We owe most of the success of humans being the alpha species of the planet to the development of our brains, the highly complex jelly like structure, made of fat and water, that gives our life its true meaning. To truly enjoy life and to age gracefully, we need to tap into the powers of the mind and use tools and techniques to make sure our brain is in a better shape than it was yesterday.
“To feel successful, you must be able to be honest about the things that are really important to you.”
― Dr. Daniel Amen
I came across these tips while listening to the mind valley podcasts by Vishen lakhiani, and a guest appearance by Dr. Daniel Amen, an American celebrity doctor who practices as a psychiatrist and brain disorder specialist as director of the Amen Clinics. He thinks that by implementing these techniques, one can benefit enormously and avoid premature brain ageing, and in some cases, reverse brain ageing.
Bright Minds
B: Blood flow
Blood: the invaluable fluid keeping us alive, one breath at a time.
But, Why is it important to maintain a good blood flow to the brain?
- A good blood flow increases the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the brain
- It is also responsible for removing the accumulated toxins
How can we improve blood flow?
- Reduce/avoid addictive compounds like Caffeine/Nicotine/Alcohol
– One can limit caffeine to one cup a day. - Exercise more often
- Walk more
- Table Tennis (it is one of the best games for a healthy brain, due to the fast game-play and the increased brain activity to keep a track of the spins and speeds)
- Dance (Also involves increased mind and body coordination)
- Eating healthy foods like (Beets/Pomegranate)
R: Retirement in ageing
When we stop learning, the brain cells start dying, the forms of learning can be simple or complex, some of the best things to learn, with the perspective of brain health, are:
- Learning a new language
- Learning new skills in a profession (Soft skills/tools)
- Musical instrument
- Art (Drawing/Painting)
We can learn through interaction, we can learn from books/podcasts/online courses, we just need to make sure that what we learn is inline with what we want to achieve in career and in Life.
I: Inflammation
Inflammation occurs when a part of our body is healing itself. It is often accompanied by tingling sensations in our body, but its more subtle or unnoticeable in the brain.
What can cause brain inflammation response?
Brain injuries and chronic diet related diseases like diabetes, high blood sugar, and gut problems.
This inflammation can cause a feeling of depression or brain fog, and can leave us feeling a bit confused and dull.
To counter the continued inflammatory response, we have to make changes to our diet, we can follow some of the precautionary measures as followed,
- Add Omega-3 fatty acids to the diet (Walnuts, fish, fish oil supplement)
- Avoid saturated fats and sugar
- Add more fruits and veggies to the diet
- Small amounts of turmeric can also be helpful
- Saffron in its natural state is said to improve mood and alleviate inflammation
If the condition persists or is significant or severe, seek professional medical help. Also its advisable to discuss with a professional dietician and discuss all the problems and medical history before making any major diet changes.
G: Genetics
“Genes load the gun, but our behavior pulls the trigger.”
Dr. Daniel Amen
Although people are born with certain predetermined patterns of brain and body development owing to their genetics, we can control our behavior and can respond back according to what we are more prone to and control our behavior asap.
Lets say, that our metabolism is naturally on a slower side, causing an “unexplained” weight gain, but we do some research and understand that metabolism can also be affected by some amounts of moderate exercise and healthy eating, giving us our control back.
We can also be aware of our surroundings and keep making a conscious effort into making it a more healthy atmosphere for a better brain. Eg: Having things or items that remind us of making an effort towards a healthy life, books, going for a walk in fresh air, avoid places with smoke, and so on.
For the rest of the tips, please visit the site:
https://thegrowthstory.blog/2020/05/23/bright-minds-keep-your-brain-younger-and-healthier-part-1/
Ujjawal Sureka
A Student of life.
PS: If this post resonated with you, let me know in the comments, also share if you think it will be useful to others. Thank you, and have a great day.
All the images in this post are a courtesy of Pexels.com
