You know that playing board games and doing crossword puzzles can exercise your brain and boost your memory. But so can several other simple and fun activities that you probably don’t even realize are “brain workouts,” says Cynthia R. Green, PhD, founder and president of Memory Arts, LLC, a memory fitness service in Montclair, New Jersey. With your hand, tap out a tune that you hear in your head (this challenges movement and auditory skills and encourages your brain to work different neural pathways) or juggle small stuffed animals (the complex movement augments the part of the brain that transmits information).

Those spices in your cupboard can do more than make your food taste good. The ones with deep, bright colors—yellows, reds and oranges—are full of antioxidants, known to protect your brain. Studies have shown that people who ate curry, which includes generous amounts of the bright yellow spice turmeric, did better on mental-status evaluations than those who rarely or never ate it. Add ginger and cinnamon to the list of brain-protective spices—and sage, for help with memory.