April 10, 2023

Brain Health

Brain Health

How do you take care of your brain?There are a lot of components that go into having a healthy brain including genetics, brain stimulation, a healthy spine, good nutrition, exercise and more. How do we maintain a healthy brain development from birth to childhood to adulthood?

Here are some great ways to improve brain function:

  1. While we cannot control our genetics, we can control some other areas that affect the brain. We can stimulate our brains with activities in our day to day lives. Exercising is a great way to stimulate the brain because it creates better blood circulation, improves your mood, boosts your energy, and so much more! It's a great way to overall improve brain function. Going on a walk regularly is enough to benefit your brain; you don't have to be an athlete for your brain to benefit from exercise.

2. Reading is another great way to stimulate the brain. Reading can help eliminate stress, improve memory and concentration, can keep your mind sharp and can even slow mental decline.3. We've all heard the term "brain food" and this is because diet plays a crucial roll in cognitive capacity and brain development. The nutrients from the foods we eat help build brain cell tissue. Getting the proper nutrients in your body can help your brain regulate hormones, improve memory and concentration, and improve sharpness and brain flexibility.4. Meditation can help calm the mind and relieve stress. Studies show that meditation increases concentration and attention by weakening the amygdala, "known as our brain’s “fight or flight” center and the seat of our fearful and anxious emotions" (Wolkin). The amygdala can be seen decreasing in brain cell volume after meditation/mindfulness. This allows for higher order brain functions to be strengthened, allowing you to think more clearly.All these activities and ways of living play an important roll in keeping the brain in great condition. It's important to do everything you can to keep your brain functioning at the best level possible throughout all stages of life. It's crucial to pay attention to the 5 Foundations of Health and to support the brain especially during a child's development. Everything in the body is designed to work together to keep the body balanced and healthy, but things can interfere with this such as poor diet or spine health.

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