Everything we do influences our body in some way, and what’s more, certain activities prevent normal functioning of some organs and damage their structure. With all the attention given to our body, we shouldn't forget about our brain’s health and fitness as well. Some people notice some changes when they do certain activities; they are tired, forget things or can’t concentrate if they ate something, didn’t get enough sleep and so on. This can be a sign some of their everyday routines and habits have a negative impact on their brain.
1. Skipping breakfast
After the long fast it has been subjected to, it’s during the first few hours of the day that the brain allots nutrients to continue managing the physiological processes. Some people decide not to have breakfast in order to keep count of their daily calorie intake. Skipping breakfast could result in poor concentration, lack of energy, mood swings, and poor physical and intellectual performance.
RD Health points out that people who don’t eat breakfast have lower blood sugar which means the brain will not get a sufficient amount of nutrients. This leads to brain degeneration. Skipping breakfast usually means overeating later; this decreases mental power by hardening of the brain arteries.
2. Smoking
Smokers are usually warned about their lung health while they are not aware of the fact they’re damaging their brain, too. Smoking reduces brain matter and oxygen supply to the brain. Smoking has been linked to the Alzheimer’s disease and DNA mutations that result in cancerous cells, according to Medicine Net.
3. Eating too much sugar
Sugar is one of the main addictions of modern people and not many are able to resist it. According to Vera Novak, MD, PhD, an HMS associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the brain is dependent on sugar as its main fuel. However, sugar has been linked to various diseases such as cancer and malnutrition.
High sugar intake affects the absorption of proteins and nutrients in your body. That way it obstructs brain development and results in malnutrition.
4. Sleep deprivation
Getting enough sleep is important for many reasons and one of them is keeping our brain healthy. According to Michele Bellesi, a researcher from the Marche Polytechnic University in Italy, sleep deprivation can actually cause brain cells to eat parts of the brain’s synapses. Getting enough sleep also means metabolic processes will produce the necessary amount of energy. Therefore, sleep deprivation accelerates the death of brain cells over the short-term and makes us tired and moody.
5. Not challenging your brain
Many people are aware of how important it is to keep our brain active at all times.
We shouldn’t give up on studying when we leave school but should continue taking up new things. Whether it’s solving a puzzle, doing riddles, learning a foreign language or writing, it is going to refresh and stimulate your brain. Engaging in intellectual conversation will also improve brain efficiency. Loneliness has also been linked to cognitive deterioration so surround yourself with positive people and spend some quality time together.