Patrick Schwarzenegger & Maria Shriver Share Their Top 5 Brain Health Tips

"You are in the driver's seat. There are things you can do today that will impact your brain health tomorrow, or next year, or five years down the road," Schwarzenegger says on this episode of the mindbodygreen podcast. Here, the mother-son duo share their nonnegotiable habits to nurture their brains: 

Even if you don't follow the MIND diet to a T, Schwarzenegger advises you opt for "something that is very low in sugar and has nutritious, healthy fats." Fill your plate with our favorite brain-supporting foods, and perhaps lend a critical eye to your packaged food labels. You see, it's not impossible to find snacks that taste good and contain clean ingredients: MOSH protein bars, for example, contain a blend of specific ingredients known for their brain-supporting properties, like lion's mane, ashwagandha, MCTs, omega-3s, collagen, and vitamins B12 and D3. 

"I do maybe 12 to 14 hours," Schwarzenegger says of his fasting schedule, while Shriver can tackle a 16- to 18-hour fast from time to time. Regardless of her actual eating window, she always tries to avoid eating late at night: "It's better not to eat right up to when you go to bed because when you go to sleep, that's when your brain can clear," she says. 

Do not underestimate the power of meditation practice. "I practice [meditation] every morning, and I try to do it in the afternoon," says Shriver. "That has also been shown to be really beneficial to the brain." One 2011 study found that after just eight weeks of mindfulness meditation training, participants had a significant increase in the thickness of the hippocampus (aka, the brain region responsible for learning and memory). Here's how to start a regular meditation practice if you're new to the scene. 

"Now when I exercise, I think about balance. I think about independence. I think about my brain," adds Shriver. "I don't think about losing weight—I think about building strength." 

Purpose is paramount for brain health. And as you grow older, neuroscientists say it becomes even more important to challenge the brain around your purpose. That's why Shriver constantly steps out of her comfort zone—for example, she loves to sit in production meetings for MOSH. "Continue to learn [and] see yourself in a beginner's mindset," she explains. "I'm learning a different skill set than I did for journalism or politics… See yourself as someone who's connected and in community." 

The lifestyle choices you make today can have a huge impact on your brain health, even years down the road. The good news is, it doesn't take much to implement Shriver and Schwarzenegger's brain-healthy habits—in fact, you might already tick a few boxes.