From a young age, we have our brains drilled with information on how and why we should be keeping our bodies healthy. Too often we neglect the importance of keeping our brains healthy too. Giving your brain a boost doesn’t have to be hard, and in fact, it should be made a priority!
Here are 6 easy hacks to improve your brain health and function.
Eat Brain Foods
Eating a balanced, healthy diet is necessary for your overall health, however, certain foods have been found to slow down mental decline. Omega-3 is one of the more well-known brain-boosting foods, but there are plenty of other foods to fuel your brain. Some examples are listed below.
- Whole Grains – enhance your levels of concentration.
- Blueberries – research has shown that they can improve your short-term memory.
- Eggs – slow down brain shrinkage
- Broccoli – boosts brain power
People often underestimate the importance and the powers of certain foods, so while eating oily fish is great for your brain and your joints, your diet does not have to be restricted to that. Additionally, if you are someone who suffers from mental health, there are foods out there that might be able to help. For example, blackcurrants have been linked with reducing anxiety and pumpkin seeds have been associated with improving mood.
Use Supplements
Using supplements can be a great way to get nutrients and vitamins that are hard or impossible to get in through your diet. Nootropics are known for their brain-boosting effects, increase in motivation and weight loss, so if you are looking to shed a few pounds and you need the increase of motivation and energy to do it then using nootropics is the way for you to go. These natural supplements are known to have a positive effect on the brain generally, as well as improving the brain’s cognitive performance. Using supplements is a completely safe way to improve your brain health, so long as you stick to the daily dosage. They can be consumed via nasal spray, capsule, or powder. Nootropics can be easily bought online or in select stores.
Improve Your Quality of Sleep
Sleep plays a vital role in both your physical and mental wellbeing and research has shown that a continuous lack of sleep can lead to quicker brain degeneration. There are several reasons for this, firstly, sleep helps the brain process and solidify memories. Secondly, while you are sleeping your brain clears your body of toxins, including the toxins that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep deprivation can affect all elements of your cognition, whether that be your attention span, reaction time, or decision-making capabilities. So if you are looking to improve your overall brain health, then ensuring you get enough sleep is the first place to start.
Train Your Brain
Much like you exercise your body to keep it fit, it is equally important to exercise your brain to keep it healthy! Consider making it a daily habit to do a crossword, sudoku, or a brainteaser to keep your brain sharp and agile. Additionally, if you want to switch it up try doing some everyday activities with your non-dominant hand, such as brushing your teeth.
Exercise
Good physical health is vital for good brain health, so make sure to get regular exercise. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym and smash out weights for hours on end. It can be as simple as going for a walk in the fresh air. Switch up your exercise routines to keep it interesting and this variety will be beneficial to your body and brain.
Socialize
We, humans, are social beings and we need to interact with others for brain stimulation which keeps our brains sharp and alert. Laughing is not only good for the soul but it also plays an important part in keeping our brains happy and healthy. What is even better is if you can combine socializing with one of these other tips, such as playing chess with a friend or going for a casual jog with some friends.
We spend so much time in our lives taking care of our bodies by trying to go to the gym or by eating right, that it only makes sense that we invest some time into taking care of our brains too. Each of these 6 hacks is inexpensive and easy to integrate into your everyday life, so pick one or a couple of these tips and see the results for yourself.