Looking after your Brain
Looking After Your Brain
Brain health is such an important subject we don’t realise how it effects every part of our body. The brain is a balance of parts that work together to create and sustain life. Specific parts of the brain are designed to do certain things, but its functions are rarely simple.
I think looking at what makes it function correctly is especially important with so many people having problem with mental health.
This post has a lot of importance in my life personally as a close friend of mine was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and as a naturopath looking at every reason of why this can happen.
A lot of people do not put a lot of importance on your brain health and we can take it for granted, especially with diet but it is one of the most important organs of the body.
With so many people having problems with anxiety and depression and taking drugs to help them cope with life. Looking at simple ways to improve brain health can be a lifesaver.
If you brain is healthy your body is healthy. What you are eating putting on your skin and breathing in, all impacts on your brain.
Your brain is involved in everything you do including how you think, how you feel, how you act and how well you get along with other people. Your brain is the organ behind your intelligence, character, personality and every single decision you make.
The most important organ in the body is the brain and it is arguably the most complex and when your brain works better everything in your life will improve – clear decisions come more rapidly, getting things done in half the time and your sense of purpose seems to happen effortlessly. Ironically many of us know very little about the amazing organ that enables us to know in the first place.
If you are committed to improving the health of your brain and are ready to take the necessary steps to empower yourself do this before you get a diagnosis like my friend.
Looking at your diet and keeping it as clean as possible organic and even going vegan because majority of all diseases are caused by high inflammation so our main goal is to reduce this.
One of the most inflammatory foods is red meat it doesn’t matter how lean it is red meat is very high inflammatory food. Reducing chemicals in foods and everything else that touches your body is very important for you to protect your brain.
There are many things that hurt the brain obviously drugs, too much alcohol, infections, environmental toxins and traumatic head injuries are bad for your brain and research also tells us that obesity, sleep apnea, hypertention and even high normal blood pressure can have some impact on the brain. There is also research about diabetes, many medications such as benzodiazepines and the normal high processed food diet with lots of sugars, artificial colour and sweeteners, chronic stress, negative people all have an impact on your brain. Take a minute to think of how many of these factors can effect you.
There are many things that are good for the brain and can boost its function such as good nutrition, learning new things, meditation, loving relationships and certain nutrients B6, B12 and D, omega fatty acids. Spending time with healthy people as they are contagious and so is their lifestyle.
The most detrimental things that can hurt your brain are-
1. Chemicals - your brain and body are amazing at stopping chemicals from attacking your body but the amount we bombard our bodies with is astronomical. From foods to environment to our personal products in the house. (The way they test mice for Parkinson Disease is they give them the disease by putting chemical’s in their bodies and we have chemicals around our bodies all the time.)
2. Injuries - head injuries can have an effect on the brain and is a factor in Parkinson Disease. (The brain is very soft and it only has the skull protecting it so any hit can bruise the brain and can cause damage.)
3. Not Getting Enough Sleep – sleeping is such an important aspect for any person’s health but especially for brain health. As you have a system in your brain called the Glymphatic system which clears the brain of excess proteins and this only works when we have REM sleep. (Sleep is a big factor in Parkinson and many neurological diseases.)
4. Nutrition – feeding the brain is one of the most important things you can do as it needs all the right nutrients and chemical free food. (Organic food with no preservatives and only natural sugars.)
5. Not Exercising Enough – exercising is so important for any part of the body but especially keeping your brain and your body healthy especially as we are aging.
6. Not Listening to Your Body – when your body is not functioning well your body and brain let you know. You will get signs even from being emotional, anger, irritability and not feeling right these are all signs that you need to look at what is happening in your body especially your brain.
7. Reduce Alcohol and Caffeine - remember the brain is 80 percent water. Too much caffeine or alcohol will dehydrate the brain and reduce the function of the brain.
8. Not Using a Water Filter - making sure your drink 8 glasses of filtered water a day this can make the difference of having a headache and not focusing on what you are doing. (One of the oldest excuses is that you will need to pee a lot but dehydrating the brain is a lot worse than peeing a lot. Your kidney and bladder are there for detoxifying your body and keeping your brain healthy.)
If you are having mental problems like anxiety, depression, stress and erratic behaviour like moodiness, anger and irritability and can’t understand why you are doing certain things. Your brain is not happy. Trying a Brain Wellness Plan could be what you need.
One of the best things you can do for yourself and your family is look at making these changes in your life.
You may be interested in my new E Book that will be released very soon. By Following my Brain Wellness Plan which will cover everything you will need to nurture and heal your brain. You will see improvement by some very small changes.
NEED HELP?
If you have any questions, or would like to have chat, please contact me or make an appointment.
Please contact me on 0448863033