Natural ways to boost your brain
Like all the muscles in your body, your brain also needs exercise to keep it performing at its best. Healthiest when stimulated, treating your brain to a new activity such as reading, problem-solving or even physical exercise are all great ways to stimulate your brain. It is also important to feed your brain the foods, such as those rich in omega-3 and antioxidants.
Brain stimulating activities:
Learn a language
Learning a new language – or even just a few phrases – is not only useful when going abroad, but can also improve memory and cognitive health. You could try becoming fluent in one language, or learning a few basic phrases of multiple languages.
Take a different route
How many times have you arrived at work without really remembering how you got there? Many of us turn to autopilot on our morning commute, but by switching up your route or taking public transport instead of driving you can exercise your brain without even realising.
Meditate
Meditating can calm the body, slow breathing and reduce stress and anxiety. However it can also help to improve memory and increase the brain’s ability to process information. Meditating for just five minutes each day can reap the benefits of this activity.
Listen to music
Research has shown that listening to happy, upbeat music can help the brain produce more innovative solutions compared to being in silence. Therefore improving your creative thinking and brain power can be as simple as putting on your favourite album.
Brain stimulating foods:
Fatty fish
Probably the first food you think of when consider brain foods, fatty fish such as salmon, trout and sardines are all good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. The brain uses omega-3s to build brain and nerve cells which are essential for learning and memory, plus they have also been linked to slowing age-related mental decline and related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
If you don’t each fish, you may prefer to take a supplement instead. Such as our Vegan Omega 3 Algae Oil Softgels.
Blueberries
These fruits are rich in anthocyanins, compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Antioxidants protect against various conditions that may contribute to brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases, such as oxidative stress and inflammation. Other benefits of the antioxidants include helping the communication between brain cells and improving memory.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are another rich source of antioxidants, as well as magnesium, iron, zinc and copper – nutrients that are important for brain health. Zinc is vital for nerve signalling, and a deficiency has been linked to various conditions affecting the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression and Parkinson’s. Magnesium supports memory and learning, and low levels of this nutrient may lead to migraines, depression and epilepsy. Unusual levels of copper can lead to neurodegenerative disorders, as it helps to control never signals. Lastly, a deficiency in iron can cause brain fog and impaired brain function.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583091/
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-in-depth
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0182210
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26795198/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4192974/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23561092/