The brain, just like the heart is an organ. We revere the heart, we openly discuss the virtues of hearth health and its role in our longevity. But have you ever stopped to ask a friend or co-worker: “how’s your brain health”? We’ll talk about physical health or mental health but why is it we don’t embrace the brain with the same care or dare I say it, respect?
At the slightest tightness in our chest we’ll run to the closest ECG to confirm the arteries are clear just so we can return to our glass of wine, sugary snack or worse, a bit of harmless weed.
In a time where mental health is at an all time high, younger onset of dementia is on the rise with sufferers in their 30s and 40s adding to the statistics – caring for our brain should be a priority. How can we struggle with stress and mental health on the one hand, yet have such little regard for the responsible care and maintenance of our brain?
Our brain needs our love and respect.
Apart from the obvious things, drink more water, consume less alcohol and make every effort to sleep more – what exactly does brain care look like?
BRAIN CARE – TIPS TO A HEALTHIER BRAIN
Don’t hurt it. Our brain is made up of delicate, soft tissue stored in a hard shell. We know that contact sports pose a tremendous risk to the long term health of our brain. Repeated concussions can cause severe tissue damage, routine blows to the exterior shell common in sparring can cause short-term impairments and decreased memory performance.
There are plenty of sports, pick one that will be kind to your brain.
Blood Flow. Exercise and physical activity is just as important for our brain as it is for our muscles. Exercise flushes the brain with hormones that regulate our mood that supports the maintenance of our mental health.
Getting into the sunshine, absorbing vitamin D and oxygenating the blood flow throughout the body also helps to reset our nervous systems – bounce us back into homeostasis and turn off the fight or flight response.
Stimulate it. We must keep learning, enquiring and stimulating our brain as we age. The cerebellum is an area of the brain responsible for cognition, coordination such as balance, movement and memory.
By stimulating this part of your brain you will support the healthy aging of your brain. Take up a racquet sport such as tennis or pickle ball – they not only keep you fit, are a fun and happy social outlet, these sports also stimulate the cognitive function in your brain.
Don’t smoke Marijuana. The leading cause of ageing in the brain, after schizophrenia is Marijuana. What’s worse, if you partake in your teens you are exponentially more susceptible to anxiety, depression and suicide in your 20s.
If you are anxious, marijuana is altering your brain. The calming effects are short lived, the damage is enduring. Try a simple breathing technique – take a breath in for the count of 4. Hold the breath for a second and then release the breath for 8. Hold for a second and repeat this activity for 3 minutes.
Feed it. Our brain is 60% fatty tissue and needs naturally rich fatty foods. Our brain does not like a fat reduced diet and in fact, low fat diets can contribute to the cause of depression.
A balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins such as B12 and D. Foods like fatty fish, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds are excellent sources of these nutrients and can help protect the brain from the damaging effects of stress.
Stay away from soft drinks, juices and sugar. When you strip sugar from its fibre’s structure, it becomes toxic to the body, not to mention sugar is more addictive than cocaine.
Swap out coffee for green tea – theanine is a natural relaxant whilst Saffron is nature’s true anti-depressant. Daniel Amen MD speaks to the incredible effectiveness of Saffron in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Having followed the research for decades, he shares how Saffron is as effective as the anti-depressant Prozac and unlike the pharmaceutical drug which decreases libido, Saffron improves mood, memory and increases sexual function.
There are so many ways we can support our psychological health before considering a drug. We can start by taking our brain health seriously and fall in love with this extraordinary organ that dictates the quality of our lives.
Make your choices wisely, and most importantly ask yourself before you make a decision: “is this the best thing I can do for my brain?” If you can’t answer that positively, then perhaps you should reconsider your choice.
