Are there foolproof measures to protect your brain health?

Factors such as exercise, sleep, social interactions, and stress management synergise to create a holistic foundation for optimal brain function, said Dr Parth Lalcheta, consultant neuro and spine surgeon, HCG Hospital, Rajkot

By: Lifestyle Desk

New Delhi | August 10, 2023 09:10 AM IST

3 min read

What do you do for brain health? (Source: Freepik)

Social media is full of insights about your health and fitness. While some of them may be harmless, others warrant a closer inspection. While optimum nutrition is said to help your brain health, have you ever wondered what other factors can make a difference? We found a neuroscientist on an Instagram reel claiming that she avoids three things for brain health.

*Whenever you wake up in the morning, your brain waves transition from Theta To Alpha. This means that our subconscious mind is in a more programmable state. The content that you consumed during this time will have a greater impact on your mindset and messes up your dopamine for the rest of the day so that you continue to check your phones.

*Negative self-talk. What you say to yourself matters and the more you put that into your brain the more it gets wired in and what’s wired in is what we manifest.

*Eat highly processed foods. There’s plenty of science now to support that what you eat impacts your brain but especially highly processed foods lead to brain ageing and we don’t want that.

What do you tend to eat every day? (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

This prompted us to seek expert guidance on what to do for ensuring optimum brain health.

These three strategies, though beneficial, do not constitute a foolproof shield for safeguarding brain health, said Dr Parth Lalcheta, consultant neuro and spine surgeon, HCG Hospital, Rajkot.

“While morning brain wave transitions, positive self-talk, and a healthy diet undoubtedly play roles in cognitive well-being, the complexity of brain health demands a comprehensive approach. Factors such as exercise, sleep, social interactions, and stress management synergise to create a holistic foundation for optimal brain function,” said Dr Lalcheta.

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While these strategies contribute positively, a multidimensional lifestyle remains the ultimate key to nurturing and protecting our intricate neural vitality, experts urge.

Also Read | Junk food causing brain health to decline faster: Study

Concurring, neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad said that there are many other ways too.

“Other important ways of protecting the brain and reducing the risk of cognitive decline are ensuring adequate sleep of 7-8 hours at night; short power naps of less than 30 minutes in the daytime, 30-40 minutes of exercise/day preferably in the mornings; including (a handful of) nuts, blueberries, salmons, fish and omega-3 rich foods in the diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking,” said Dr Kumar.

Sleep is essential too (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

He also emphasised that one should aim to maintain normal body weight (as obesity increases the risk of cognitive decline); reduce stress, learn a new language or a new hobby, spend time with family and friends (and avoid loneliness), solve moderately-difficult crossword puzzles or playing word games on a regular basis, and maintaining normal BP, blood sugars and cholesterol levels.

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