Your Brain Isn’t Broken, It’s Busy and Starving

Many women think eating a salad and walking around the block is enough for brain health as we age. Sadly, the brain wants more. It’s picky, dramatic, and a little high-maintenance… kind of like a teenager with Wi-Fi demands.

Forgetfulness is not a sign you’re “getting old.” Often, it’s a brain running on fumes because you’re juggling life like a circus performer. When your memory glitches, it’s usually stress, exhaustion, or hungry for the right nutrients, not age.

Think of the last time you forgot a name or walked into a room and froze. Were you tired, stressed, or trying to do five things at once? Exactly. Your brain wasn’t failing. It was staging a protest.

Your Brain Can Rebuild Itself (Yes, Really)

Here’s the best plot twist: your brain doesn’t retire. It can repair, rebuild, and rewire at any age. (I am living proof after 2 strokes…just sayin.) The scientific name is neuroplasticity, which basically means your brain can learn new tricks, even if you sometimes forget why you opened the fridge.

Fun reality:

• Men lose brain volume faster than women.
• Women catch up at menopause.
• Around 70% of women experience neurological symptoms during menopause.

So when words disappear mid-sentence, it’s not “crazy hormones.” It’s literal brain chemistry doing the tango.

Why the Brain Shrinks Over Time (It’s Not Just Age)

Brains lose gray matter slowly over time. It’s normal, but lifestyle speeds it up faster than a highway after rush hour.

The usual suspects include:

• High blood pressure
• Too much alcohol
• Extra belly fat
• Poor diet and weak nutrient absorption( this is a big one as we age!)

In other words, the brain does not appreciate cheap fuel. It wants premium, thank you very much.

Food for a Brain That Wants Better Ingredients

Here’s the truth: your brain is 60% fat, and it needs fat to function. The “low-fat” craze of the 1970s was a bad idea. It left many people with foggy brains and tasteless food.

Choose fats that lift your brain, not ones that smother it.

Smart fats include:

• Fatty fish
• Coconut oil
• Free-range butter
• Avocado

These fats help build myelin, a protective coating that helps your brain think faster than you can lose your keys.

Fiber Is Brain Fuel Too

Fiber stabilizes blood sugar, which keeps your brain focused instead of acting like a moody toddler. Most adults barely get half the fiber they need.

Women over 50 need 22+ grams a day. Not complicated. Just eat more plants than packages.

Antioxidants Calm Brain Inflammation

Your brain hates inflammation. Antioxidants act like tiny peacekeepers. Add:

• Berries
• Leafy greens
• Fresh herbs
• Turmeric, rosemary, and thyme

👉 Backed by science from Harvard Health.

Water Keeps Your Brain From Acting Like a Diva

The brain is 75% water, so dehydration makes it slow, cranky, and dull. Even a tiny shortage ( 2 %!) messes with memory and mood. Drink water all day, not just when your lips feel like the Sahara.

Use this easy hydration guide:

Your weight (lbs) ÷ 2 = ounces of water daily

Water is basically brain juice. If you want sharper thoughts, stop trying to run your brain on dust.

Move or Your Brain Gets Cluttered

Movement does more than tone your muscles. It activates your lymphatic system, the body’s trash removal team. Bad news: this system has no pump. If you don’t move, toxins throw a house party inside you.

Even short walks, stretching, or gentle chair yoga help your brain think clearly. Ten minutes counts. No marathon required.
👉 I teach Chair Yoga every Sunday night, If you live in West Hants check it out!

Creativity Strengthens the Brain (No Talent Required)

Creativity isn’t about talent. It’s about expression. Your brain loves it. Studies show creative activities help reduce cognitive decline, menopausal brain fog, stroke-related issues, and overall grumpiness. It’s been studied and is a hot topic, Check out he book Your Brain on Art

Try:

• Gardening
• Cooking
• Painting
• Doodling
• Journaling
• Flower arranging

Creativity gives your brain a playground. And let’s be honest, joy needs a home too.

Human Connection Is Brain Medicine

If you spent lockdown talking to plants, you already know isolation hurts the brain. Loneliness increases stress hormones and inflammation, which makes memory worse.

Meaningful conversation is a mental workout. Laughing with real humans is better than scrolling through strangers’ avocado toast. Gratitude, laughter, and time with people who “get you” literally rewire the brain for better mood and sharper thinking.

Final Thoughts: Your Brain Wants Support, Not Panic

A healthy brain doesn’t require perfection. It needs food that nourishes, water that hydrates, movement that clears waste, creativity that sparks joy, and connection that fuels your spirit.

Your brain is not falling apart. It’s adapting, growing, and asking for a better partnership. Give it the support it needs, and it will carry you wisely into your next chapter.