generally, foods with lower levels of sugar are preferred. Fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy oils from olives, fish, nuts, and avocados will help strengthen the brain.

Sleep and meditation

Lack of sleep can be detrimental to brain health. It interferes with memory and learning, leading to slow brain work, forgetfulness, and poor attention. One of the best ways to increase brain power is to get enough sleep hours. Adequate sleep is the most effective way to manage stress and recharge. Sleep has also been proven to reverse the build-up of beta-amyloid plaque, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Likewise, practicing meditation helps stress management and is key to developing the brain. Devoting a few minutes each day to meditating empowers the brain by clearing the mind and increasing concentration.

Socializing

Engaging in a conversation with someone keeps the brain optimized. It stimulates attention, memory, and other cognitive abilities. It becomes more beneficial when the person you are communicating with is a loved one. The more time you spend with your loved ones, the higher the chances of having meaningful conversations that can be helpful to your brain. Having an active social life is important as we age. Ironically, older people tend to isolate themselves more as the years go by.

According to research, people who were more socially engaged in their midlife had a considerable delay in the onset of dementia. This demonstrates a clear correlation between socialization and a healthy brain.

Conclusion

Although the brain is not a muscle as many may have thought it to be, it does require exercise to maintain excellent health and performance. The more you work at it, the more work it can do. Aging is inevitable, and with it comes the chance of developing brain disorders like dementia. However, developing a low-functioning brain as you grow older can be lowered if you know how to improve your brainpower. Your brain will continue to perform at peak efficiency if you follow the suggestions above and make lifestyle modifications.

Death Cab For Cutie Announce New Album ‘Asphalt Meadows’, Release New Single ‘Roman Candles’

Death Cab For Cutie have announced their tenth studio album, Asphalt Meadows. The LP, which was produced by John Congleton, arrives on September 10 via Atlantic. Check out its first single, ‘Roman Candles’, below, and scroll down for the band’s forthcoming tour dates.

“‘Roman Candles’ is about the crippling, existential dread that goes hand in hand with living in a nervous city on a dying planet,” the band said in a statement. “And that the only way to be in the moment is to let it all go.”

Frontman Ben Gibbard added: “The lyrics were cobbled from a couple of different songs dealing with my general sense of anxiety; the feeling that the fabric that weaves a functioning society together was crumbling during the pandemic.”

Asphalt Meadows will follow Death Cab’s 2018 record Thank You For Today. In 2020, the band released a covers EP titled The Georgia via Bandcamp.

Asphalt Meadows Cover Artwork:

Death Cab for Cutie 2022 Tour Dates:

May 21 Guadalajara, Mexico – Corona Capital Guadalajara
May 28 Portland, OR – TEDxPortland Year 10 @ Moda Center/Theater of the Clouds
Jul 7 Cincinnati, OH – PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation †
Jul 8 Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe †
Jul 9 Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest @ Generac Power Stage
Jul 11 Buffalo, NY – Artpark †
Jul 12 LaFayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards †
Jul 14 Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg University at Riverfront Park †
Jul 15 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena †
Jul 16 Poughkeepsie, NY – MJN Convention Center †
Sep 22 Madison, WI – The Sylvee ^
Sep 23 Minneapolis, MN – Surly Brewing Festival Field
Sep 24 Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
Sep 26 Columbus, OH – Kemba Live! ^
Sep 27 Washington, D.C. – The Anthem ^
Sep 29 Philadelphia, PA – The Met ^
Sep 30 Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium ^
Oct 1 Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion ^
Oct 3 Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater ^
Oct 4 Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy ^
Oct 6 Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live! ^
Oct 7 Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit ^
Oct 8 Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery ^
Oct 10 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE ^
Oct 11 Detroit, MI – The Masonic ^
Oct 13 St. Louis, MO – The Factory ^
Oct 14 Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland ^
Oct 15 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Oct 17 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Oct 18 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues Anaheim #
Oct 19 Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl #
Oct 21 Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre #
Oct 22 San Diego, CA – Venue TBA #
Oct 23 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater #
Oct 24 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater #
Oct 26 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
Oct 27 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

† with Illuminati Hotties
^ with Low
# with Yo La Tengo

Nina Nastasia Releases New Song ‘This Is Love’

Nina Nastasia has released a new song, ‘This Is Love’, taken from her upcoming album Riderless Horse. It’s the second preview of the record, following lead single ‘Just Stay in Bed’. Give it a listen below.

