Today we will talk about something that people carry everywhere with them (well mostly), they use it for everything (mostly), but they still forget to take care of it. As the heading suggests I am talking about the brain.
But, before talking about brain health, I think you’ve already guessed that I’m not your favourite blogger Pooja G. Well, PG requested me to write a blog (No, she didn’t) and I thought hey, it’s been a while since I last shared anything here, so let’s do a blog for my favourite blogger (This is totally my fanboy moment).
Coming back to the topic. With this blog, I will share a few things that are important for a good brain health. And, trust me Lifesfinewhiners, I will try to share these things in a fun manner. Because knowing about the brain is fascinating but at the same time very boring.
1: Good nutrition for a good brain health
Some people will wonder what’s the relationship between food and brain health. For that let’s understand it like this. The brain is responsible for everything that’s happening in your body.
Even while reading this blog, your brain is trying to process so many things like: Who is this dude? What’s up with Pooj. For all this thinking and for all the other things, your brain needs fuel. That fuel comes from quality food. Better fuel means better results.
By better fuel, I mean high-quality food, which is rich in Vitamins, Minerals, Unsaturated fats, complex carbs, protein, and fibres. A diet with a range of Nutrients helps in the maintenance of neurotransmitters (Brain messengers). A good diet also protects the brain from free radicals, which can damage the cells.
20% of the energy we get from food is consumed by the brain.
An unhealthy diet containing trans-fat and simple carbs may lead to inflammation and oxidative stress (free radicals). Such a diet can cause inflammation of neuron’s prevent the formation of new neuron’s. If that happens our brain will not be able to make a proper connection with the rest of our body.
Studies have shown that a diet rich in good fats and complex carbs reduces the risk of stress and depression by 20-30%. If you don’t believe me with all this, then I invite you to eat a completely healthy diet for 2–3 weeks and see the result in yourself.
Above, I have mentioned high-quality food. By that, I never meant expensive food or anything fancy. You can eat a home-cooked meal, and add fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds to your plate.
2: Exercise for a good brain health
A good diet is important for brain health, but exercising is equally important. Exercise improves blood circulation in the brain, and that as a result protects and promotes the growth of neurons.
Exercise also affects the Hippocampus (Not the brother of the Hippopotamus). The major job of our hippo is learning, memory, and many other functions. Exercise enlarges our hippo, which shrinks as we age. Studies by the University of British Columbia have found that parts of the brain that control thinking & memory are much better in those who exercise regularly than those who don’t. Exercise also promotes mood-boosting chemicals that reduce depression.
Many people stress about exercise. They don’t know what to do and they often join gyms. But, let me tell you gym is not for everyone, and you don’t necessarily need a gym. You can start with anything. You can walk, run, swim, dance, join a yoga class, do household work, do gardening, go trekking, do cardio (something that I love), do weight training (something that I hate), or whatever you want. Our main goal is to find an activity that suits us well and to dedicate daily time to it (at least 150 mins a week).
3: Sleep for a good brain health
You need good sleep for optimum brain health. And, I hope this blog is not making you sleepy. Our brain is like a machine, the finest one. Like a machine needs rest, our brain also needs rest. Otherwise, it will overburden itself and your blogs will look like this ⇾ asdgiuwdbjscbifgdfg.
Lack of sleep can affect the way we think, process, and reasoning-our cortical functions. Studies published in 2004 suggest that our Hippo is active during sleep and lack of sleep can disturb its functionality (Poor hippo). The brain also clears out toxins during sleep and if these toxins are not cleared out then it could lead to nervous system damage. By the way, Brain toxins are also removed with exercising.
Basically, we need 6–8 hours of “daily” sleep. Some need more, some need less but at least this much is needed. If you want to clear your thoughts, like the refresh option on the computer, you can have 10–30 mins of sleep at noon, but not too much, as this can disturb your sleeping cycle at night.
If you are a batman, watchman, or a night owl, make sure you take sufficient sleep whenever possible. Or, if something is restricting your sleep fix it. Many natural treatments can help you with good sleep.
I think a separate blog can be written on this. If PG allows, I will share it here (I never took her permission for this blog anyway, haha).
4: Brain activity for a good brain health
A research showed that Hippo in London cab drivers was found to be large. A possible explanation is the way they use their brain to memorise all the streets. I’ve heard that London streets are like a maze, so remembering them is a continuous brain activity.
