Brain health is something that many people take for granted. After all, a person’s brain is often the last organ they think of when trying to maintain their health. However, studies have shown that keeping your brain healthy can help you stay sharp as you age and avoid cognitive disorders like dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Luckily, there are several ways that we can protect our brains and keep them functioning at their best well into our golden years. Keep reading to find out how you can do just that with these five surprising benefits of brain health!
Stay Sharp as You Age
As we get older, it’s natural for our brains to lose some of their effectiveness. This process is known as cognitive decline. In most cases, this decline is mild and can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. However, if you aren’t careful, cognitive decline can turn into something much worse. Unfortunately, there is no cure for degenerative brain diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. However, there are several things that you can do to prevent these conditions from affecting you – or even getting worse. When you keep your brain healthy, you’ll be able to avoid cognitive decline and keep your brain functioning at its best well into your golden years.
Boost Your Memory
Memory is a funny thing. Some people are blessed with a photographic memory, while others struggle to remember where they left their keys. It’s no secret that your diet has a direct impact on how well you remember things. However, there are other factors that you should consider when trying to improve your memory. As we mentioned above, keeping your brain healthy will help you to remember important information much more easily. One way to do this is to exercise regularly. Exercise is one of the best ways that you can boost your brain health. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can increase the size of your brain by as much as two percent! When you exercise, your body releases certain chemicals called neurotrophic factors (NGF). These chemicals help to boost your brain health and encourage the growth of new neurons. As a result, you may experience a noticeable improvement in your memory.
Avoid Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
As we mentioned above, there are several degenerative brain diseases that can cause cognitive decline. While these disorders are not always reversible, they can be managed with medication. However, if you don’t start taking care of your brain early on, you may develop one of these diseases as you get older. A common misconception is that dementia is a normal part of aging. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. When you neglect your brain health, you are putting yourself at a much higher risk of developing dementia as you get older. When you take care of your brain with a healthy diet and regular exercise, you are much less likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.
Improve Your Mood
If you’ve ever experienced a serious bout of depression, you know how destructive it can be. Depression can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health, and it’s often difficult to treat. When you take care of your brain, you are much less likely to develop depression. In fact, studies show that people who exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet have a lower risk of developing depression. You can use these two strategies to protect your brain health and prevent this condition.
Maintain Healthy Blood Flow to the Brain
Your brain needs a constant supply of blood to function properly. When your blood flow to the brain decreases, you may experience issues like headaches or memory loss. Luckily, there are several things that you can do to protect your blood flow to the brain. When you take care of your brain with a healthy diet and exercise, you can reduce the risk of developing diseases that can reduce your blood flow to the brain. You can also reduce your risk of developing diseases that affect blood flow to the brain by keeping your stress levels as low as possible. When you are stressed, you increase your levels of cortisol, a hormone that can actually constrict your blood vessels. This can reduce your blood flow to the brain and cause a variety of headaches and other issues.
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) Supplementation
N-Acetyl-Cysteine, or NAC is a natural amino acid that can be beneficial to your health in a number of ways. NAC has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve mood, which can be helpful if you struggle with anxiety or depression. When taken regularly, NAC is a great way to boost your brain health. NAC is capable of reducing oxidative stress and restoring your brain’s natural levels of glutathione after it has been depleted. When you boost your brain’s glutathione levels, you are able to fight off free radical damage and reduce your risk of developing degenerative brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Furthermore, studies show that NAC can reduce anxiety levels and boost your mood over time. This can be a great way to keep your brain healthy.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of surprising benefits of brain health. If you want to stay sharp as you age and avoid degenerative brain diseases, you need to take care of your brain. When you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, you are reducing your risk of developing depression and anxiety. You are also less likely to experience issues that can reduce your blood flow to the brain – like stress. When you protect your brain health, you can boost your memory, avoid degenerative brain diseases, and maintain healthy blood flow to the brain. For these reasons, you should definitely consider keeping your brain healthy.