Talking about the new track, Nastasia said in a statement: “Somehow I got comfortable living with trauma, living in a fight and sitting in sadness. Happiness came in moments, but I must have gravitated towards misery, because I built a life around it. My definition of love became skewed. ‘This Is Love’ is a love I don’t want to repeat. I’m not regretful. It was love, but love doesn’t have to look like that if you ultimately don’t want it to.”

Riderless Horse is set to arrive on July 22 via Temporary Residence.

Katie Alice Greer Unveils New Single ‘Dreamt I Talk To Horses’

Katie Alice Greer has unveiled a new single, ‘Dreamt I Talk To Horses’, the latest track from her debut solo album Barbarism. The track follows lead offering ‘FITS/My Love Can’t Be’. Check out a lyric video for it below.

“This was one of the last songs I finished on the record,” Greer said of ‘Dreamt I Talk To Horses’ in a statement. “It was originally 8 minutes long, way slower, and had a lot more reverb and noise. When I finally let go and re-recorded it, something totally different came out pretty organically. It seems hilarious now but initially when I finished this track I sent it to some friends saying I thought this was me finally going into straight forward pop territory, that it was “my Drake song,” and pretty much all of them told me it is still way too weird to sound like Drake. But, I hope people hear something they can connect with in it. It’s about confronting all of the hard feelings that come with loving people, even, and maybe especially, when things are not gonna work out and you need to go your own way.”

Barbarism is out June 24 via FourFour Records.

Watch Parquet Courts Perform ‘Walking at a Downtown Pace’ on ‘Kimmel’

Parquet Courts appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a performance of ‘Walking at a Downtown Pace’, a track from their latest album Sympathy for Life. Watch it below.

Parquet Courts released Sympathy for Live last October via Rough Trade. Back in January, they shared ‘Watching Strangers Smile’, giving the track its debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Danger Mouse and Black Thought Announce New Album ‘Cheat Codes’, Drop New Song ‘No Gold Teeth’

Danger Mouse and Black Thought have announced a new collaborative album, Cheat Codes, which comes out August 12 via BMG. Today’s announcement lands with the release of the new single ‘No Gold Teeth’, alongside a music video directed by Uncanny (the UK–based creative duo of George Muncey and Elliot Elder). Check it out below, and scroll down for the LP’s cover art and tracklist.

Cheat Codes features appearances from A$AP Rocky, Run the Jewels, MF DOOM, Michael Kiwanuka, Kid Sister, Joey Bada$$, Russ, Raekwon, Conway the Machine, and more. It follows Black Thought’s solo trilogy, Streams of Thought.

Cheat Codes Cover Artwork:

Cheat Codes Tracklist:

1. Sometimes
2. Cheat Codes
3. The Darkest Part [feat. Raekwon and Kid Sister]
4. No Gold Teeth
5. Because [feat. Joey Bada$$, Russ and Dylan Cartlidge]
6. Belize [feat. MF Doom]
7. Aquamarine [feat. Michael Kiwanuka]
8. Identical Deaths
9. Strangers [feat. A$AP Rocky and Run the Jewels]
10. Close to Famous
11. Saltwater [feat. Conway the Machine]
12. Voilas & Lupitas

Circuit des Yeux Releases New EP ‘Live in Chicago’

Circuit des Yeux has released a new EP titled Live in Chicago. It features live renditions of four songs from her latest album -io: ‘Vanishing’, ‘Dogma’, ‘Sculpting the Exodus’, and ‘Stranger’. Originally presented as part of the Music Is Everything! podcast with Elia Einhorn, the tracks were recorded at Chicago’s Jamdek studio with musicians Whitney Johnson (Matchess), Andrew Scott Young, and Ashley Guerrero. Check it out below.