I’m not doing London tourism here, but I am making the point about how brain activities help our brains. According to a 2014 study, various brain activities affect brain health. It affects memory, recalling instructions, concentration, and processing speeds. Brain activity also helps in developing new neurons and reduces the risk of dementia (along with workout and good food of course).
Again the question arises what to do in the name of brain activity? Well, you can do anything and everything that challenges your brain. It could be solving a puzzle, drawing a map of your city, painting, learning a new language, mental calculation, meditation, reading books, playing games, using the non-dominant hand, etc.
If not that, give me an answer to these:
1: If I am holding a bee, what do I have in my eye?
2: There is a word in the English language in which the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four signify a great man, and the whole word, a great woman. What is the word?
3: What do an island and the letter “t” have in common?
Drop answers to these in the comment section below.
And that brings us to the end of this blog. I hope you have now understood how easy it is to take care of the brain. Unlike some animals, we have only 1 anyway.
Visit a doctor to know more about your brain health.
Thanks to PG for allowing me to share this blog with you. As always she was very supportive about it and this is why this is my 3rd time writing for Lifesfinewhine.
Until next time, remember to smile.
This very interesting guest post was written by Devang. If you found it as informative as I did, do check out more of his writing on his blog by clicking here. To read the last guest post he wrote for Lifesfinewhine, click here.
For more guest posts please click here.
To read more posts about mental health related topics please click here.
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You had me tore up with the brain puzzles. I thought I was smart. Sheesh.😣 I had to look them up. I need to work on my brain health…and make sure to get sleep.
You cannot look up on the internet for the answer. Think a little, the answers are very silly.
😩 Some of them were. It was the man, woman, man one for me. Like Huh? 😂 The rest of them had me stumped but not too long.
Well good thing that you have answers now. 🙂
Well, actually, no. I don’t.
Keep trying then !
Great tips.. now excuse me while I drink some water, eat a snack, cat nap and perk back up in 10… take 10 .. yes it works but actually if I lay my head down now, I won’t be up until 10.
💞🤣
Sleep well then CG!!!
Great points, thank you for sharing them, Devang.
My sleep schedule is fine, I need to work on the exercise part, though 😅
I hope you find something that suits you
How about answers to these riddles?
1. 🤷
2.heroine
3.water
Beauty
Oh okay
You have written something about the brain health after a long time. You mentioned good points here to boost our brain.
Healthy diet, proper sleep and exercise, all these things are necessary to make our brains healthier and nimble. We can’t ignore any of these if we are genuinely concerned about our mental health.
Thanks for serving a reminder to all of us.
I think all things are necessary and we should never ignore them.
Brain health is often ignored and results are dangerous.
Thanks for reading and appreciating
Oh, what a lovely surprise seeing Devang here today! ☺️ I love the tone of this. Very important/informational and playful at the same time. ❤️ These are all great for good brain health. (I need to work on the sleep one)
And I only know the answer to the first one, bc I remember some riddles from my childhood. 😂 The answer is beauty! Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, well, “bee-holder” hehe 🐝
Hey Thanks!
Try for the answers of other 2. It’s fun, I swear 😛
I suspect my blog will be looking like this soon… asdgiuwdbjscbifgdfg 😂
Lovely share, Devang. very helpful Thank you 🤍
You definitely need a good sleep.
Rest well. Thanks for reading
Awesome post.
Ans to riddle:
1: Beauty
2: Heroine
3: Water
I had to check on that.
Ahhh
You weren’t supposed to check on internet 😅
These answers were so silly but still unexpected.
Let’s call them a good brain exercise
They sure are.
Couldn’t resist the temptation 😂
Hah well, Want harder riddle?
Why not. Give me a shot.
What English word has three consecutive double letters?
Ummmh, took me a while to get this answer… bookkeeper?
Cool 👏🏻
I don’t have answers to any of the questions but I am very good with directions and maps. 😜
Very informative post. I have always found Devang’s posts detailed as well as inspiring. Bravo 👌
Hey thanks for reading and appreciating.
I’m grateful
Is the answer to 1. Vitreous humour? 2. Herpes (as in Wyatt Herp) 3. They are incontinent?
Actually no, haha!!!
The answers are very silly
Thank you so much sharing this blog. This blog is so helpful and informative and didn’t feel sleepy at all, it means it is interesting too. I loved this blog so much. This One becomes My favourite. 😊🧡🧡
Thanks for reading Preeti!!
