How to Improve Your Brain Function Naturally

by **Nanneerose** Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:57 pm

Out brain is an amazing organ that acts as a control center by receiving, processing, and sending sensory information throughout our body and controlling our motor function. As we age, our brain starts to lose its ability to process information. Days that we can’t seem to concentrate are more frequently and we tend to forget more. Although age-associated cognitive decline is something we all have to face, there are some natural ways to slow down the process and improve overall brain function:

1.      Exercise Your Body
While you are exercising, your brain releases chemicals which promote neural health and improve your learning process. Increased blood flow and energy levels will help your brain to work faster and more efficiently. While exercising, more oxygen reaches the brain, which reduces the risk of disorders that lead to memory loss.
2.      Exercise Your Mind
Not only physical activity is important, keeping your brain busy and challenge it to learn new things will improve brain function as well. Brain games, learning a new language, participating in social activities, watching television, using the internet, or learning to play an instrument are all good examples to keep your brain busy and active, and will improve overall brain health.
3.      Listen To Music
Did you know that listening to music makes you smarter and strengthens the right hemisphere of the brain? Music improves your verbal fluency, memory, and focus. So putting on some music while exercising is not only more fun, it is very beneficial for your brain health.
4.      Nutrition
We all know that we have to stay away from sugary beverages and processed foods. A diet based on fruits, veggies, healthy fats such as coconut oil, whole grains, and lean protein are important to give your brain the right building blocks for optimal health.
Eat More Fruit And Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants. Those phytochemicals protect your brain cells from damage done by free radicals.
Green Tea
Green tea is another sources of healthy, protective antioxidants. Regular consumption may enhance memory, focus, and slow brain aging. Read here more about the amazing health benefits of green tea.
Omega-3 Fats
Omega-3 fats are essential components of our brain structure. It is believed that babies who are breast fed score higher on IQ-tests. Breast milk contains more of those structural omage-3 fats than formula.
Omega-3 fats are essential because your body isn’t capable of making them and we must get them through our daily diet. Low Omega-3 levels have been linked to memory loss and Alzheimer’s. Our brain craves those healthy fats to prevent mental degeneration especially when we are growing older. Read here more about the great health benefits of omega-3 fish oil.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is closely related to our nerve health. It keeps our mind sharp while we are aging. A lack of this essential vitamin may shrink the brain. Lack of concentration, mental fogginess, and having problems with your memory are all important signs that may indicate a B12 deficiency.
Ketone Bodies And Glucose
But it is not only healthy fats and vitamins your brain needs. Our brain needs glucose, which is converted into energy. The energy is needed for our brain’s normal function. When there is not enough glucose to meet it needs, your brain slowly starves, leading to brain atrophy, memory loss, and eventually you’ll lose the ability to move and talk normally.
But even if you are on a low carb diet, your brain will be able to use another substance that can feed your brain and prevent brain atrophy, and that’s where coconut oil kicks in. Coconut oil can feed your brain and prevent degeneration of brain tissue. Not with glucose, but with the so called ketone bodies. Those are produced when your bodies converts medium chain fatty acids into energy. Not only will those ketone bodies provide your brain with energy, it may even restore and renew nerves after damage. Read here more about coconut oil and its many health benefits.
5.      Sleep
Getting your daily beauty sleep is beneficial for overall health. But did you know that while you are sleeping your brain is resetting itself? It’s busy looking at all sorts of problems from a different angle and improves your creativity and problem-solving ability.
Getting enough quality sleep improves memory, focus, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities. Research suggest that mid-day naps may boost and restore brainpower in infants and adolescents. If you have difficulty in getting to sleep, you may be interested to read my article about the best 12 herbs for insomnia.
6.      Vitamin D
Are you getting enough sun? Exposure to the sun is vitally important to produce enough vitamin D. Vitamin D increases nerve growth and plays an important role in many of our brain’s functions that involve planning, processing of information, and memory.
7.      A healthy Gut Flora For Better Brain Health
Your gut and brain work closely together. Just as your brain, your gut contains neurons which produce serotonin. Serotonin is often referred to as our “feel-good “hormone. Sugary beverages and processed foods kill our healthy gut flora and this may impact our overall brain health, mood, and behavior. Taking a probiotics is among the best ways to optimize gut flora and subsequently support brain health. Read my article 9 reasons to take probiotics and why it’s so good for you.
8.      Laughter, Earth’s Best Medicine
A life that is full of laughter, fun, and friends shows great cognitive benefits. Interacting with other people may be one of the best and fun brain training exercises on Earth. Making fun and having a good relationship will not only benefit our emotional health, our brain will feel the benefits as well.
Studies show that people with the most active social life have the slowest rate of memory decline. Laughter activates a wide range of regions in our brain. It activates areas vital to the learning process, focus, and creativity.
So for a healthy brain, go out more, be active, join a club, volunteer, make friends, and most of all make fun and laugh yourself healthy.
9.      De-stress Your Lifestyle through Mediation And Yoga
Chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages our brain’s regions associated with memories. Meditation, easy breathing exercises, or yoga are great ways to de-stress your lifestyle and improve focus, concentration, creativity, reasoning skills, and memory.
Getting older is something we all have to face, luckily there are many ways we can slow the aging of our brain. Diet, and living a healthy and active lifestyle full of fun and laughter are the best ways to keep your brain sharp and focused.
http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/how-to-improve-your-brain-function-naturally/

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