Earlier this year, Circuit des Yeux shared the song ‘The Manatee (A Story of This World Pt. III)’, which was tracked during the sessions for -io. Haley Fohr is set to embark on a tour in support of the LP, which will keep her on the road throughout the summer and autumn.

Say Sue Me Unveil Video for New Song ‘No Real Place’

Ahead of its release on Friday, Say Sue Me have previewed their forthcoming album The Last Thing Left with a new single called ‘No Real Place’. Following previous cuts ‘Around You’ and ‘To Dream’, the track arrives with an accompanying video directed by N’Ouir. Check it out below.

“There’s been a lot of parting ways over the years. Spent a long time missing someone. And I usually walk…” vocalist and guitarist Sumi Choi said in a statement. “I gained courage as I walked, and now I think I can overcome the sadness and fear of someone leaving. The illustration is a cat, which the video director uses as an allegory for the four band members drawn and coming together in the end.”

Phoebe Green Announces Debut Album ‘Lucky Me’, Shares Video for New Song

Phoebe Green has announced her debut LP, Lucky Me, which arrives on August 19 via Chess Club Records. To coincide with the news, Green has unveiled a Piers Dennis-directed video for the album’s title track, which you can check out below, along with her upcoming tour dates.

Green had this to say about the new single in a press release:

‘Lucky Me’ explores the idea of disguising self-destructive behavioural patterns due to a feeling of guilt for living a seemingly easy life. I’m very lucky in so many ways that I almost feel ungrateful for still experiencing such difficulties with my mental state. I frantically search for a trivial, tangible cause of distress so that I don’t have to dig too deep or accept that I might just be a bit mentally fucked, then altogether silence myself when I imagine how others may be perceiving me and my actions. The song represents the common defence mechanism of invalidating and dismissing my emotions before anyone else can.”

I wanted ‘Lucky Me’ to be the title track of the album as this is very much a running theme throughout; analysing and dissecting my experiences and emotions as opposed to feeling them, as they feel easier to digest that way. The title almost feels sarcastic and snarky depending on which way you look at it, and as I use humour to cope a lot of the time it does seem fitting. But I am actually extremely lucky to still be here so there is some sincerity in there somewhere.

Commenting on the album, Green added: “When I was younger, I definitely hid behind the instrumentation: as long as that was cool, I was cool, or whatever. This time, I know I’ve grown, because I’m taking up more space within a song. I wanted to be the biggest thing in the recording. It’s so personality-driven that the sounds are just enhancing things, rather than dominating the whole song.”

Lucky Me Cover Artwork:

Lucky Me Tracklist:

1. Break My Heart
2. Lucky Me
3. Make it Easy
4. Crying In The Club
5. Sweat
6. Clean
7. Just A Game
8. One You Want
9. Won’t Sit Still
10. DieDieDie
11. I Wish You Never Saw Me Cry
12. Leach
13. I Don’t Wanna Make You Cold

Phoebe Green 2022 Tour Dates:

May 14 – The Great Escape, Brighton
Jul 21 – Truck Festival, Steventon
Nov 16- Grand Social, Dublin
Nov 18 – Broadcast, Glasgow
Nov 19 – Mash House, Edinburgh
Nov 20 – Key Club, Leeds
Nov 22 – Omeara, London
Nov 23 – Bodega, Nottingham
Nov 24 – Louisiana, Bristol
Nov 26 – Yes Pink Room, Manchester
Nov 28 – The Cluny, Newcastle
Nov 30 – Bootleg Social, Blackpool
Dec 1 – Leaf, Liverpool
Dec 3 – Green Door Store, Brighton
Dec 4 – Joiners, Southampton

Viagra Boys Release New Song ‘Troglodyte’

Swedish post-punk group Viagra Boys have shared the second single from their upcoming third LP Cave World, a track titled ‘Troglodyte’. It follows lead offering ‘Ain’t No Thief’, and the album – the follow-up to 2020’s Welfare Jazz – is due out July 8 via YEAR0001. Listen to ‘Troglodyte’ below.