Optimizing Your Brain Function

Your brain is involved in everything you do. How you think, feel, act and interact. It’s the organ of judgment, personality, intelligence and decisions.

The brain is the most complex organ. It’s made up of 100 billion neurons and trillions of supporting cells. These cells have more connections than the stars in the universe. Your brain makes up 2% of your body’s weight, uses 20-30% of your calories and consumers 20% of your body's oxygen and blood flow. When your brain works right, you work right. When your brain has trouble, you are likely to have trouble in your life. Brain health is the center of overall health and success and makes people happier. 

Choices in behavior influence whether your brain function gets better or worse. As you age, the brain naturally gets less active. However, you can have a say in the speed in which your brain ages. Trying to avoid certain behaviors and start new habits can support your brain now and as you age. 

While not everything on this list is avoidable, these are some things that can lead to an unhealthy brain:

• Brain injuries
• Drugs and alcohol
• Obesity (fat cells can produce inflammation and toxins)
• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes and high blood pressure
• Toxins
• Low hormones
• Poor diet/high sugar intake
• Untreated depression and PTSD
• Lack of exercise
• Making bad decisions
• Poor peer group choices
• Not knowing one’s own vulnerabilities

These habits are great at supporting a healthy brain: 

• Have a positive peer group
• Wear a helmet or other brain-protecting equipment
• Have a clean environment
• Maintain a good physical health and a healthy weight
• Get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly
• Engage in new learning (study a new topic, try a new activity and more)
• Eat a healthy diet
• Manage stress and automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)
• Exercise regularly
• Take brain-healthy supplements (multivitamin, omega-3s, vitamin D and other brain nutrients)
  
  

Care you will love.

Source: Dr. Daniel Amen | Amen Clinics, Inc.