4 Keys to Unlocking Better Brain Health

To call your brain important is a bit of an understatement. Everything you do, consciously and unconsciously, is controlled by your brain, which acts as the command center for your entire body.

Given your brain’s vital role, it’s a good idea to support it with healthy habits. Just as you hit the gym to improve your physical health, there are steps you can take to improve your brain health (spoiler alert — hitting the gym is helping your brain, too).

So, if you want to ward off conditions like dementia and improve your thinking skills, Gill Neuroscience’s own board-certified neurologist, Dr. Paul Gill, presents four best practices for brain health. 

Get good restorative sleep each night

We can’t say enough about the importance of getting 7-9 hours of good restorative sleep each night. Unfortunately, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States aren’t hitting this mark due to a sleep disorder.

When you don’t get solid, interrupted sleep each night, you’re more at risk for neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. For example, research has shown that 41% of people with Parkinson’s disease had a sleep disorder.

If you have a sleep disorder that’s preventing you from getting the restorative sleep your entire body needs, including your brain, we urge you to get to the bottom of this issue sooner rather than later, and we can help point you in the right direction.

Physical activity supports your brain

We already mentioned that hitting the gym can also benefit your brain, and we want to expand on this a little bit. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that physical activity improves your thinking, learning, problem-solving, and emotional balance. It can also improve your memory and reduce depression and anxiety.

The CDC goes on to explain that regular exercise, especially short bursts of vigorous exercise, can reduce your risks for cognitive decline and dementia.

From cognitive skills to mood regulation, exercise is a key piece of the brain health puzzle. We recommend that you get moving for at least 30-60 minutes each day, which will help power up your brain and body.

Foods that boost brain power

The old adage that you are what you eat applies to your brain, as well as your body. Making sure your diet is well-balanced with vitamins, nutrients, and minerals is incredibly important. This diet should be full of:

• Fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens and berries
• Lean proteins, especially fatty fishes with omega-3 fatty acids
• Whole grains
• Nuts
• Healthy fats (not saturated or trans fats)

This healthy diet supports brain health by improving memory and cognitive skills, and it helps ward off cognitive decline.

Protect your head

If you’re more active and you like to bike, ski, climb, or anything else that might put your head in danger of being hit, please wear a helmet. It’s also critical to wear your seatbelt, as car accidents are major drivers of serious brain injuries.

As you can see, these steps for improving brain health can also improve and safeguard most every other area of your health, so they’re steps worth taking.

If you have more questions about protecting and supporting your brain health, we’re happy to help. You can call our Houston, Texas, office at 832-912-7777 or use our online form to request an appointment.