Maintaining Brain Health

Your brain is responsible for memory, cognition, learning, thinking, and more.  You may think that a natural part of aging is detriorating brain function that makes it harder to do these things.  While genetics does play into brain diseases like Alzheimer's, there is more and more research showing that you can minimize your risk.  Here are some things you can do that will help you maintain your brain health.

If your brain is inflammed, you may experience reduced brain function.  Eating a diet rich in antioxidants will help minimize inflammation throughout the body, including in the brain.  Some powert anti-inflammatory supplements include ginger, quercetin, and resveratrol.  Resveratrol comes from the skin of grapes and berries.  Quercetin is the natural pigment that is found in many fruits and vegetables.  You can get it from eating plenty that contain quercetin like onions, apples, cherries, berries, and broccoli, or you can take a high quality supplement. And of course, all the antii-nflamatory foods and supplements can't overcome the damage done by a poor diet that contains refined oils, deep-fried and processed foods,  soda and sugary drinks.

In order for your brain to maintain optimal health, it needs to replace older and damaged brain cells, with new healthy cells.  Your brain benefits from regular exercise in many ways.  Exercise increases blood flow, removes toxins, improves your mood, and enhances mental clarity.  Staying active thoughout the day is also important for all of the same reasons.  This is why sitting down all day is considered so harmful.  Exercise doesn't have to mean going to the gym.  It can be gardening, jumping on a mini-trampoline or doing push-ups.  It includes anything that builds muscle strength.

Long periods of stress can increase inflammation and affect your brain health.  You've probably experienced not being able to think clearly when under stress.  Stressful things can happen to all of us, but returning to a calm state as quickly as possible will keep you and your brain healthier.  Some ways you can reduce stress are walking in nature, practicing gratitude, deep breathing, and listening to your favorite music.

Your brain detoxes at night when you are in a deep sleep through your glympathic system.  When you are sleeping, your glympahic system becomes 10 times more active.  This is why it is so important to get enough deep sleep.  More and more research is showing that there is a connection between poor sleep habits and poor brain health.

Intermittent fasting means that you don't consume calories for 12 to 16 hours so that your body time can function optimally.  More and more research is showing the benefits of intermittent fasting.  It allows cells to be repaired and replaced, can help balance blood sugar, and can help you maintain a healthy weight.  It has also been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, which is good for your brain and body.  In addition, it can help your body balance hormones, including hormones that affect your brain.

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