Make Your Brain Work For You

Do you suffer from ‘brain fog’, frequently forget things like names, have anxiety or other brain-related issues or wonder sometimes why you stepped into a room? 

Mild cognitive impairment is not that uncommon, and one I hear frequently from my clients with joint pain and/or autoimmune issues.  This isn’t surprising since gut inflammation is a common contributing factor for autoimmune conditions and joint pain as well as many cognitive issues. 

Since the brain uses 25-30% of our energy, it’s not surprising that brain function slows down when we have less energy overall due to poor health or other reasons. 

When the brain isn’t functioning optimally, it can be frustrating and even frightening. Before I healed my gut, I experienced a pivotal moment which made me realize my illness wasn’t just affecting my joints. I was teaching an engineering structural design example on the board when I realized I could not quite figure out how to solve the equation I was using.  This is something I had done hundreds of times, yet there I was with a fuzzy brain wondering what I was going to do.  Luckily, with deep concentration and effort, I eventually figured out the math and solved the problem.  After that event, I knew I had to take action. 

I read a book recently by Tara Swart called The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain. As a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, Dr. Swart knows her stuff.  She talks about how we are the programmer, engineer and housekeeper of our brains.  With this metaphor, each of us is a programmer of the data entering our brain through our thoughts. As the engineer, we tune and tweak the hardware, the neurons, of our brain by ‘exercising’ our brain causing neurons to fire, increasing our ‘neuroplasticity’.  As the housekeeper, we feed and clean up our brains with the choices we make about what to eat and drink, how and when we exercise, what we do for relaxation, who to spend time with, and how we live.

For many years it was thought that the brain cannot grow once a person reaches adulthood.  Neuroscience now knows this is not true.  Our brains are “plastic” or capable of changing physically, literally growing new neurons, if we exercise the brain with new challenges. This is great news.

With a healthier brain, a person has more self-regulation so can make better decisions for even more improvement in brain health, like a continuous improvement model.  

Want to make better choices for a healthier future? Improve your brain health!

Here are some ways you can improve your brain to make it work for you:

1. Hydrate. According to Dr. Swart, the brain is approximately 78% water.  This includes the cerebrospinal fluid, blood and blood plasma.  Our brains need water to function properly, so be sure you drink enough water. As a guideline, the recommendation is to divide your body weight in pounds by two and drink that many ounces of water throughout the day. 

2. Fuel. The brain uses food we eat to fuel its function. Healthy brain foods include a diet balanced with proteins, good fats and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.  Highly processed foods, too much sugar and saturated fats have a negative impact on the brain.  To improve brain function, eat healthy fats like coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil; avoid processed foods; cut back on sugar, and eat lots of leafy green vegetables. 

3. Oxygenate. Deep breathing and exercise sends oxygen-rich blood throughout the body including the brain. Regular high-intensity exercise helps the brain become more agile and can aid in nerve cell growth.  Find exercise you love to do and make it a regular routine.  

4. Sleep. We need adequate and quality sleep in order to recharge the brain.  Commit to a bedtime routine which includes one hour of wind-down time and allowing for 7-9 hours in bed. Make the bedroom a quiet sleep-cave and put devices in airplane mode at bedtime. 

5. Calm Environment.  A chaotic environment at home or at work, can create a chaotic mind.  Take steps to ensure the environments where you spend the most time are calm and peaceful for you, including your home, office, desktop, and computer.  Declutter and organize to the level that is right for you.

By using these strategies your brain function will improve, making your brain work for you to help you achieve your goals. 

Do you have pain and inflammation?  Your thoughts about these can actually lessen or intensify your physical symptoms.  Your thoughts can have a big impact on how you feel.  I have a great free resource for you to implement TODAY to help you change your thoughts and lessen the intensity of your pain.  Click on the image below to receive it. 

Reference for this blog: The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain.