The Perfect Brain Food
Reader's Digest US|March 2019

Reading isn’t just filling your head—it’s nourishing it. The latest science on the magic of books.

Marc Peyser
The Perfect Brain Food

You can take fish oil supplements or eat lots of turmeric. You can invest in a language class, puzzle books, or a few hours of exercise every week. There are countless methods to (allegedly) improve your memory and cognitive functioning—the brain training and -assessment industry is expected to reach $8 billion by 2022, according to a major market research report. But the cheapest, easiest, and most time-tested way to sharpen your brain is right in front of your face. It’s called reading.

The fact that reading is good for your brain isn’t surprising—there’s a reason moms are always on their kids’ cases to turn off the TV and pick up a good book. But there’s something astounding about how such an ordinary activity can improve your brain in so many ways.

This story is from the March 2019 edition of Reader's Digest US.

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This story is from the March 2019 edition of Reader's Digest US.

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