Have a great time ahead.
Great Post, as ever, from Devang. Informative, and as others said, fun. I hate brain teasers though – or it’s just too early. Sleep is always my problem, but not much I can do about it regrettably
Have a good sleep BH!!
Rest well
And come back later to answer these
Nice to see you here again Devang! These are all good points! I have been trying to add more meals with potatoes or buckwheat, and less with white flour pasta which was a favorite of mine before, specifically ready made raviolis stuffed with different savory goodies. I’m doing it for my gut health, but of course it will benefit my brain health too.
Yes, see how it’s all related. Whatever you are eating, it’s overall affecting your health.
So, keep eating healthy stuff.
Take care TK
❤️😎😎
Thank you so much for the information. I am lacking in excercise! This was put together so well. I don’t feel stressed after reading this which means, everything is stated without putting any pressure. I would like you to write something about solving the issue of being scatter-brained but lying to yourself and thinking you are being productive🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Not to expose myself but I might have that issue.
Whom do you want to write it?
Me or PG?
As this is her blogs, I’m giving her this responsibility. 😛
The topic is interesting tho..
Find something that suits you and make sure to follow that 🙂
You and Pooj can write the posts in different ways I will read both for brain exercise🙃.
😅
succint
terse
the vince neil verse
use it or lose it
Great tips! I forget to use my brain at times 😂 very helpful post!
Well, good luck with that!
Take best care of your brain. It deserves love and attention
I can say that I have tried the good nutrition, adequate sleep and exercise, and they surely work.
I’m glad to learn that!!
These little things works on our overall health.
Keep doing them. 😀
Thanks, and yes I’ll keep doing them.😊
Fascinating information about the hippo in London cab drivers. An incredible machine that needs and deserves proper care. Informative share!
Yes!
And dancing is a great exercise to keep it healthy.
So keep it up 💃🏼
Absolutely!
i had to google the answers but i can play video games all day hopefully that will keep my brain active too lol
I wish it worked that way!!
haha
Great tips 👌
Hey, thanks
Thanks 😊
Good one, Devang! I prefer crosswords for brain activity.
That’s great actually!!
Keep enjoying them 😁
A great post. I read somewhere that in order to exercise our hippocampus, we have to lower ourselves and then standup for 10 minutes every week ( or 3 minutes each time and 3 times total), which will make blood rush into hippocampus. However this is for middle aged people and may not be applicable for young people.
You will like upside down?
That’s a great exercise, increase the flow of blood into the brain. But, needs to be done under expert supervision.
Thanks for reading
Good tips Devang. Some people might not think of getting physical exercise to help the brain.
True!!
While brain health is equally important and we should care about it.
Great post as always Pooja.The saying you are what you eat is so true so getting that balanced diet is so important for our overall health
True!!
Eating a balanced diet and engaging in some activities is always great for overall health.
Thanks for reading and appreciating ☺️
I’m batman.
😝
Same except bat is spelt cat and man is spelt woman…
Nice! Together we shall save Gotham!
Or destroy it lol.
Such a neglected organ and yet too many people don’t realize how important it is since they seem to rarely use it. Thanks for bringing the awareness and tips, Devang! 💞💞💞
Hey thanks for reading
All true and I’ll add, positivity for brain health. Good info Pooja!
Yes, positivity helps a lot!
Thank you for sharing and reminding us to take care of our brain health . I will try to working on those points .
I hope we follow them.
Best wishes
And thanks for reading
Thank you too.Good day!
Awesome brain health tips for us all to live by, you know if you are struggling with any of the tips right now that could be a sign your brain health is not as healthy as you need it to be.
True!
I hope you feel better soon
Take care and thank you for responding
☺️
You too take good care of yourself 🔆
Doing my best my new friend, you do the same
Great post, Devang! I was happy you included exercise as doing housework and gardening. Those are things I do often and to know they count as exercise is a big sigh of relief for me. With the weather warming up, my kids and I have been kicking the soccer ball around. Gives us a good amount of exercise.
Helpful information as always!
Health is a crucial aspect of our lives. It plays an important role in our overall well-being and determines our ability to lead a fulfilling life. Good health enables us to pursue our goals, achieve success, and enjoy life to the fullest.
I absolutely agree, thanks for commenting.