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5 Best & Worst Habits for Brain Health

AHA Publisher — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 07:00:47 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Today, you will make choices that affect your brain health. You can choose to establish good habits for brain health, or ones that degrade it. What are the habits? Which will you choose? We have a list of ten: 5 Best and 5 Worst Habits for Brain Health. How are you going to treat your brain today? 5 Best Habits for Brain Health 1. KETO ZONE® KETONES When you enter the Keto Zone® and take the sugars and most carbs out of your diet, your brain will begin to burn ketones instead of carbs as fuel. Astonishingly, ketones have been used to support healthy neurological function for decades. In fact, a ketogenic diet is one key recommendations used to help children with epilepsy vastly reduce seizures (without medications) (1). Now, there is promising research on ketosis and degenerative brain conditions (2). What’s more, many people in ketosis report greater brain clarity, focus, and function than before. 2. OMEGA-3 FATS DAILY Adding omega-3 fats is a crucial step in reducing inflammation and maintaining healthy brain function. To truly make a difference, it takes two steps: reducing inflammatory foods while increasing anti-inflammatory ones. One of the most potent anti-inflammatory foods is omega-3 fats from seafood, and to a lesser extent, plant foods. Add fatty fish as much as possible plus hempseeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and nuts daily. Then, vastly reduced processed foods. Focus specifically on removing all soybean oil from you diet which is a very common ingredient commercial foods (see more about this below). Studies show that inflammation biomarkers improve as the relationship of omega-3s to omega-6s improves (3). 3. ANTIOXIDATIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SPICES AND VEGETABLES AT EVERY MEAL Brains age and become impaired with increased oxidative stress. And, while this has been long-accepted with the development of degenerative diseases, now researchers believe oxidative stress may play a role with a host of brain issues and low moods (4). Oxidative stress is the accumulation and damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are created by many biochemical reactions in our bodies. They occur from daily living, processed foods, alcohol, nicotine, and more. They are “quenched,” or neutralized by antioxidants made by our cells (such as glutathione) and from foods. Foods and drinks that are high in antioxidant include bright and deeply colored vegetables, spices, raw cacao, green tea, nuts, seeds, and more. These brain-helpers work at the cellular level. Their antioxidants are so potent at the cellular level they go beyond the normal reduction in oxidative stress to promote longevity and health in the body. What’s more, ginger and turmeric are also strong anti-inflammatory foods that reduce joint and muscle pain (5). 4. GOOD HYDRATION Your brain is affected by your long-term and short-term hydration status. In fact, mood, fatigue, and alertness are all impaired with dehydration (5). Hydration also affects your digestive tract, skin, kidney function, and more (all tissues depend on it). What should you drink? Water: Purified water is your best choice for hydration. It offers all the benefits without any extra ingredients to bog the body down. Green and Black Tea: Green and black tea are youthful drinks! They can reduce age-expediting stress and cortisol, have antibacterial properties for oral health, support eye health contain brain-boosting compounds, and can even promote healthy weights (6). What about coffee? Coffee is a healthful drink, and a great way to start the day. But its high caffeine level can act as a gentle diuretic, so don’t count it towards your hydration totals. How Much? Aim for a minimum of 48-64 oz. fluid per day for most women, and 64-80 oz. per day for most men. But, many people feel great on more. Also, add more hydration if you exercise. Try to get in all fluids before 7 pm or so, so that it doesn’t disrupt your sleep. On the other hand, avoid over-consuming alcohol for your best brain health! 5. INTERMITTENT FASTING Many people fast for spiritual reasons, and this is great. But fasting also has benefits that manifest physically and mentally. In fact, there are numerous scientific studies that show its benefits. It can increase insulin sensitivity, promote a healthy weight, decrease inflammation, increase mental clarity, normalize levels of the “hunger hormone” ghrelin, support brain function and mitochondria health and even regenerate the immune system (12). All of this is good for the body and brain. To add an easy intermittent fasting schedule, either choose to fast one 24-hour period per week, or try fasting 15-16 hours per day, from 7 pm to 10 am. You can drink water, tea, and coffee during the fast. 5 Worst Habits for Brain Health 1. SITTING INDOORS ALL DAY If you sit indoors all of your day, or even the majority of your day, it’s time to make some changes for the sake of your brain. You don’t have to run a marathon. But, there are many benefits to getting outside, sitting less, and improving flexibility! Here’s how each helps: Get Outside for Activity: Cortisol levels naturally decrease when we spend time outdoors. What’s more, getting natural sunlight in the morning helps our bodies stay on track with wake/sleep hormones, promoting better sleep. All of this is good for the brain. Stay Active: A brisk walk, hike, or other activity that increase your heart rate is brain-healthy! The more you do to increase blood flow to the brain, the better for brain health. Work on Flexibility: Every year we age, our bodies become less flexible at the spine and trunk…unless you do something about it. Use stretching, yoga, or other flexibility exercises each day. Believe it or not, your trunk flexibility is directly correlated with blood pressure, and healthy blood pressure levels are good for the brain! 