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6 Healthy Habits for the Brain
Your brain is just like every other organ in your body — it functions best when you support it with healthy practices. Your brain power is as important as your physical power, so finding ways to boost and support your brain can pay dividends, especially as you age.
As a practice that’s focused on the brain, the team at Braincare Performance Center - Cardiff wants to discuss a few ways in which you can show your brain a little love. These practices can not only keep you sharp as a tack, they can ward off cognitive decline, aid in treating brain injuries, and also boost your mental well-being.
1. Get good sleep
More than one-third of Americans report getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night, which isn’t great news for the brain. Your brain uses your sleep time to perform a number of important functions, such as:
- Creating memories
- Resetting your metabolic health
- Improving communication between neurons
- Boosting your immune health
- Removing toxins
This list is far from complete, but our point here is that sleep is a busy time for your brain so you want to make sure you’re getting 7-9 hours of solid rest each night.
2. Avoid excessive blue light at night
Since we’re on the subject of sleep, a great way to get better sleep is to avoid blue light at night. Blue light comes from screens and it can disrupt your circadian rhythms and suppress melatonin production. So, it’s a good practice to turn off screens about an hour before you go to bed.
3. Get your blood flowing through exercise
Like every other part of your body, your brain relies on a good flow of blood and oxygen for optimal function. The best way to get these important resources flowing to your brain is through exercise, so be sure to move for at least 30-60 minutes each day.
4. Boost your brain power through diet
You are what you eat and that extends to the brain. There are certain foods and nutrients that are linked to better brain health, including:
- Omega-3s, which you can get through fatty fishes and certain nuts, like walnuts
- Leafy greens to improve cognitive function
- Flavonoids to improve memory, which are found in berries
- Caffeine
So, starting each day with a cup of jo and a bowl of berries is a great strategy and one for which your brain will reward you.
5. Avoid calorie-rich and nutrient-poor foods
Just as some foods boost brain power, others may harm your brain. In these cases, we’re referring to processed and junk foods that contain loads of calories, but little in the way of vitamins and nutrients.
These foods can lead to narrowing in your blood vessels which can hamper the flow of blood to your brain. As well, processed and junk foods also lead to high blood pressure (hypertension), which places you at more risk for stroke.
So, as important as adding the brain-boosting foods we listed above, it’s equally as vital to stay away from junk food. Instead, focus your diet on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and lean proteins.
6. Get puzzling
A great way to keep your brain sharp is to try new brain challenges, such as doing puzzles or crosswords or learning a new language or skill. It's important to fire up your brain with new activities that encourage you to think differently.
If you provide a little support for your brain now, it will reward you in many different ways, especially as you get older.
If you have more questions about supporting your brain or you’d like a more detailed and customized brain-boosting plan, we invite you to contact our office in Cardiff, California, at 858-306-1070 or request an appointment online today.