Wellness 101 – How to Keep Your Brain Healthy – Presented by St. Luke's University Health Network
Wellness 101 – How to Keep Your Brain Healthy – Presented by St. Luke's University Health Network
Your brain is probably the single most extraordinary organ in your body. It’s responsible for a multitude of different jobs including: coordination of your movements, problem solving, the storing of your memories, and so much more. With so much going on up there and with what seems like no effort to you, it’s easy to take these everyday functions for granted. Unfortunately, most people don’t get concerned about their brain health until they start to notice a difference in their memory or other cognitive functions later in life. But there are plenty of things you can do right now to help keep your squash sharp and we’ve got 5 steps to show you how!
Step One: Get Plenty of Rest
Sleeping resets the brain and allows it to heal. As a matter of fact, new research has shown that while you sleep, the brain clears out toxins that can lead to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. So you do your best to shut your brain off for about 7-9 hours of sleep a night for optimal noodle health.
Step Two: Happy Heart/Happy Brain
Keeping your heart healthy allows your blood to move easily through your heart and blood vessels. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels can thicken your artery walls with plaque, making it difficult to get enough blood flow to the brain to nurture its cells. This can lead to all kinds of issues like stroke or blood clots which can cause temporary or even permanent brain damage.
Step Three: Exercise
Working out helps boost blood flow to the brain. Studies have shown that exercise can increase the size of the hippocrampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for memory. And a new study suggests that your brain receives signals that incentivize it to make healthy new cells when working out your legs in a weight bearing exercise…so don’t skip LEG DAY!
Step Four: Try New Things
Consistently learning new things throughout your lifetime will not only help make you a more well-rounded person, but also helps keep your brain healthy by constantly creating new connections between brain cells. So continually push yourself to develop new skills like learning an instrument, learning a new card game or travel to an unfamiliar city to help ward off those neurodegenerative diseases.
Step Five: Be Social
Studies have shown that when you socialize, the blood circulates to several parts of the brain as you listen and formulate responses. Connecting with friends also keeps you less anxious and depressed. If you’re anxious, the brain spends most of it’s time focusing on the “what ifs” as opposed to concentrating on learning something new. So put down that remote and get on out there and laugh it up with some friends!
Thanks for watching. Your brain’s job is to help you make sense of the world. Brain health includes your ability to remember, learn, plan, concentrate and maintain a clear, active mind. You must be able to draw on the strengths of your brain—information management, logic, judgement, perspective and wisdom – to live your best life. Simply put, brain health is all about making the most of your brain and helping reduce some risks to it as you age.
Don’t forget to smash that like button, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and share with all who want to keep the old melon in working order. Until next time, this is Mr. Wellness saying be well, and follow the steps to a healthier you.