Your brain and central nervous system are the most essential systems in your body. While we want to assume that everything will be fine and our nervous system will remain nice and healthy until we age, this is not always the case.
15 habits that help you prevent neurological diseases
It is crucial to develop good habits that promote brain and nervous system health, as well as minimize the risk of injury or neurological disease.
1 - Eat a healthy diet
While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when talking about neurological health, diet is just as crucial for your brain as it is for the rest of your body.
Ensuring that your body gets the proper balance of nutrients promotes overall body health, with different nutrients feeding different parts of the body.
Similar to how a lack of protein can interfere with muscle function, having too little glucose can severely hamper your brain function, causing concentration difficulties, brain fog, and even headaches.
These conditions occur because the brain runs almost entirely on glucose for fuel. However, glucose is not the only nutrient useful for the mind, as it can also make good use of:
· Glutamine
· Zinc
· Hill
· Arginine
Some of these nutrients are so effective for the brain, as noted in a recent study that choline can help reduce edema and destruction of the blood-brain barrier in large enough doses.
A healthy diet is also essential, as it can prevent other health problems that can affect the nervous system. For example, eating nothing but fatty foods and salts, eating nothing but fast food, or a high-cholesterol diet can increase the risk of blood clots.
Having a clot in the arteries leading to your brain could end up causing a stroke, which could lead to serious neurological damage. Eating a healthy diet helps reduce the risk of clotting and high blood pressure, which in turn reduces the risk of having a stroke.
2 - keep your brain working
Like any other part of your body, your brain will start to slow and dull over time, the more time you go without challenging it. Keeping your mind busy and challenged will give you more mental energy and make you feel sharper and more alert.
Quiet time spent reading, doing puzzles, or playing word games benefits your well-being.
Furthermore, it can also have the long-term effect of reducing the risk of developing neurological problems later in life. You will find that many habits are key to keeping your brain healthy overall, all with their benefits.
3 - Wear protective gear on your head
We're not saying wear a helmet wherever you go to protect your head, but wear the proper protective gear when appropriate. If you are cycling or riding a motorcycle, always wear a helmet.
If you participate in high-contact sports, wear headgear and padded gloves when you train or do massive contact exercises.
While a physical impact to the brain can cause brain damage, a direct hit to the head is not always what causes the most damage. The brain has some cushioning between itself and the cranial wall, allowing slight movement in the surrounding fluid.
With a strong enough blow, the brain can move with enough force to strike against the internal bone of the cranial cavity, and if the head is moved rapidly backwards, this could cause even more damage.
This motion is also the reason why whiplash in a car accident can lead to head injuries. Mild to severe brain trauma can have long-lasting effects, seeing a decrease in healthy brain matter years after the injury.
4 - Sleep to prevent neurological diseases
Sleep is essential for our bodies. Without sleep, our bodies cannot recharge, and there are a number of health problems that accompany it. Without the rest you need, the brain can often slow down, leading to brain fog, poor concentration, and headaches. Try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night to ensure optimal brain function.
5 - be active
While a sedentary lifestyle isn't necessarily healthy in the first place, it could also have detrimental effects on the brain. Even with minor exercise, being inactive can affect memory and concentration, as well as critical thinking and information processing.
Physical activity is not only necessary for your neurological health, but also for a variety of other body systems.
6 - Write
Reading and writing are two of the best activities that can promote brain health, and journaling can be a great way to improve your mental health from an emotional point of view, so why not combine them in one package?
Keeping a journal can also help from a more practical perspective by allowing you to plan your week or deal with the things that weigh heavily on your mind.
7 - Avoid excessive drinking
While the occasional glass of wine with dinner probably won't hurt you, excessive and repeated drinking can have serious adverse effects on your entire body, and this includes your brain.
Heavy drinking is especially dangerous, as it can lead to a rapid rise in blood alcohol levels in a very short time. This habit can trigger ketosis and alcohol intoxication, leading to a variety of health problems, including brain damage.
8 - Stay connected
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