Welcome to our blog on 5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Brain Health. Keeping your brain active and healthy is essential for overall well-being and longevity. In this post, we will be discussing 5 easy ways the that you can boost your brain function and promote brain health.
1. Learn new skills
Learning new skills is a fantastic way to boost brain function and keep the brain active. New skills can include learning a new language, dancing, drawing or painting, solving crossword puzzles, working on math equations, playing a musical instrument, practicing yoga sequences, or even learning Tai Chi. The possibilities are endless, as long as it keeps the brain thinking and stimulated.
When we learn new skills, it stimulates new nerve cell connections and potentially new nerve cells themselves. This increases neural plasticity, agility, focus, and memory. So, master a new skill and learn something differnet!
Eating a Mediterranean diet may have a protective role in brain health. This diet consists of a high volume of polyphenol-rich fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils. Polyphenols have the potential to protect against free radical-induced neuroinflammation and promote learning, memory, and cognitive function. Additionally, the diet is high in healthy omega-3 fats, which have been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, protecting it against the build-up of amyloid plaques. This is done by reducing platelets clumping together and keeping arteries smooth and pliable.
A daily routine is good for our health and mental health, however, if the routine does not ever change it can be detrimental to our brain health. When we follow the same pathway or pattern, the brain shifts into auto mode, running the same neural pathways, and therefore no longer needing to 'think' about certain things anymore. To change life up, we need to occasionally break those routines. It gets our brain to start thinking again. For example, when you go for a walk, do you always turn left? Why not try going right, you may find this slightly disorientating. That is because the brain registers something is different and makes the necessary adjustments to accommodate.
So, with your next 'routine' activity try doing it differently and see what happens.
Meditating not only helps reduce stress and anxiety, which aids in reducing inflammation, but also helps to increase the prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain responsible for cognition).
Meditation increases awareness, decision-making, concentration, and most importantly neuroplasticity, where the brain modifies/rewires itself. BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) increases the all-important neuroplasticity, and without it, it is impossible for our brain to function, concentrate, think, or even remember. BDNF is also in the areas of the brain that control eating, drinking, and weight.
This may be why meditating Buddhist monks can go without food or drink while in a meditation practice.
Exercise is crucial in brain health as it helps with circulation, which increases oxygen to the brain. This can increase BDNF, which is associated with increased cognitive function.
Sleep is imperative in brain health. Studies have shown that sleep is the 'house cleaning' of our brain. While we sleep, our brain removes the toxins that have accumulated during the day. A Sleep Herbal Tea can actually help you fall asleep so your brain do a clean up.
Socialising is like exercising specific for the brain. It helps processing of conversations and emotions, reduces stress, depression, and anxiety and therefore inflammation, a key attribute in brain health. So, set-up a Zoom call, visit someone, go for dinner or a walk with loved ones, or even chat to your neighbours. Anxiety can play a big role with socialisation and if you need to chill before heading out, drink some calming herbal tea and have some me time first.
Maintaining brain health and promoting brain function is essential for overall well-being and longevity. There are many ways to achieve this, including learning new skills, practicing a Mediterranean diet, breaking routines, meditating, exercising, getting enough sleep, and socializing. Each of these activities has its own unique benefits that contribute to a healthy brain. However, in addition to these tips, drinking a herbal brain tea tonic can also be beneficial for brain health.
Herbal brain tea tonics contain natural ingredients that have been known to improve cognitive function and memory, such as Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri, and Rosemary. These herbs can help to increase blood flow to the brain, reduce inflammation, and promote the growth of new brain cells. Drinking a cup of herbal brain tea in the morning or before bed can be an easy and delicious way to add to your daily routine and support your brain health.
To sum up, make sure to continually learn new things, or even teach those things we've learnt. Make time to meditate daily but introduce things like a jigsaw or sudoku puzzle or include a difficult math equation every day and don’t forget, make sure to change it up once in a while, this will make things feel new and exciting again and most importantly, make sure to share it all with family and friends. Also, make a habit of drinking a herbal brain tea to supplement your brain health. By following these tips, you can help keep your brain at its peak fitness and prevent age-related decline caused by reduced activity, higher levels of stress, and poor lifestyle choices.
**DISCLAIMER - Information provided on this site is for educational use only and is not intended as medical advice. If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your health care practitioner.