These days we are so focused on our bodies, perhaps in an overly cosmetic way, that we forget to look after the most important organ of all – our brain.
Brain health is as much down to what you eat and do as anything else, so why not choose this month to detox out the rubbish that clogs up and slows down your brain function, and give your brain a boost?
There is the saying that a healthy body is a healthy mind, and in the case of these few examples, that’s certainly the case.
Limit your alcohol
Alcohol contains ethanol and this is shown to damage your brain. On top of this, the uplifting effects you may feel once you start drinking can soon turn into something much darker, with the effects of a hangover in the first instance. Prolonged drinking can also lead to depressive effects on the brain and mood, with potentially lower levels of brain function over time.
The answer? This month, limit your intake and see how good it feels.
A little bit of sugar …
We all love something sweet from time to time, but the key is to keep it at a ‘time to time’ level, and not to overload your body with sugar. Our bodies regulate our blood glucose levels by using insulin and glucagon, two hormones which are naturally occurring within our bodies. When you eat too much sugar, you run the risk of your body becoming insulin resistant, and this can lead to a world of problems, not least because your brain neurons need glucose in a balanced fashion in order to function correctly. When this comes in the form of a sugar overload, the body needs insulin in order to balance things out – if your body is becoming insulin resistant, your brain isn’t going to cope with it so well.
Again, keep your sweet tooth to a minimum this month.
Grab plenty of zzzzz
It’s important to get as much shut eye as is recommended – not too much, and not too little. Functioning on little sleep is not going to mean you are alert and ready for anything the day throws at you, and similarly, too much sleep makes you feel sluggish too.
Experts recommend around 7 hours sleep per night, and there is evidence to suggest that getting a regular, proper amount of sleep can slow down the onset of neurodegenerative disorders in the brain.
So in a nut shell, there you have it. This month, cut out the alcohol, limit your sugar, and get plenty of sleep. See how good you feel afterwards, and how sharp your brain is as a result!