2. ULTRA-PROCESSED DIETS AND INFLAMMATORY FOODS Chronic inflammation is one of our brains’ biggest enemies. And, the fuel that enemy? Modern, processed foods. Most of the packaged foods in our supermarkets are full of ingredients that promote inflammation in our bodies. These ingredients are cheap fats like soybean oil that compete with anti-inflammatory fats and hormones in the body. Some of the worst offenders include: Commercial Dressings and Condiments with Soybean Oil Margarine TV Dinners with unhealthy fats Sugary Energy Drinks Fast-Food Deep-Fried Options Many experts who have studied our current intake of inflammatory fats vs. anti-inflammatory ones are convinced that this dietary promotion of inflammation is a central cause to most of our chronic ailments. These conditions include degenerative brain issues. During the last decade, a new cause of neurodegeneration has been identified: sustained immune reactions in the brain caused by chronic inflammation (7). To reduce the risk of this disease and the deterioration of our brains, we must reduce inflammation. 3. BUSY BEE LIFE & STRESS There’s little doubt that chronic, mental stress is unhealthy for your brain. In fact, according to a 2018 study, researchers found that increased blood cortisol levels are correlated with impaired memory and lower brain volume in mid-life (8). What’s more, after studying 2231 human participants, they found the effects were more pronounced in women participants than men. Much of our modern-day stress is caused by our over-scheduled busy bee lives. But, there’s good news. You can take steps to reduce some stress and choose a slower life. Try to: Clear Out Your Schedule. Start by simply looking at your calendar. Are there any activities you could do without? Are there any you could streamline? Do what you can to simplify your schedule. If you can’t remove anything, commit to not adding anything new that is not edifying or vital to your wellbeing! Make time for laughter every day. First, identify your most stressful time. Is it the morning? The commute? The first hour back home? If you’re able, work in laughter during these times. Listen to comedy on the commute. Make time for a friend. Enjoy a funny book. Laughter has the opposite hormonal effect of stress. Pray and practice gratitude. At the end of each day, take time to practice gratitude and pray. Put down the screens and write 3-5 specific things for which you are grateful. Even when you don’t feel like it. Believe it or not, studies show lower cortisol circulation immediately when subjects focus on things for which they are grateful. Eat foods and drinks that may reduce cortisol naturally (see above). Try fatty fish like salmon, dark chocolate (70% or higher cocoa), fruits and vegetables, or superfood fruit and vegetable powders. You can also drink cortisol-busting green tea and black tea to lower cortisol levels. Great for hot summer days! For more ways to cut cortisol naturally, read our full list here. 4. TOO LITTLE SLEEP For a sharp, youthful, healthy brain, aim to consistently get at least 7-8 hours of good sleep per night. It’s truly one of the most potent brain healers. In fact, lack of sleep is associated with increased anxiety, slow brain performance, increased blood sugars, hormone disturbances, metabolic issues, memory impairment, knowledge retention, and more (9, 10, 11). If you suffer from snoring, sleep apnea, or anything else that disturbs sleep, it’s worthwhile to speak with your doctor and explore treatments. 5. IGNORING GUT HEALTH If you want a healthy brain, you cannot ignore gut health. In fact, your digestive health has direct implications for your brain health. Amazingly, it’s now known that (13): Gut inflammation promotes brain inflammation and declining function An unhealthy digestive tract promotes illness in other parts of the body Healing your gut can reduce brain fog, increase alertness, support youthful memory, and energize the body and brain Immune function is dependent on a healthy digestive tract Healthy digestion is first responsible for nourishing your body, from your hair to your toes. Beyond the nourishment, there is an incredible gut-brain connection that impacts your brain health directly. To learn more about keeping your gut health and Dr. Colbert’s Healthy Gut Zone, click here. Bottom Line Our habits matter. Each day, you can choose to support your brain health, or you can choose to tear it down. This is actually very encouraging, because the choice for your daily habits is yours. Decide which make most sense for you. Then, start to form great habits for your great brain health today! To read the original article click here.

