Brain is your body’s control centre. It is considered to be an important part of a system called the nervous system. This not only includes the brain but also a network of neurons and nerves, not to mention the spinal cord. This system is in charge of everything and operates all the muscles of the body. Upon injury occurring to the brain, various things can get affected severely. These include personality and memory changes.
Since the most important part of our body is considered to be the brain, we should consider paying more attention to it through exercises that would strengthen it and allow it to function properly. There are specific habits that would enhance the brain function and others that would damage it.
The following are habits that would lead to damage of the brain:
1) Skipping Breakfast
Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day, and that is definitely true. Skipping breakfast may not only cause you to gain weight but will also cause damage to the brain. If you are wondering how; well according to a research made in Japan of over 80 million people throughout a span of 15 years, it was discovered that those who tend to skip breakfast often had a higher risk for high blood pressure and stroke as it turns out that when one has breakfast, their blood pressure would go down and that will lower the chances for brain haemorrhage to happen.
2) Over-eating
Overeating is known as the action of eating that is beyond the human body’s need or continuing to eat even though you feel full. It will affect your memory leading to memory loss later on in life as per a study that was conducted in 2010. This study elaborated that overeating may cause damage to the brain and lead to cognitive impairment and having Alzheimer’s disease. So be sure to not overeat.
3) Lack of Sleep
Not getting enough sleep would not only make you tired, and leave you feeling exhausted throughout the day. It can also do major damage to your brain. As per the report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are sleeping way less than they used to, and the average is less than 7 hours a night. One must note that when you don’t get enough sleep, you are at a great risk of lowering your cognitive function and this would lead to brain cell damage. So please make sure to get enough sleep every single night!
4) Smoking
Who said smoking can damage the brain? Well, it is true! It can cause the brain to shrink. This shrinking of the brain will lead to one of the major diseases of the brain and that is Alzheimer’s. So, it’s good to quit smoking.
5) Eating Sugary Foods
Sugar is bad for your health, as it can not only damage your organs and cause tooth decay, it will also cause damage to the brain. When a person eats too much sugar, that would lead to a lower percentage of nutrient absorbing in the body and that will ultimately lead to malnutrition. This is why it is vital for the sugar intake to be at an appropriate amount so that the nutrients be absorbed, and the brain can function well.
6) Covering the Head While Sleeping
When you cover your head while sleeping, it not only lowers your intake of Oxygen, and that in itself is dangerous as the Oxygen is vital for the brain to function. So, if you feel like covering your head in order to prevent sounds or lighting, make sure to wear earplugs or cover your eyes with a sleeping band, and allow for your lungs to expand and breath, and thus the brain to continue functioning at its optimality.
7) Working When Sick
This is a bad habit to do, as when a person is sick, the body and the brain are working hard to try and fight those germs and viruses inside the body. Forcing extra on the brain would put extra strain on the brain and may lead to longer period of healing and foggy thinking.
8) Lack of Socializing
When you socialize, you use various part of the brain as there is a flow of feelings and emotions that are transmitted between people and that is considered to be a great exercise for the brain. So go out there and socialize, and meet some new people!
9) No Exercise
There is a new study that was conducted at the UMC Victoria Hospital and has discovered that people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, are at a greater risk of developing dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, not to mention diabetes and blood pressure. This is why working out is important both for the body and brain.
10) Consuming Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can have its toll on the brain as per a research published in the British Medical journey that looked at five hundred adults and studied their mental abilities for a period of more than 30 years, to discover that those who drank excessively per week of fifteen to twenty drink had a higher chance of developing hippocampal atrophy and that is considered to be damage to a specific area in the brain responsible for memory.
11) Exposure to Contaminated Chemicals
Chemicals are dangerous for the brain, as they can affect the nervous system and cause death, coma and other reactions. So, ensure that you don’t expose to chemicals in order to keep your mind and body healthy.
12) Premature Stress
Stress can have negative effects on the brain from working, school or others. But cutting that stress and taking time to relax can improve the health of the brain as it can increase your performance and thinking. As we all know, no one can function well under stress.
13) Lack of Stimulating Thoughts
The brain needs practice just like muscles of the body do, so when thinking about positive things or you engage in creating a beautiful memory in your head it can keep the brain active. So, read a book or go exploring, and make sure that you try and reflect on positive experiences that would allow you to grow more as a person and keep your mental health at a good level.