This Just In! Maryland has the most beautiful minds

A study conducted by a natural products company, Life'sDHA, and the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) has concluded that Maryland has the most beautiful minds. Washington DC came in second.

America's Brain Health Index, a state-by-state measure of the nation's brain health, evaluated the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on 21 factors including diet, physical health, mental health and social well-being. In addition to providing a ranking for each state, America's Brain Health Index also includes comparative data showing how each state has either progressed, held its own or lost ground in taking measures to improve brain health over the past two years.  

The 2011 America's Brain Health Index shows that the top two brain-healthy geographies in the United States are Maryland (No.1) and the District of Columbia (No. 2). Index comparative data also shows that Maryland has overtaken Washington for the No. 1 spot since 2009. Both Maryland and Washington D.C. are home to two of the Beautiful Minds who are being recognized for their commitment to brain health. View the complete rankings at www.beautiful-minds.com.

I was going to attribute these great rankings to gardening, since we know that gardening is good for your physical health and good for your mental health. But I know that Viriginia has just as many gardeners as DC and Maryland, and Virginia came in at # 22!

Here is a sampling of "brainpower-boosting tips" available on the study's education website, www.beautiful-minds.com:

Diet and nutrition — incorporating a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and added sugar but rich in brain-enhancing foods such as good fats like DHA omega-3, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, and algal DHA supplements. {And growing your own antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables is fun!}

Physical health — staying physically active for at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week and making wise lifestyle decisions such as getting enough sleep and not smoking. {It's easy to stay physically active for at least 30 minutes a day while gardening!} 

Mental health — continually challenging the brain through activities such as game playing, creative pursuits like gardening, dancing or painting, or learning a new language or skill. 

Social well-being — nurturing human connections and engaging in social activities to give life purpose, such as volunteering. {There are all kinds of ways to volunteer tomorrow, for national public lands day}

If you want to read more about the study, you can direct your beautiful mind to this article.