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Daydreaming Can Improve Your Mental Health & Cognitive Flexibility

AHA Publisher — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:44:21 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – Although it may seem contradictory, letting your mind daydream is actually really good for your mental health! In this podcast (episode #266) and blog, I talk about the many mental and physical health benefits of just letting your mind wander. The mind is always active (even when you are sleeping!), which means that even when you are not thinking about anything in particular, you are still thinking—the mind is still going about its business. Indeed, our minds are always time-travelling from the past to the present and back to the future. The great news is that you can be intentional about turning these “time-travel daydreaming moments” into what I call “thinker moments” – periods of time when you let your mind switch off to the external, switch onto the internal and just wander and daydream. Why do I call these “thinker” moments? This term is based on Auguste Rodin’s famous “The Thinker” sculpture—that incredibly heroic-looking figure with his hand pensively under his chin. When I first saw this statue, it felt almost imposing, and I thought to myself, “How could that act of just sitting there and thinking be so…formidable?”. The reality is that daydreaming, doodling and letting our minds wander is incredibly powerful. It is not what I have heard some people call “nonsense” or “distracted” thinking. When we daydream, we essentially reboot our mind, as I discuss in detail in my latest book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. This means you can use thinker moments to give your brain a rest and allow it to heal and reenergize, which increases your clarity of thought and organizes the networks of your brain. It does this by increasing and balancing alpha activity, which increases insight into what’s really going on in your mind and helps create an optimal state of relaxation and alertness, bridging the divide between the conscious and nonconscious mind. This puts you in a state of peacefulness, readiness and meditation, and increases delta activity, which helps to bring up suppressed thoughts. Thinker moments also increase beta activity, which is important for processing information, being alert and attentive, working through something challenging, focusing, and developing sustained attention. As a result, this balanced energy increases blood flow to the brain, which helps it function better and helps you deal with mental challenges and manage stress. The opposite happens if you don’t take regular thinker moments. Not giving the mind a rest and letting it daydream can reduce blood flow by up to 80 percent in the front of the brain, which can dramatically affect cognitive fluency and the efficient, associative thinking required at home, school or in the workplace. Cumulatively, this can lead to unprocessed thoughts and nightmares, affecting your overall quality of sleep, performance and mental health. The reality is that you cannot afford not to daydream! Now, you may be thinking, “All this sounds great, but how do I get my mind to just shut off and daydream? Where do I start?” Here’s how: To do a thinker moment, think of yourself as the actor, director, screenwriter and audience of a mental performance – your mental performance. Now, simply close your eyes and let your mind wander. You can start the process by intentionally thinking of something pleasant and meaningful, and then let this lead you into a flow of thoughts. Prompt yourself with topics you’d find rewarding to daydream about, like a pleasant memory, a future accomplishment, or an event you’re looking forward to. Be observant about what you are thinking about. Indeed, as you take a thinker moment, you may be surprised to notice what thoughts and feelings pop up from your nonconscious during these moments. Don’t panic, as this is perfectly normal! Just take note of them and plan to address them later—try to avoid ruminating on them and letting them interrupt your internal rest time. As you daydream, you can listen to some music, take a walk outside, or doodle. These moments can be anything from a short ten seconds to a full hour. Trust that it’s possible to have a good experience if you prime your brain with topics you find pleasant. This is something all of us can do once you have the concept; even a child can do this with instructions! Daydreaming makes sense to us, no matter our age. Lastly, try not to confuse planning things with thinking for pleasure! When I want to have a “thinker moment”, I personally like to just stop and stare out a window for a few seconds. I find this very helpful and invigorating—especially when I am really stressed or anxious, or in the middle of a busy work day. If possible, I also try to go outside; being in nature and getting that Vitamin D really takes that thinker moment to the next level! I really cannot recommend “thinker moments” enough—not just for your mental and physical health, but also your spiritual wellbeing! When you give our mind a rest by letting your mind wander and daydream, you essentially restart your brain and give yourself that edge you need, helping you get in touch with that deeper, nonconscious, almost spiritual part of you. These moments don’t just help improve mental health, they also help you get to know yourself on a deeper level. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Leaf click here.

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