Is it time to think about Brain Health, before we forget?

What do you think about first when it come’s to your health? Maybe it’s, are you doing enough exercise? Maybe it’s are you eating too much junk food, maybe having too much sugar or even drinking too much? I would bet that you don’t often think directly about your brain health.

Most people don’t start thinking about their brain health until they notice some cognitive changes and memory loss in their 60s or 70s but we should really be aware of how we can keep our brains healthy well before then. 

Research has begun to indicate that it is possible to lower the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s – in part by maintaining a healthy brain.

Researchers in Switzerland and Italy have proved a direct correlation between an imbalance in the gut microbiota and the development of plaque in the brain (these ‘plaques’ are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease). Maintaining a healthy brain day to day is important, but keeping a focus on this in the longer term has wider significance.

Another recent study carried out in 2019 claims that obese people may show some shrinkage in their brain tissue as early as middle age, and some middle-aged adults with abdominal obesity tended to have less grey matter volume than their normal-weight counterparts. 

There is a lot we can all do to help look after our brain as the years go by, through simple lifestyle factors – exercise; nutrition (including gut health); sleep; keeping an active mind; and overall healthy living.

Take exercise for example, It’s often said that if the benefits of exercise could be bottled, we’d have a magic ‘health’ pill. When it comes to brain health, the rewards are no less profound.

A wealth of research has shown that greater amounts of physical activity – the umbrella term for any type of movement – are associated with a reduced risk of dementia in later life.

Another important area for the brain is sleep. Imagine if you could sleep your way to good health… Far from being too good to be true, getting a good night’s sleep could be the dream prescription for a healthier body and brain.

Research shows that sleep – and how much or how little of it we get – affects our health in all sorts of ways. The good news that it is never too late to change your habits to improve your sleep.

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, low in saturated fat, full of the nutrients found in leafy green vegetables, along with whole grains can also help keep your brain healthy throughout your life. For many people, this means following the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and avocados, while limiting red meat. 

How about brain stimulation, can this help? Building new skills throughout your lifetime, learning how to cook Italian food for example, or how to fly a plane, maybe even starting a new business, all of these things help keep your brain healthy by constantly creating new connections between brain cells. 

It’s truly astonishing how we can restore, renew and revitalise our bodies with the right tools. 

I regularly help clients start these new adventures in life with my health coaching, please check out www.sarahstannard.com for more info.