12 Ways to Keep the Brain Healthy and Happy
Mental decline isn’t inevitable and there is a lot we can do to keep mentally fit throughout our lives. Here are 12 ways to keep your brain healthy and happy.
1. Drink more water! We’ve heard it all before but remember, your brain is 80% water. Scientists suggest we should all drink the fluid oz/litre equivalent to half our body weight in water every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds you should drink 75oz or just over 2 litres of water each day
2. Get enough sleep – at least 7-8 hours per night, and remember that quality is better than quantity. Fragmented sleep, as opposed to restorative sleep, can cause a lowered metabolism and increased levels of the hormone cortisol.
3. Move! And I don’t mean moving house (although studies have shown that a change in environment can stimulate the brain!) Participating in sports, especially ones that require complex movements like aerobics and those that require coordination like table tennis can also improve your brain function. Studies show that exercise will help prevent Alzheimer’s and boost your energy, mood, metabolism, and ability to create new brain cells.
4. Protect yourself from brain injury. Head injuries are common in sports such as cycling, cricket, basketball, skateboarding and of course extreme sports of any kind. Sadly, many sports head injuries lead to permanent brain damage or worse. So protection is key.
5. Practice GRATITUDE. Studies have shown that people who practise gratitude tend to be happier and less depressed. They showed greater neural sensitivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, the brain area associated with learning and decision-making.
6. Eat a healthy breakfast and keep your blood sugar balanced. Eating a healthy breakfast can jump-start your brain and help boost your productivity and focus throughout the day.
7. Maintain a healthy weight. Studies show that as your weight goes up, the size and function of your brain go down.
8. Eliminate toxins. Eliminating toxins from the body improves brain function. So avoid processed foods. Reduce alcohol. Stop smoking. Eat more antioxidant and super-nutrient food to protect your brain from free radicals.
9. Keep learning. Our brains are much like a muscle—the more you use them, the stronger it gets. Learn a new language, play chess, challenge yourself mentally… and keep it up!
10. Practice stress/anxiety management techniques, such as meditation and hypnotherapy. There are plenty of online brain games designed to boost emotional control and stress resilience.
11. Take multiple vitamins and supplements that improve brain function. Certain vitamins and fatty acids have been said to slow or prevent memory loss. The long list of potential solutions includes vitamins like vitamin B-12, herbal supplements such as ginkgo Biloba, and omega-3 fatty acids.
12. Remember never to forget the importance of looking after your brain! Learn more about the health of your brain and strive to improve it!
So there we have 12 ways to keep your brain healthy and happy, find out more about the wonderful workings of your marvellous mind.
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