The Brain is arguably the most important organ in the human body. A healthy brain has the ability to remember, process, concentrate and maintain cognitive vigor. Your mind coordinates actions and reactions, allows us to think and feel, and enables us to have memories and feelings. All the things that make us human stem from the top. Your brain is your most valuable health asset.
Being brain healthy is important at any age. Scientific research suggests that leading a brain healthy life may reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia later in life. Brain Initiative helps you make the most of your brain and reduce risks to it as you age.
The Alzheimer’s Association provided startling facts regarding the state of brain health in the United States. Between 2000 and 2015, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease increased 145%. During that same time period deaths from heart disease (the number one cause of death), actually decreased 11%. The increased mortality rate of Alzheimer’s has multiple potential factors. It can be somewhat attributed to the aging boomer population. It could also be a result of more practitioners reporting the disease as a cause of death. However, these are only partial explanations for this emerging health trend.
Exercise and Unwind for Maximum Growth
The benefits of making uncomplicated lifestyle changes are limitless and can slow down brain degeneration. Using Brain Initiative’s NEURO approach (Nutrition, Exercise, Unwind, Restore, Optimize) to improve cognition, you first need to assess your diet, mindfulness, exercise routine, and sleep routine. Different exercise trends are greatly beneficial to boosting your overall health. However, exercise serves a greater purpose than just altering our physical appearances.
Consider how exercise impacts your mind. Yoga and meditation are common practices to assist with establishing mindfulness and ridding yourself of bad stress. Remember the brain influences both voluntary and involuntary actions. Mood, focus, creativity, and confidence are all products of our brain. Physical activity increases the heart rate, which pumps more oxygen to the brain. It also aids the release of hormones which provide an excellent environment for the growth of brain cells.
Balanced Nutrition for Peak Performance
Before buying every supplement at the market, start with building a comprehensive grocery list. If you need help, Brain Initiative provides you with recipes and shopping lists for your convenience. The ideal diet is rich in whole, unprocessed, plant-based foods that serve your body well. There are plenty of foods that you can introduce into your diet to encourage exuberant health. Plant based options added to your daily diet can improve brain and overall health. For example:
Legumes are versatile and a great source of protein.
Kale the vitamin rich cabbage (and all dark leafy greens), may help slow cognitive decline with aging.
Avocados make a delicious addition to many recipes giving your brain a supply of healthy fats. Your brain is mostly comprised of fat so healthy fats are important.
Broccoli, contains one of the finest antioxidants, Glutathione. This is responsible for the cellular detoxification of reactive oxygen species like free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals.
For additional information regarding well rounded plant based diets download our free The NEURO PLAN App. Learn how you can easily integrate a plant-based diet into your lifestyle.
Restorative Sleep for Optimal Health
Sleep is an important part of your daily routine, you spend about one-third of your time doing it. Quality sleep, and getting enough of it at the right times, is just as essential for optimal health. Restful sleep is crucial for forming or maintaining pathways in your brain. Specifically, the pathways that allow you to learn, create new memories, concentrate and respond quickly.
Restorative sleep is important to numerous brain functions, including how nerve cells communicate with each other. Your brain and body stay surprisingly active while you sleep. Recent research suggests that sleep plays a vital role of removing toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake.
The effects that sleep has on the body are remarkable. Studies indicate that a chronic lack of sleep, or getting poor quality sleep, increases the risk of disorders including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and obesity.
Sleep is a complex and dynamic process that affects how you function. To get the most out of your night, try a few of these simple tips.
Set a schedule. Plan on going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. In order to keep to your schedule, avoid caffeinated products or exercising late in the day as well as alcoholic drinks before bed.
Test out different night time self care routines. Try a warm bath, reading, or another relaxing practice.
Create a space for sleep. Avoid bright lights and loud sounds. Keep the space at a comfortable temperature, and don’t watch TV or have a computer in your bedroom. Don’t idly lie in bed awake. If you can’t fall asleep, try something else, like reading or listening to music, until you feel tired.
Brain Initiative
For more information about NEURO and Brain Initiative, sign up for the latest brain and body wellness news, delivered free to your inbox. Or, get started today by downloading The NEURO PLAN App and being taking control of your brain health.
