Brain Health: Tips for a Sharper, Happier Mind

Your brain is more important than you think. Not only does it help you make decisions when it comes to everyday life, but it’s also the control centre of your body. Your brain influences every thought, action, memory and feeling; which means keeping your brain healthy should be a top priority. Like other areas of your body, your brain needs constant care so that it can function how it should. So, let’s take a look at some areas where you can improve your brain health.

Regular exercise

Getting regular exercise is so important for a healthy brain. Exercise helps increase blood flow to your brain, which helps make sure your brain cells are getting enough nutrients and oxygen. Not only that, it helps release endorphins, which help control your mood levels. So, if you’ve been less active than you’d like recently, now is as good a time as ever to get back into activities like walking, swimming and cycling. Find an exercise that you enjoy doing so that you don’t fall back into a sedentary lifestyle. This may include finding someone to exercise with or doing a mix of different exercises to keep your motivation levels up. Either way, exercise is essential when promoting a healthy brain, so get your blood pumping.

Eat a balanced diet

Like with most aspects of physical health, eating a balanced diet is also essential for a healthy brain. Try and eat a diet that includes healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. You can get all of this by eating fruit, vegetables and foods that are rich in omega-3. You can find omega-3 in oily fish, and it’s important to the brain because it helps promote brain function and development. If you don’t eat many foods like this due to dietary or allergy reasons, you should consider taking some supplements to give your body and brain the nutrients it’s missing. You should also try and include wholegrains into your diet as they can help improve cardiovascular health, meaning that your brain has a steady flow of blood at all times.

Keep your brain stimulated

Taking the time to keep your brain stimulated is also another key factor when it comes to brain health. Activities like doing a crossword, puzzles, chess and reading stimulate your brain and help improve your problem solving skills. Doing activities like these regularly encourages what’s known as new neural connections, which is essential when taking care of your brain’s health.

Make sure you get enough sleep

Easier said than done, right?! When you’re asleep, the brain removes toxins that may have accumulated during the hours you were awake. Lack of sleep can impair your cognitive functions, meaning your attention span will suffer and you’ll lack your usual amount of creativity. If you struggle to sleep, make sure you set yourself a sleep schedule. It might take some time to get into it but when you do, you’ll notice that you wake up feeling more refreshed, more alert, and ready to tackle the day ahead.​

Control your stress levels

Did you know that long term stress can lead to brain shrinkage and how it functions? While stress isn’t always avoidable, it’s important to take steps to avoid the amount of stress you’re exposed to. This could be by avoiding stressful situations or by using stress management tips like yoga and meditation. Not only do these help relieve stress from your mind but they can also help improve your overall emotional well-being.

Get enough social interaction

Making sure you have enough social interaction can also help keep your brain healthy. Being in touch with those you love and care about actually stimulates your brain. Not only that, but it can help prevent any memory loss and cognitive decline. Social interaction is also important as it encourages feelings of well-being and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. So, make the time to meet up with people you care about; whether it’s popping over for a coffee or going shopping together. If you can’t meet up, make the time for a phone call or a video chat. Isolating yourself isn’t good for your emotional well being or your brain’s health.

Limit alcohol intake and avoid smoking

Drinking too much and smoking isn’t good for your health, and you already know the reasons why. But, did you know that it also has an effect on your brain’s health? Alcohol abuse can lead to neuron damage and a decrease in your brain’s mass. Smoking limits the amount of oxygen that reaches your brain and could lead to many other problems within your body too. Be more conscious about how much alcohol you’re drinking, and get help with quitting smoking if going cold turkey isn’t an option for you. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll save money, smell much better and also be contributing towards a healthy brain.

Have regular check ups

Having regular check ups can not only help in early detection of other problems around your body, but they can also help detect any problems you may be having with your brain. Speaking to your doctor about things you’ve noticed such as decreased concentration, memory loss or blurred vision will allow them to detect any problems early. Remember that prevention is better than treatment.

Take supplements

​Another great way to give your brain a helping hand when it comes to its health is by taking supplements. Vitamin E and omega-3 are really important for brain health as they contain antioxidant properties. However, speak to your Doctor before starting any of these to make sure they’re not interacting with any medication you may be on.

Stay hydrated

Finally, being dehydrated can impact your concentration and cognition. Your brain is around 75% water, and it needs to be hydrated to function properly. Drink at least the recommended 2 litres of water each day, and take into consideration where you might have lost some fluids, for example if you’ve exercised.

Follow these tips for a healthier brain, better concentration levels and a better emotional well-being.