VEGAN PUMPKIN PASTA
Your brain has the ability to learn and grow as you age — a process known as brain plasticity — but in order to do so, you have to train your brain on a regular basis! There seem to be some consistencies in keeping your brain healthy just like keeping your overall health in check: getting the proper nutrients, exercising, and getting the right amount of sleep. Getting Proper Nutrition Your brain takes care of your thoughts, movements, breathing, heartbeat, your senses — it’s constantly on the go! This means your brain needs a constant supply of fuel, which comes from the proper nutrients you get from the food you eat. Eating high-quality foods that contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and keeps it at peak condition. DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE Take Action to Keep Your Brain Healthy
If it has pumpkin in it, it’s bound to be delicious. This creamy pumpkin bucatini is the perfect fall staple for an at-home date night or a cozy meal alone on the couch.
Ingredients
• 8 oz gluten free pasta • 4 oz sun-dried tomatoes • 10 oz cherry tomatoes, halved • Salt and pepper • Red pepper flakes, to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, diced • 1 tsp fresh thyme • 3 sage leaves, chopped • 4 oz hummus • 4 oz pumpkin purée • Fresh basil, for topping
• 1 tsp dried oregano • 8 oz frozen spinach, unthawed
Directions
1. In a large pot, boil water. Add gluten free pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain when cooked. 2. Heat a pan over medium heat and add sun-dried tomatoes (including 1 tbsp of the oil), cherry tomatoes, a pinch of salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, and oregano. Stir to combine. 3. Cover and cook until tomatoes are soft (about 5 minutes). 4. Add frozen spinach and cover again (2–3 minutes). 5. Add the garlic, thyme, sage, hummus, and pumpkin purée to the pan and stir. 6. Once warm and bubbly, turn off heat and mix in the pasta. 7. Top with basil, serve, and enjoy!
Some foods to consider in your diet include:
• Green, leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli. • Fatty fish such as salmon, trout, and sardines. These are full of omega-3 fatty acids that are great for the brain and gut! • Tumeric and its active compound curcumin have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Exercising the Brain Exercising, in general, is always good for overall health! But did you know you can actually exercise your brain specifically? Playing games that rely on logic, math, words, and visuospatial skills are great ways to increase brain power. These types of games require multiple cognitive abilities, which challenge your brain and improve processing speed and memory.
sudoku
In this newsletter, there is actually a game of sudoku you can play to exercise your brain!
Proper Sleeping Habits Sleep is an important part of our daily routine, and without it, you cannot form or maintain the pathways in your brain that allow you to learn and create new memories. It also makes it much more difficult to concentrate or respond quickly.
So, make sure you’re getting at least 7–9 hours of sleep per night to keep your brain’s functions at their peak.
Something to keep in mind — don’t wait until it’s too late. Pay attention and take action now so you have a fighting chance. Let this be the motivation you need to make those changes and prioritize them.
SOLUTION ON PG. 4
DRSLADIC.COM
3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator