There’s no new announcement when saying; that when we take care of all parts of ourselves – we feel good. We become more clear, more open to giving and receiving a better quality of life. Keeping our brains sharp is a no brainer. (see what I did there)
I watched a news segment earlier today that got me thinking about how important a sharp mind is for our personal growth and overall health. I took some highlights from the article + a little more neuro research and came up with 5 Tips To Remember in your body & soul guide to wellness.
5 Ways To Nourish Your Brain
1. Exercise
When we move, we send signals to our body and brain that say “hey, I’m awake, I wanna be here and actively participate.” Our body is our vessel in this life. With movement, good chemicals or neurotrophins are released that nourish our brain. Long term exercise has been linked to significant improvement in memory, learning and brain plasticity.
2. Diet
Multiple studies have found correlations between diet and brain function, and ultimately, our mood. Think hangry. Only it’s not a Snickers we should be grabbing. According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta – American neurosurgeon and medical reporter – we want to eat less red meat, less processed foods, plenty of fresh veggies and more berries. Any kind of berries. Apparently when eaten, good chemicals are released and have beneficial effects on the brain. I’ve been telling my kids for years, that a handful of berries a day is like taking a vitamin. Who knew I was really on to something!
3. Train of Thought
Think outside the box by challenging your brain. Change builds resiliency. Get outside your comfort zone in some way – everyday. For a mental boost, try doing something different, learning a new skill to exercise different parts of the brain. Take a different route to work, listen to new music, try cooking a new recipe. The idea is to turn your brain on to do some work and turn off the auto pilot. Guess what works really well here too…meditation.
4. Sleep
We need a good nights sleep to help us stay alert and sharp during the day. During sleep your brain activates so-called “garbage collecting cells” that remove toxins that build up while we are awake. Having a regular sleep-wake pattern is related to better brain health. Dr. Gupta says “sleep is a sophisticated activity that we spend 1/3 of our life doing.” Your brain goes through a “rinse cycle” at night. (I’d like an extra rinse, please!)
5. Friends & Family
Absence of human contact is associated with declines in cognitive function. Social connection is critically important to maintaining good brain health. We’re social beings by nature. We saw how this effected us this last year when 2020 tried to keep us apart. (Thank you, zoom, masks, and plexiglass.) Social interaction helps ward off social isolation, and depression, and promotes better mental health. Having good social support eases stress and anxiety. And can even add years to your life. Stay connected <3
New Year’s Resolution: Think about doing something for your brain
Emotional Bonus: Empathy, Kindness and Compassion, all nourish the brain.
According to Dr. Gupta, “it’s why we live.”