3 ways to stay sharp for bingo

If you want to rise above the rest at any game, including online bingo, it’s important that you keep your mind sharper than a block of butter you left out in the sun for too long. Here are three tips that you can use to keep your brain in tip-top shape, so (hopefully) you’ll never miss another call when your numbers come up!

1. PLAY GAMES THAT CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN

While the jury may be out on the benefits of some mobile brain-training apps, the science behind games such as crosswords and number puzzles shows they really do help maintain your mental horsepower, even well into the later stages of life.

A study from the University of Exeter and King’s College London looked at the effect of puzzles, including crosswords and Sudoku, on adults older than 50 (sorry for all the younger players who got left out, but bear with us, here). The study involved 19,000 participants, who were asked how regularly they played word and number puzzles. They were given cognitive tests to assess different brain-related tasks, such as focus (or concentration), the ability to recall from memory, and reasoning. The researchers found that the more regularly people played these puzzle games, the better they were at these types of mental tasks.

Dr Anne Corbett, the lead researcher from the University of Exeter Medical School, commented on the results: “We’ve found that the more regularly people engage with puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku, the sharper their performance is across a range of tasks assessing memory, attention and reasoning.

“The improvements are particularly clear in the speed and accuracy of their performance. In some areas, the improvement was quite dramatic – on measures of problem-solving, people who regularly do these puzzles performed equivalent to an average of eight years younger compared to those who don’t. We can’t say that playing these puzzles necessarily reduces the risk of dementia in later life, but this research supports previous findings that indicate regular use of word and number puzzles helps keep our brains working better for longer.”

There’s also a growing body of research highlighting the benefits of playing other types of video games. In a study, “Games to do you good”, neuroscientists found that even action-heavy games such as Call of Duty and Unreal Tournament have benefits, including being better able to identify visual details. So the next time someone tries to give you grief when you’re engaging in some virtual warfare with your friends (or enemies), just tell them you’re training your brain.

2. KEEP FIT

While gym bunnies may view regular exercise as a way to keep themselves feeling and looking fit, and some of us groan when we run out of snacks and have to walk to the kitchen to get more, there’s no doubt that exercise is good for your body. But did you know that certain kinds of exercise not only offer you great physical benefits, but they’re fantastic ways to keep your mind in peak condition as well?

It would’ve been nice to find out that all those bicep curls or squats that you’ve been doing to keep your arms and buns in shape also provide major benefits to the brain, but the science seems to indicate that it’s aerobic exercises that offer people the most benefits. A study from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada found exercises that get your heart racing can increase the size of your hippocampus (part of the brain with a major role in learning and memory), as well as improve its functioning by helping to reduce insulin resistance and inflammation. Another study (from the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, US) also noted that aerobic exercise can increase the anterior – not to be confused with posterior – hippocampus. Both of these studies found that these benefits can improve memory.

The good news is that this doesn’t just apply to exercises like running. A brisk walk, swimming, dancing, or other similar heart-racing fun and physical activities (wink, wink) that push up your pulse rate can also provide the same benefits. (What better excuse can you have for a bit of aerobic fun, people?)

3. ENJOY A HEALTHY DIET

Those of us looking to get a greater mental edge on the competition won’t need to study for hours, take dips in cold water, or become fluent in the art of meditation or yoga (although most of these can actually help). No, one of the easiest things you can do to keep your brain fighting fit is to eat the right foods. That’s it: just pick delicious meals that contain some of these ingredients, and you’ll get all the natural goodies you need to keep your brain ready to shout “bingo”!

Here are some of the foods you’ll need to eat, and the nutrients they’ll give you:

• Berries – Berries are not only delicious, but also contain antioxidants, which are not only believed to reduce inflammation, but also cognitive decline by increasing neuroplasticity and communication between brain cells. Some of the berries that can help in this regard include blueberries, mulberries, and strawberries, and are great in smoothies, on their own or with a smidge of cream, if you’re feeling a bit naughty.
• Fish – Many types of fish (sometimes they’re called “oily fish”) are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain brain health by increasing the flow of blood to the brain, which in turn can boost cognitive abilities. Think about adding fish like herring, mackerel, and salmon to your diet to take advantage of this.
• Wholegrains – We’re right there with you if you think whole grains don’t sound anywhere near as appetising as berries or fish, but they’re still a great source of vitamin E (and your future self will thank you if you can make the switch). Vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage related to oxidative stress and can help prevent mental decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. If you’re looking for some exciting and tasty whole grains to add to your meals, consider wholemeal bread, brown rice, oatmeal, and wholegrain pasta.

TRY YOUR LUCK WITH YOUR SHARP MIND AT LUCKY PANTS BINGO

Now that you’ve prepared your brain for some incredible games with these three tips and you’re super-tuned and ready for action, it’s time to start playing at a great bingo site such as Lucky Pants Bingo. Not only can you enjoy great 75- and 90-ball bingo, there’s a huge choice of themed online bingo games, including Deal or No Deal, Burst Bingo, and even Emoji Bingo. And if you want to take a break, we also have many other online slots and Slingo bingo games for you to play, including Slingo Berserk, Cleopatra Gold, and Berry Burst!

Discover more about the fun and exciting games waiting for you at Lucky Pants Bingo by registering with us today!